This section of our website is dedicated to our much-loved Bill Ward, who passed away in January 2011. Besides being the first president of the Boerne Chapter of NPSOT and one of its founding member, Bill was always highly involved in our community outreach programs and an irreplaceable force of enthusiasm that spurred much of the achievements and friendships in our organization. What is listed here are his articles which appeared in the Boerne Star newspaper under the title “Native Grown”. These articles have been educating the public about the virtues of landscaping with native plants and of protecting native-plant habitats since April 2002. They reflect the wisdom and insight Bill was able to impart with us, as he taught us some of his favorite subjects.
– 2010 –
January
NICE! 10 for ’10 — starting with an old favorite by Bill Ward
Still green after being in the freezer by Bill Ward
Early-Blooming Redbud, NICE! Plant for February by Bill Ward
February
The Native-Plant Guru of the Trans-Pecos Collected in Kendall County by Bill Ward
Coral honeysuckle, a NICE! vine for landscaping by Bill Ward
March
“Native-Plant Watch” — helping Boerne school children grow native by Bill Ward
NICE! plant for April — an American beauty by Bill Ward
April
Plant Rescue — saving native species during urban sprawl by Bill Ward
May
Esperanza, a NICE! hope for summer blooms by Bill Ward
Tree of Heaven or Tree from Hell? by Bill Ward
Turk’s cap, a NICE! bloomer during the hot summer by Bill Ward
June
“Boerne Bean” finally gets some respect — it’s a new species by Bill Ward
Lindheimer muhly — the NICE! grass for 2010 by Bill Ward
July
Mountain cedar — does it deserve such disdain? by Bill Ward
Mountain cedar — water guzzler of the Hill Country or not? by Bill Ward
August
NPSOT — not a society of garden clubs by Bill Ward
Backyard wildflowers — something a little different by Bill Ward
October
Salvias are NICE! for all seasons, especially the fall by Bill Ward
Boerne Chapter NPSOT turns ten by Bill Ward
Possumhaw, the NICE! Holiday Holly for the Hill Country by Bill Ward
November
Fredericksburg Nature Center — big diversity of native plants in a small area by Bill Ward
Maple Momma and her volunteers did it again! by Bill Ward
December
More big red sage found in the Texas Hill Country! by Bill Ward
Mexican white oak — barely native, but a NICE! tree by Bill Ward
– 2009 –
January
Yucca – aquifer-friendly landscape plant by Bill Ward
People Names in Native-Plant Names, Part VIII – the Female Factor by Bill Ward
Everblack sumac – a favorite shrub that bears another mention by Bill Ward
February
The Texas Hill Country is Fern Habitat, Too by Bill Ward
March
Acacias are NICE! in this part of the Hill Country by Bill Ward
April
What’s Blooming during this Brown Spring? by Bill Ward
SUN shines on Chuck Janzow by Bill Ward
May
Anacacho Orchid Tree, a NICE! Landscape Plant for the Hill Country by Bill Ward
Steve Lowe suggests May as month of the “maguey lily” by Bill Ward
Rose Pavonia – NICE! Bloomer for Hot, Dry Summer by Bill Ward
June
Sustaining Mother Nature with Native Plants by Bill Ward
Pigeon-berry — NICE! plant for shady spots by Bill Ward
July
Native Plants and the Drought — Some Random Observations by Bill Ward
August
“Texas Native Plant Week” signed by the Governor by Bill Ward
Bluebell Gentian, Favorite Wildflower of the Drought by Bill Ward
Black dalea – NICE! for hot, dry gardens by Bill Ward
September
Yards of the future – which native plants will be used? by Bill Ward
Texas Ash — NICE! tree for October by Bill Ward
October
Early fall is “springtime” in the Chisos Mts of Big Bend by Bill Ward
Big Red Sage Near Boerne, Then and Now by Bill Ward
November
Nolina — the “bunch grass” that isn’t grass by Bill Ward
Prairies — more than grass on flat land by Bill Ward
The ligustrum woods of Boerne — landscape at its worst by Bill Ward
December
The native-plant garden and nursery in Medina, Texas by Bill Ward
100 More Bigtooth Maples Line the Streets of Boerne by Bill Ward
– 2008 –
January
Native Evergreens Get Me Through the Winter by Bill Ward (299KB)
February
Blanco Crabapple – A Kendall County Beauty by Bill Ward (92KB)
One-of-a-kind Publication – a Book on Rare Plants of Texas by Bill Ward (124KB)
Eve’s necklace, mountain laurel’s first cousin, is NICE! too by Bill Ward (116KB)
March
Under Assault – the Habitat Most Important to Our Water System! by Bill Ward (75KB)
April
Hiking through Eden with Bill Carr by Bill Ward
Dry Year or Wet Year – Mealy Blue Sage is NICE! by Bill Ward
