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Native Plant Society of Texas

Pines and Prairies Chapter

Houston Chapter – NPSOT NLCP Level 2 Class

February 18, 2023 @ 9:00 am

Get Ready for Spring with NPSOT’s NLCP Level 2 Class –  “Landscape Design with Native Plants” 
Photo Credit: Deedy Wright

Start your 2023 Garden in Style with “Landscape Design with Native Plants” –

A Live NLCP Class Via Zoom

Houston Area Level 2 Class from the NPSOT Native Landscaping Certification Program (NLCP) – Landscape Design with Native Plants – is here to help you get your native garden in shape for the 2023 growing season. This class is being held live via Zoom Meeting on February 18th 9 am to 4 pm.  

In this class, you will learn to create landscape designs incorporating native plants, and understand ecological considerations important to landscape design, specifically: 
Identify cultural considerations impacting landscape design 
Learn steps to the design process
Practice the design process during an intensive in-class exercise in Zoom breakout rooms with an experienced instructor
Become familiar with 45 new native Texas plants recommended for your landscape and 5 plants to avoid

For this class, we’ve chosen to feature an urban setting – Russ Pitman Park in Bellaire, TX. This location offers good examples of native plants that can be used to implement a native plant design plan that includes the four habitat zones in the park. Many of the native plants featured in this class can be found at Russ Pitman Park that includes deciduous woodlands, wetland prairie, cypress pond, and pocket prairie habitats. Plants signs will be placed next to Level 2 plants around the park to facilitate a self-guided tour, if want to see the plants yourself in the natural setting.

We will also be using Zoom Meeting Breakout Rooms for a special landscape design exercise with the Level 2 students. These online rooms allow us to break-up our class into smaller groups each with its own instructor. In this design exercise you will be guided through an actual hands-on landscape design using the steps given in the classroom lecture.  

IMPORTANT: Plan now, additional supplies you must have with you during the class design exercise are:
 
Printout of base plan – provided in PDF after registration
4 sheets of tracing paper
Finepoint black sharpie or magic marker
Green, blue, brown, red, and yellow markers, colored pencils or crayons
Tape or clips to secure the tracing paper sheets to your base plan

Registration for the February 18th class is on a first-come, first-served basis.  We expect to reach full capacity as our Level 2 class last Fall was a sell out. So, register soon, the online registration opened on February 1. 

Click here for more information and registration.

NOTE: The prerequisite for taking the Level 2 class is to have taken the introductory Level 1 NLCP class.
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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