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Native Plant Society of Texas

Clear Lake Chapter

Chapter Meeting: Incorporating North American Tall Grasses into Your Yard

Monday, January 13 • 6:15 p.m.
Hybrid Meeting

6:15 Doors Open – UHCL Bayou Building, Garden Room
6:40 Zoom Opens
6:45 Business Meeting
6:55 Plant of the Month
7:00 Guest Speaker

Click to Register on Zoom

Join us for an evening of delicious pizza, exciting door prizes, seed swap, and the chance to connect with others while learning something new!

In this presentation, Adam Lawrence will explore incorporating native plants—particularly native grasses—into your home landscaping. Learn about the ecological benefits, aesthetic appeal, and practical steps to create a sustainable, nature-friendly garden inspired by the beauty of coastal prairies.

About the Speaker

Adam Lawrence is the Habitat and Stewardship Manager at Artist Boat, where he oversees the Coastal Heritage Preserve, a nearly 1,100-acre expanse of coastal prairie and wetlands on the west side of Galveston Island. An ecologist by trade, Adam holds degrees in ecology and evolutionary biology as well as business from Rice University. He has been engaged in botany research since his teenage years, having done vegetation surveys and monitoring for federal agencies, as a private consultant, and now in the non-profit sector. Adam’s love for prairie ecosystems is reflected in his appreciation for Little Bluestem and Bushy Bluestem, his favorite plants.

Seed Exchange

In addition to our speaker, we will be having a seed exchange. These cold winter days are a great time to review your seeds and package those you have collected in 2023 or 2024. The packet can be any kind of paper envelope and any size. Please label each envelope with the common and botanical names. Check our Native Plant Database if you need help with names. Also, add the location you collected the seeds and the month and year collected.

In-person – Parking Pass Required

Parking passes required. If you have a pass, don’t forget it – you will not get another one if you picked one up previously. If you need a pass, arrive early enough to pick one up in the meeting room and place it in your car. DO NOT park in faculty/staff parking (enforced 24/7).

Bayou Building, Garden Room
University of Houston-Clear Lake
2700 Bay Area Blvd.
Houston, TX 77058

Map and directions to UHCL

Meetings are open to members and non-members. If you would like to become a member, you may join online. For more information about the Native Plant Society of Texas and the benefits of membership please visit: www.npsot.org.

Hosted by the Environmental Institute of Houston, University of Houston-Clear Lake.

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About the Region

New Braunfels, the location of our Fall 2024 Symposium, straddles both the Edwards Plateau Ecoregion and the Blackland Prairie ecoregion. Interstate 35 divides the city of New Braunfels; its path through the city closely parallels the boundary of these two ecoregions, with the Edwards Plateau on the west side and the Blackland Prairies region to the east. The Edwards Plateau area is also called the Hill Country; however, this general term covers a much larger area extending farther north. Spring-fed creeks are found throughout the region; deep limestone canyons, rivers, and lakes (reservoirs) are common. Ashe juniper is perhaps the most common woody species found throughout the region. Additional woody species include various species of oak, with live oak (Quercus fusiformis) being the most common. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) border waterways. This area is well known for its spring wildflower displays, though they may be viewed in spring, late summer, and fall, as well. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, average annual rainfall in the Edwards Plateau ranges from 15 to 34 inches.

The Blackland Prairie extends from the Red River south to San Antonio, bordered on the west by the Edwards Plateau and the Cross Timbers, and on the east by the Post Oak Savannah. Annual rainfall averages 30 to 40 inches, with higher averages to the east. This region is dominated by prairie species. The most common grass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the uplands and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the riparian areas and drainages. Common herbaceous flowering plants include salvias, penstemons, and silphiums. This area has suffered greatly from overgrazing and agricultural use. Few intact areas remain, though many of the plants can be found along county roadsides throughout the region.

Our four host chapters (New Braunfels, Lindheimer, Guadalupe, and the Hill Country chapters) are located in one or both of the ecoregions above. However, the eastern portion of Guadalupe County also falls within the Post Oak Savanna ecoregion. Annual rainfall averages 35 to 45 inches, with higher averages to the east. A wide variety of hardwood trees are found, including several species of oaks, elms, and in the Bastrop area, loblolly pine (Pinus taeda). Grasses and forbs dominate in the open savannas, with most common grass being little bluestem. Ranching, agriculture, and fire suppression have allowed woody species to encroach on the once-open savannas.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason