Native Plant Society of Texas
LaBahia Chapter

Our many thanks to our speakers and hosts for taking the time and effort to speak to our members and/or to share your gardens with us.

Topics that we've previously covered:

• Black-Capped Vireo & Golden Cheeked Warbler. Presented by Mike Marshall. Discussed the research on these two species and the native plants that help them survive.
   
• Native Plants and Native Moths. Presented by Joe Floyd. Discussed some native moths where we are most familiar with the larval form and will illustrate the familiar caterpillar with the more unfamiliar adult moth.
   
• Spring Plant Swap. Featuring the gardens of Kathy Hall and other Bluebonnet Hills residents.
   
• Texas Grasslands. Larry Pierce (Washington Co Extension Agent) spoke to our group about his graduate thesis research findings on Texas Grasslands.
   
• Sustainable Growth. Steve Diver, Soil and Crop Consultant.
   
• Antique Rose Emporium Garden Stroll and Talk. Mike Shoup, Owner, invited us out for self-guided strolls in the gardens and then gave a talk on the Antique Roses. We were also treated to a little wine and cheese.
   
• Open Forum. Threee of our local native plant enthusiasts talked about native trees, plants and grasses that do well in our area. Charlotte Von Rosenberg, Bill Adams and John Lammers.
   
• Native Texas Herbs. Presented by Henry Flowers. He covered Native plants that have been used for flavoring foods, for providing medicines, and for producing fibers and dyes.
   
• Rainwater Gardening. Presented by Sue Edmundson. This program was an overview of rainwater harvesting and the use of rain gardens in order to capture and conserve water.
   
• Belly Botany: Miniature Treasures from the Texas Flora. Presented by Monique Reed. She shared her experiences with some of the 'itsy-bitsy, teeny- weeny', often overlooked, but still beautiful, native plants of our state. She compared them to their larger, showier Texas relatives.
  
  
• Plants of the Big Thicket.  Presented by Peter Loos in preparation for the October NPSOT annual meeting in Beaumont! Here is more information about Mr. Loos from his website at Ecovirons: http://www.ecovirons.com/index.htm.
   
• Endangered Navasota Ladies Tresses. Presented by Ryan Hammons. Ryan Hammons has graciously agreed to provide us with a presentation on NAVASOTA LADIES TRESSES for our April meeting! Ryan is currently working toward completion of his masters degree in the Department of Ecosystems Science and Management at Texas A&M University. He is working with Dr Fred Smeins as they research the endangered Navasota Ladies Tresses (Spiranthes parksii). Navasota Ladies Tresses are native Texas orchids which which occur only in our central Texas region. They are thought to occur in several of our local counties including Washington, Brazos, and Grimes. This plant is listed as endangered by the USFWS. Come out and learn to identify it when you see it! Here is a link to some information about NLTresses.
   
• Texas Wild Rice. Presented by Kathy Milenki. Texas Wildrice is an ancestral population of wildrice that is now only found in the upper 1.5 miles of the spring-fed San Marcos River where it's future remains precarious. I spent most of last summer reviewing the current research and snorkeling the river to observe the plants in the wild. I have lots of pictures and some video clips to share. If you have never seen these plants in the wild you should certainly plan a short day trip (only 2.5 hours from us!) and go experience them in person.
   
• Trees and Shrub ID Field Trip.  A tour given by Robert Lehmann, Wildlife Biologist with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.  This took place at Yegua Creek Park on Lake Somerville.
   
• Worm Composting presented by Sheila McQueen, Program Coordinator at the Brazos Valley Solid Waste Management Association (BVSWMA) through the City of College Station. Composting in your kitchen? How, when and why to compost with worms.
   
• Rainbow Soil: Managing for the Ultimate in Soil Quality presented by Pat Richardson, PhD.  Washington County Event Center, 1305 E. Blue Bell Rd.  Joint meeting with NPSOT, Texas Bluebird Society, Texas Master Gardeners, Texas Master Naturalists, Texas Wildlife Association and Washington County Wildlife Society.  Sponsored by the Texas Cooperative Exension Service and the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department.
  
  
• Tour of Home Sweet Farm - Brad Stufflebeam, President of the Texas Organic Farmers & Gardeners Association gave us a tour of his farm in Washington County where they grow over 100 varieties of heirloom vegetables and herbs.
   
• Grafting and Budding - Presented by NPSOT member, Bill Adams. These techniques not only work on fruit and nut trees they could be used on superior native species.
   
• Wildfires in Texas, A 2-Part Series.  Presented by Presented by Lexi Maxwell, Urban Interface Specialist with the Texas Forest Service in Bastrop, TX. Covered wildfire history-why some homes were lost and others survived, good vs bad fire, how vegetation has changed in Texas, landscaping from a wildfire mitigation perspective, flammability ratings of many common landscaping plants (both native and introduced), concepts behind Defensible Space and examples in a various ecosystems.
   
• Oak Wilt:  Identification and Management.  Presented by Eric Beckers of the Texas Forest Service in Austin.
   
• Plant/Seed Exchange, Potluck Dinner, OFFICER ELECTIONS! Held at Discount Trees of Brenham (home of John & Verna Lammers), 2800 N. Park St., Brenham.  Officers remain the same as last year.  Click here to see pictures from this event.
   
• Texas Master Naturalist Program.  Presented by Sonny Arnold with the Brazos Valley Chapter along with help from Dave Redden of the Brenham Chapter (and NPSOT member).  About the program itself as well as projects underway and upcoming in the Bryan and Brenham areas.
   
• Organic Gardening for Texas Gardeners.  Presented by John Dromgoole, owner of the Natural Gardener Nursery in Austin and Lady Bug Brand organic products.  He also hosts a radio show and has frequent tips segments on Central Texas Gardener on several PBS stations.  Meeting to be held at the Antique Rose Emporium in the Chapel.
   
• Native Grassland Restoration in the Post Oak Savannah.  Presented by Brian Hayes, Extension Program Specialist-Wildlife in Gatesville, Texas.
   
• Container Gardening with Native Plants.  Presented by Heirloom Gardens & Interior Decor, Inc. of College Station.
   
• Junior Master Gardener Program:  Growing Good Kids in Your Neighborhood.  Presented by Tanya Franke.  We learned about the program and some of the materials used, plus we had a fun hands-on activity for kids (and adults, too).
   
• Tour of Outpost at Cedar Creek Inn.  Bed & Breakfast owned by NPSOT member, Lenore Prudhomme. This Round Top TX bed and breakfast is a haven hiding in the hills of Texas. Located on a quiet, secluded country road, 5.6 miles from the Round Top, Texas town square, this 1880's farmstead sits in the middle of 51 acres of meadow with Hill Country views. The compound features hundreds of species of native plants and shrubs in outdoor garden rooms. Click here to see pictures from the outing.
   
• Hummingbirds and Wildflowers.  By Mark Klym of the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department.  He is the State Coordinator of the Texas Hummingbird Roundup and is a co-author of Hummingbirds of Texas, which he will have available for purchase.
   
• Texas Superstars™ Plants.  By Dr. Dan Lineberger, Professor in the Department of Horticultural Sciences at Texas A&M University. We found out what makes a plant worthy enough to be included on this list of great performers for our State.
   
• Lasagna Gardening. By Master Gardeners, Carol Carmean and Ed Eargle.
   
• Texas Wildscapes. By Mark Klym of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.  Texas Wildscapes was developed in 1995 to assist Texans in creating landscapes that are both visually appealing and attractive to appropriate wildlife. The program emphasizes using native plants in landscaped beds to provide critical components of habitat: food and shelter. By providing the elements of habitat (food, shelter, escape and water) in their gardens, Texans can attract an exciting variety of birds, butterflies, frogs and lizards and bring the beauty and vitality of nature home. 
   
• Plant and Seed Exchange with potluck supper. Also included the Officer elections.
   
• Fruiting Native Plants. By Stephen Brueggerhoff, Adult Programs Manager with the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.  Species for wildlife habitats and also for human consumption.
   
• Poisonous Plants of Texas.  By Judy Schafer.  Judy is a member of the Brazos Valley Master Gardeners and Texas Garden Clubs.
   
• Texas Orchids. By Joe Liggio, co-author of "Wild Orchids of Texas". Joe will speak on this little-known group of native Texas plants. Books will be available for purchase and signing or you can bring your own. Joe is a nature photographer, biologist, and freelance writer whose photographs and articles on wild orchids and wildflowers have appeared in books, magazines and calendars.
   
• Texas Bats.  By Missy Young.  Benefits, Conservation and Attracting them to your yard.  Missy is a Research Assistant at the Vet School at Texas A&M University.
   
• Native Grasses.  By Robert Lehmann with Texas Parks & Wildlife.  Identification, care and controlled burns.
   
• Field trip to Mercer Arboretum in Humble.  Weather was wonderful.  To see some pictures from our tour, see http://photos.yahoo.com/labahianpsot.
   
• Wetland Restoration. By Loretta Mochery.  She has worked on a project at the Brazos County Expo Center restoring native plants to the landscape after the construction. She also works with Brazos County in connection with the Clean Water Act and is active with the Brazos County Master Gardeners.
   
• Bog Gardens. By Doug Machinsky.  Dustin is the owner of Midway Water Gardens in Ellinger and has done bogs/ponds for some Chapter members.
   
• Spring Plant Symposium.  Joint effort between NPSOT and Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin.  "Those Other Texas Natives—Grasses, Ferns, Sedges, Cacti, Yuccas, Agaves and Nolinas” and “Soils and Organic Practices”. Several chapter members were in attendance and it was nice despite the rain.
   
• Managing Fish Ponds in Texas.  By Don Steinbach.   Don is a Professor Emeritus with the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences at Texas A & M University.
   
• Garden photography.  By Bill Adams.  Bill is a professional horticulturist and is retired from the Texas Agricultural Extension Service. He is the author of four gardening books and numerous magazine articles. He is a professional photographer and his work is often seen in gardening magazines.
   
• Plant and Seed Exchange with potluck supper.
   
• Birds in our area and how to attract them to your yard.  By Darrell Vollert and Tim Kiphart.
   
• Tour of the Antique Rose Emporium in Independence and their "Texas Wildscapes" garden which is certified by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
   
• How to work with native stone without mortar and accent with native plants.  By Kathy Conway and Linda Jordan of  Designing Landscapes.
   
• Soil and Compost.  By John Ferguson of Nature's Way Resources.
   
• Keeping Texas Rivers Flowing.  By Jennifer McMahon, Outreach Coordinator of Texas Living Waters Project, National Wildlife Federation.  Jennifer is responsible for promoting sustainable water management practices that will benefit both people and wildlife.
   
• Monarchs 101 - Their life cycle, ecology and incredible annual migration.  By Kip Kiphart.
   
• Nature on the Fringe:  The Urban-Rural Interface.  By Kevin Anderson, Director of Austin Water Utility Center for Environmental Research at Hornsby Bend.  Kevin's dissertation work is on habitats in urban margins and assessing their cultural and ecological value.
   
• Field trip to Peaceable Kingdom Farm of Libbie and Jerald Mize.  The grounds were the location of an organic gardening school.  The gardens contain perennials, roses, herbs, dryland plants and many native species.
   
• Field trip to the ranch of Richard and Barbara Powell on the Bluff at William Penn.
   
• Principals of Propagation.  By Glenn Schroeter of the Antique Rose Emporium.  Glenn has been the Production Manager at ARE since 1990 and oversees 7-1/2 acres of growing fields.  Glenn directs the propagation of more than 400 varieties of old garden roses.
   
• Importance of native plants to bees and the process of raising bees.  By Binford Weaver of B-Weaver  Apiaries in Navasota.  Mr. Weaver has been in the business of raising queen bees and producing honey for several decades.
   
• Native edibles.  By Bill Adams.  He is the author of four gardening books and numerous magazine articles.

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