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Pollinator Road Trip 3: A Habitat Grant Update – Hybrid Clear Lake Chapter Meeting

Pollinator Garden

May 13 @ 6:15 pm – 8:30 pm

Please join us for our chapter meeting in person or online!

6:15 Doors Opens – UHCL Bayou Building, Room 1217
6:40 Zoom Opens
6:45 Business Meeting
6:55 Plant of the Month
7:00 Guest Speakers

For May’s chapter meeting, we will take a virtual road trip to visit pollinator habitats funded by the chapter’s Native Pollinator Habitat Grant Program. You will hear from projects at three sites: FJH Outdoor Classroom at Friendswood Junior High School, Pollinator Habitat in the Discovery Garden at Carbide Park, and Cornelius Re-Spark Park at Cornelius Elementary School. Grantees will highlight their successes, obstacles, and lessons learned.

About the Sites

Cornelius Re-Spark Park at Cornelius Elementary School (Houston ISD): Cornelius was one of the first five schools in Houston to receive a SPARK Park back 1983 and has benefited from a few re-SPARK efforts. This initiative by the Cornelius PTO is creating a native pollinator garden at JP Cornelius Elementary, enriching the learning environment for students while supporting local wildlife.

Outdoor Classroom at Friendswood Junior High (Friendswood ISD): Friendswood Junior High’s project aimed to create an engaging and educational native pollinator garden, fostering a connection between students and the environment.

Pollinator Habitat in the Discovery Garden (Carbide Park): The project led by the Galveston County Master Gardeners at Carbide Park is centered on enhancing a pollinator habitat within the Discovery Garden. This initiative not only provides essential support to local pollinators but also offers valuable learning opportunities for visitors.

In-person – Parking Pass 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 Room 1217 (meeting room) and to place it in your car. DO NOT park in faculty/staff parking (enforced 24/7).

Arrive early to socialize and enter your name in the drawing for the door prize.

Map and Directions – The meeting will be held in Room 1217 of the Bayou Building at UHCL.

University of Houston-Clear Lake
2700 Bay Area Blvd.
Houston, TX 77058

Online – Zoom

Register in advance for this meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

REGISTER HERE

This is a FREE EVENT. 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: npsot.org.

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

Clear Lake Chapter

View Organizer Website

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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