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Fredericksburg Chapter

Enchanted Rock ~ 02.28.2023

Eighteen miles north of Fredericksburg the tip of a pink granite batholith, – 1.1 billion years old –

rises above the much younger limestone layers of the Edwards Plateau.
Enchanted Rock is celebrating its 45th anniversary as a state park on Thursday March 2, 2023

Our speakers for February provide a foundation for the celebration.

Debbie Windham, President of Friends of Enchanted Rock,

and Bob Lodowski, volunteer Interpretive Guide at Enchanted Rock,

will take us on a tour of the native plants and geography of our local treasure.

Native Plants and Geography of Enchanted Rock State Natural Area


Topic of February 28 Meeting

Fredericksburg, TX — The Fredericksburg Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas today announced its speakers for the February 28 meeting. Debbie Windham, President of Friends of Enchanted Rock, and Bob Lodowski, volunteer Interpretive Guide at Enchanted Rock, will speak on the native plants and geography of our local treasure.
“Debbie and Bob have worked together for several years as trail guides and are intimately acquainted with the native flora,” said chapter Vice President and program chair, Paula Stone.  “Their photos and stories should inspire us all to hike ‘The Rock’ again this spring.”
Windham was born and raised in Dallas, TX, and in 2002, she and her husband bought property in Hunt, TX. After her career as a Certified Financial Planner and Stock Broker managing corporation’s 401(k) plans, they moved full time to Hunt. They are working to bring their canyon land back to a native wildlife habitat under the constraints of an overabundance of deer and exotics on their high-fenced hunting ranch. Windham is a Texas Master Naturalist (Class of 2015), and the Past President and Past Vice-President of the Kerrville chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas. She has volunteered at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area for the last 7 years. Currently, she is an Interpretive Guide for hikes at Enchanted Rock and serves as the President of Friends of Enchanted Rock.
Lodowsky was also born and raised in Dallas, TX and, after a 43-year career in the financial services industry and raising four children, he, his wife and dog, moved to a small-acreage property north of Fredericksburg where they built their retirement home, fulfilling their dream to live in the Hill Country. He is excited about learning more about managing his land and sharing that knowledge with others. He is a Texas Master Naturalist (class of 2016), and a member of the Friends of Enchanted Rock. He is a volunteer Interpretive Guide at Enchanted Rock, a member of the Fredericksburg chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas, and formerly its treasurer for two years.

Fredericksburg Chapter, Native Plant Society of Texas
The chapter holds its monthly meetings on the 4th Tuesday of the month at St. Joseph’s Halle (212 W. San Antonio St., Fredericksburg). There is a social time at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting starts at 7 p.m. The public is invited to attend. More information can be found online at https://www.npsot.org/wp/fredericksburg/ and on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/fbgtxnpsot).

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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