May
Indian grass and other bunchgrasses make NICE! landscape plants by Bill Ward (93KB)
No Shortage of Endemic Plants in the Texas Hill Country by Bill Ward
June
People Names in Native-Plant Names, Part V by Bill Ward (66KB)
Agaves, NICE! drought-tolerant landscape plants by Bill Ward
July
People Names in Plant Names, Part VI – the Geologists Connection by Bill Ward (71KB)
August
People Names in Plant Names, Part VII by Bill Ward (81KB)
Butterflies think blue mistflower is very NICE! by Bill Ward
September
Driven Up the Wall by Herbivores by Bill Ward
October
The Devils River Valley – a Botanical Wonderland by Bill Ward
November
The common agarita – NICE! shrub for landscaping by Bill Ward
Trip to the “Cielo” of Native-Plant Diversity by Bill Ward
December
NICE! fall color – the understory factor by Bill Ward
Ball moss – the good, the bad, and the “ugly” by Bill Ward
– 2007 –
January
Upstairs to the Native Prairie for Morning Coffee by Bill Ward (74KB)
Lacey oak, a NICE! little tree for Hill Country yards by Bill Ward (78KB)
What’s in a Native-Plant Name? by Bill Ward (78KB)
February
Silktassel, One of Our NICEst Native Shrubs by Bill Ward (76KB)
People Names in Native-Plant Names, Part II by Bill Ward (75KB)
March
Mexican plum, a NICE! bloomer in early spring by Bill Ward (440KB)
People Names in Native-Plant Names, Part III by Bill Ward (77KB)
April
Crossvine, NICE! everblack decoration for walls and fences by Bill Ward (80KB)
People Names in Native-Plant Names, Part IV by Bill Ward (78KB)
Pink evening primrose, NICE! for spring, summer, and fall by Bill Ward (82KB)
May
Fifth birthday for a NICE! idea in Boerne by Bill Ward (83KB)
Coralbean, not Hill Country native, but NICE! anyway by Bill Ward (83KB)
June
Solved: the Mystery of the First-Collected Big Red Sage by Bill Ward (92KB)
July
Mister Texas Wildflower by Bill Ward (78KB)
August
Book Signings, Art Exhibits, and Yard Tours by Bill Ward (83KB)
Sign On Harvest Moon: Authors and Artists to Visit Boerne by Bill Ward (77KB)
September
Copper Canyon daisy, NICE! marigold for fall gardens by Bill Ward (85KB)
October
Soapberry – so much NICEr than chinaberry by Bill Ward (79KB)
December
Kendall County is in Texas Madrone Country! by Bill Ward (526KB)
Brush – It’s a Matter of Perspective by Bill Ward (73KB)
Anaqua, the sandpaper tree, is NICE! for local yards by Bill Ward (80KB)
– 2006 –
February
Old-fashion garden plant is NICE! for February by Bill Ward (79KB)
March
Texas Mock Orange, a NICE! Uncommon Endemic by Bill Ward (82KB)
To Attract Hummingbirds, Plant Natives by Bill Ward (78KB)
Winecups Are NICE! Spring Flowers by Bill Ward (79KB)
May
Goldenball Leadtree – Nice! Without April Showers by Bill Ward (79KB)
Prairie Grasses Might Lower Gas Prices Someday by Bill Ward (77KB)
August
Flame acanthus, NICE! bloomer in the summer heat by Bill Ward (79KB)
September
Barbados Cherry – Not Quite Native, But NICE! by Bill Ward (75KB)
October
Yard Tour Gives Native Plants a Good Name by Bill Ward (74KB)
Bigtooth Maples for Boerne – Very NICE! by Bill Ward (79KB)
November
Vines in Native-Plant Landscaping by Bill Ward (109KB)
– 2005 –
January
Endangered Native Plants Unprotected By Law by Bill Ward (77KB)
February
Prickly Pear, NICE! Everblack for Boerne Gardens by Bill Ward and Ann Black (82KB)
Texas Native Plants Benefit from So Many Roads and Fences by Bill Ward (74KB)
Big-Tooth Maple, NICE! Choice for Fall Color by Bill Ward (65KB)
March
What Does It Mean To Be Native? by Bill Ward
Yellow Jasmine, NICE! Vine for the Hill Country by Bill Ward (77KB)
April
Some Native Plants for Butterfly Gardens by Bill Ward (73KB)
Texas Betony is NICE! All Summer Long by Bill Ward (74KB)
May
A Different Kind of Hosting at CNC by Bill Ward (73KB)
Nolina is NICE! Plant for June by Bill Ward (71KB)
July
Twist-leaf Yucca — the Kinder, Gentler Yucca by Bill Ward (77KB)
Rare Plants Hidden in Canyons of the Hill Country by Bill Ward (77KB)
Flowering Vines of the Hill Country by Bill Ward (74KB)
August
Bluebonnets in August by Bill Ward (76KB)
September
Native Dogwood is NICE! for Fall Planting by Bill Ward (79KB)
October
Shrubs and Trees of the Upper Cibolo Drainage Basin by Bill Ward (84KB)
It’s a NICE! Time to Plant an Orchid-Tree by Bill Ward (77KB)
November
Early-Fall Color is in the Stream Valleys by Bill Ward (71KB)
If the Deer Eat It, Plant It! by Bill Ward (74KB)
December
Are Those Scientific Names Really Necessary by Bill Ward (75KB)
A Remnant of the Boerne Marsh at CNC by Bill Ward (79KB)