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Native Plant Society of Texas

Contest winners, outstanding members recognized at symposium

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Many of our members were recognized for achievements and contests during the annual gathering in League City on October 5.

Cecil Carter bestowed Presidential Awards to the committee members who have been working diligently for over a year to improve chapter financial reporting. Award plaques were presented to Jan Hanz of the Austin Chapter, Mike McBride and Mo Saiidi of the Fredericksburg Chapter, and Dennis Perz of the Wilco Chapter.

Cecil also recognized the Big Bend Chapter as the Chapter of the Year for 2019. The chapter started the Michael Powell botany scholarship at Sul Ross State University with an initial gift of $10,000 in 2018 and a similar gift in 2019.

The entire membership voted on which members would be selected for the Benny J. Simpson Fellows Award, which is given for service and work for the enrichment of the Society at the state or chapter level. Those receiving the most votes were Bea Caraway, Joan Miller, and John Nikolatos, all of the San Antonio Chapter.

Contest winners were announced by Bill Hopkins. The video contest was judged by Kay Jenkins and Martha Peet, using a rubric developed to emphasize the qualities considered by the judges to be most valuable in promoting native plants and ecosystems as well as our organization. The chosen video was conceived and created by Robert Kamper of the Wilco Chapter and consists of a slide show of images of native plants, accompanied by an original song also written by Robert Kamper.

For the first year we also had a chapter newsletter contest. The judges for the contest were Lonnie Childs, Heidi Gigler and Ricky Linex. Out of eight entries they judged the North Central Chapter to be the best in all categories of the assessment rubric. The North Central Texas News is edited by Martha and Troy Mullens.

Rachel Cywinski announced the winners of the photo contest, which has twelve divisions corresponding to the twelve Level III ecoregions found in Texas. Steven Schwartzman won in nine of the twelve categories; Marilyn Blanton won in the Cross Timbers category; and Nancy Natho won in the Southwestern Texas Plains category and in the Central Great Plains category. You may see all the photos entered in the contest here.

In addition, Caroll Flournoy held the winning ticket and received the raffle prize of a quilt made by Tricia Hopkins. Caroll and Tricia are both in the Cross Timbers Chapter. Raffle proceeds and silent auction proceeds help fund our scholarship and grant awards.

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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