Native Plant Society of Texas

NPSOT recognized notable achievements and acts to promote native plants at its 2009 annual Awards Banquet in Wichita Falls on October 17.

Author Matt Turner was awarded the Carroll Abbott Memorial Award for his book  Remarkable Plants of Texas:  Uncommon Accounts of Our Common Natives, published in 2009.  The award, which is named for the founder of the Society, is given for writings in the popular vein on Texas native plants.

The Nancy Benedict Memorial Award was presented to David Hurt of Dallas, for his work to establish the Dogwood Canyon Sanctuary in Cedar Hills.  The award is given for an act of conservation or public service in the field of Texas native plants.

Ten years ago, David Hurt and his wife Kim purchased 35 acres on the wooded escarpment of Cedar Hill where they planned to build a home.  Within the canyon Hurt  discovered flowering dogwood which is generally absent from shallow clay soils of the limestone regions.  This was the first of many rare flora and fauna discoveries in the Canyon.  Hurt became a prime mover in the conservation effort for the canyon. David and Kim donated their land and also partnered with Audubon to raise $7.4 million dollars used to acquire adjoining land and fund the Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center building and trail development.

The Donovan Stewart Correll Memorial Award was presented to Roy Lehman, Ruth O’Brien, and Tammy White for their book Plants of the Texas Coastal Bend (a 2005 revision of Flora of the Texas Coastal Bend). The award is given for scientific writing in the field of native flora of Texas.  The book was recognized for its use by horticultural professionals to identify of plants in the Coastal Bend area.  Professors Roy L. Lehman and Tammy White teach and research at the Texas A&M campus in Corpus Christi. Ruth O’Brien is currently retired, but volunteers daily at the herbarium.

Rosa Finsley, a landscaper and former nursery owner in Dallas, received the  Charles Leonard Weddle Memorial Award for her widespread use of native plants in her landscapes, and for mentoring others to use native plants in landscape design. The award is given for lifetime achievement in the field of Texas native plants.  Finsley owned and operated King’s Creek Garden nursery and design center from the 1970’s until 1999.  Her nursery provided native plants to patrons before they were commonly available in other nurseries. Currently Finsley designs and consults on noted projects such as Montgomery Farms in Allen.

The Lynn Lowery Memorial Award was presented to John Snowden for horticultural achievement in the field of Texas native plants.  Snowden was recognized for his work to propagate genetically correct native grasses and for education in their use.  Snowden’s Bluestem Nursery specializes in making a wide array of native grasses available to the nursery trade – often for the first time.

Faye Tessnow and members of the Highland Lakes Chapter are recognized for their efforts to establish Texas Native Plant Week (photo Bill Hopkins)

The awards committee was chaired by Carol Feldman,  a past president of the Society and a landscaper in the Dallas area.  Committee consultants included David Hopman, Barney Lipscomb, Peter Loos, Melissa Miller, Jason Singhurst, and Peter Schaar.   The Society has presented annual awards since 1988.

In addition to the professional awards the Society recognized some of its own members for their dedication and hard work.  Belinda McLaughlin and Betty S Dunn were selected by member vote for the Benny J Simpson Fellows Award, given for service to the organization.

Outgoing president of the Society Gailon Hardin presented the Kate Hillhouse Chapter of the Year Award  to the Highland Lakes Chapter in Marble Falls in appreciation of their work in helping get legislation to create Texas Native Plant Week.  She also named Jennifer McBride and Mike McBride as recipients of the Presidents Award.  The McBride’s served as coordinators at the state office of the organization for a number of years before leaving in January.