A LITTLE



The Home ofOperation NICE!?Natives Instead of Common ExoticsWeb site: 2016Volume 16 Number 2Monthly Meeting Tuesday February 2, 2016Cibolo Nature Center at 140 City Park Road, Boerne TX Our speaker, Alex Gonzalez, will speak about “Master Planning with Texas Natives.” The presentation will cover using natives as the overriding theme in master planned communities, “living fences” and the benefits and challenges to using natives, and will include a couple case studies – Esperanza, Miralomas (both in Boerne) and Savanah in San Antonio. Alex is a landscape designer at TBG Partners, a landscape architecture and planning firm in San Antonio. He is passionate about developing new ways to integrate native plants into the built environment. His fascination with Texas flora budded during childhood hikes along Cibolo creek. Alex earned a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from Texas A&M University with an emphasis in horticulture. He is an avid gardener and collects rare cacti and succulents and is a member of the NPSOT San Antonio chapter. TBG Partners is a distinguished landscape architecture and planning firm founded in 1987 in Austin, Texas. Over the past 28 years the firm has grown from a single office to an integrated practice with more than 140 professionals working on projects of all scales around the world. In each project, we tell a unique story inspired by our passion for creating unforgettable places that connect people and nature while expressing the story in each detail. A portfolio of TGB’s work can be found at . Come at 6:30 to socialize. The program starts at 7 PM.President’s MessageGreetings!At our January meeting Jimmy Black gave a fascinating talk on Cacti and Succulents. Be sure to attend the meeting on February 2, when Alex Gonzalez, a landscape designer, will share his knowledge on Master Planning with Texas Natives. You might want to bring extra $1s to buy raffle tickets, as we will have our February Plant of the Month – spiny hackberry, an almost impossible tree to find in a nursery, grown from seed by chapter member Wilt Shaw.We have several good projects developing this year. Veronica Hawk arranged for those interested in rescuing and preserving native plants to go survey trees, shrubs, and perennials at the under-development Park Village subdivision on Highway 46 between Boerne and Bulverde. A group started last Sunday, but did not finish walking all the acreage. We found a variety of the Hill Country plants there. See Veronica’s article below. Rheda Boardman is finalizing the details for the second Boerne NPSOT Youth Photo Contest which will be in the spring this year instead of the fall. We will need participation from our members. See Rheda’s article below. We have a list of those of you who said you wanted to plant items for the April 2 plant sale. Pots and soil, if you need them for this project, can be picked up at Suzanne Young’s house on Saturday, January 23, between 10 AM and noon. Plants to be potted up for this year’s plant sale need to be dug and potted before February 1. Suzanne’s address is 216 Oak Knoll in Boerne.We will contact those who signed up to help with the plant sale to ask them to help with a specific task at the sale. If you wish to help with the plant sale, but did not sign up for it on the survey, please let me know.We have been fortunate this year with the weather and the rain up to now, so we may also be fortunate to have many spring native flowers.Cheers! Kathy Ward (210) 698-3421Chapter ActivitiesPlant Rescue Plant IdentificationField TripBy Veronica HawkOn Sunday January 17th, nine nature enthusiasts met Kelly Leach, the developer of the new Park Village subdivision, one mile from the intersection of Highway 46 and Blanco Road. The group included Adrian Valdez, Veronica Hawk, Sherry Whitmore, Kathy Ward, Suzanne Young, Kelly Leach, Steve Young; Michael Caldwell, Lea Anzalotta, Carol de Boer & Jeanlyn Valdez. The goal was to set observation points for heritage trees, plants of special interest and important ecological niches to assist in plat development in advance of construction on the property. The first three phases of roads and drainage are in place, so we noted valuable natives in the immediate 100’ setback that will be disturbed for residential housing. Each property will have undisturbed greenspace behind it. When a prospective home buyer decides on this location, they can choose the model of house, the lot they prefer, and then site the house so as to spare as many large trees and valuable natives as possible. We will also provide recommendations for a demonstration garden, with signage, to help the new homeowners learn the identity of the plants on their property, as well as how to cultivate them and perhaps to add to them in the future.So, technology really has come a long way. We used our I-phone compass app to record the longitude and latitude coordinates of the most notable post, black jack and live oak trees and cedar elms. We noted understory trees like gum bumelia, hackberry, shin oak, Eve’s necklace, mature persimmon trees and soapberry. Shrubs and mid-level plants include agarita, elbow bush, huge mustang grapes and large stands of twist leaf yucca. Ground level cover includes healthy stands of little bluestem, Lindheimer muhly, bear grass, canyon muhly and Yellow Indian grass. And this was all identified in mid-January! We expect to find many more important species as soon as they leaf out. Hopefully, that will be in 3 weeks, February 7 at 1 PM, when we will return to cover more of the property. Contact Veronica Hawk at veronica.hawk@ if you would like to walk through nature.2016 Texas Native Plant Youth Photo ContestBy Rheda BoardmanWe are going DIGITAL for our 2016 Texas Native-Plant Youth Photo Contest. The contest was first launched last year, as a way to challenge amateur photographers of all skill levels to use their cameras as a tool to learn more about native plants and pollinators of the Texas Hill Country. Because one of the goals of the society is to educate young people about the value of native plants, we are scheduling workshops in April and May to assist students with plant identification and nature photography. We will be recruiting NPSOT members to be available as native plant and photography guides. At this time we have made arrangements to have workshops at the Patrick Heath Public Library and the Cibolo Nature Center & Farm. Workshop participation is not required for entering the contest. The contest is open to amateur photographers who are between the ages 6 and 18 years old as of June 1, 2016 and reside in the Boerne Independent School District. This year the contest will begin March 7th and end May 22nd. The awards ceremony will be held at our June 7th meeting.The contest is sponsored by the Native Plant Society of Texas Boerne Chapter, Cibolo Nature Center & Farm and Patrick Heath Public Library Operation Nice!NICE! ?Plant of the MonthFebruary 2016Spiny hackberry(Celtis ehrenbergiana)By Wilt ShawSpiny hackberry, also known as granjeno, does not look like much to us plant folks, much less to the general public. But to birds and critters that frequent our forests, brush lands and yards, it can be a very good food and water resource.Once known as Celtis pallida because of its smooth, grayish bark, C. eherenbergiana, a member of the hackberry family, can reach 15 feet in height, but rarely gets above nine feet. Easily recognized by its thorny zig-zaggy branches and rough leaves, it can be found in south Texas as well as the Edwards Plateau. Be aware though that besides being browsed by deer, in a cold winter in our area, it may freeze to the ground. So it will need protection in our area.After the rather inconspicuous greenish-white flowers bloom in spring, the bight orange drupes will appear. Ripening in summer, they will be sought after by many bird species including Northern cardinals, doves, mockingbirds, painted buntings, quail and wrens to name a few. Many critters such as rabbits, raccoons and ringtails also jump at the chance to indulge not only in the fruit, but also the leaves.The fruit is also eaten by us humans. A few years ago, while on a NPSOT field trip to El Cielo Biosphere in Tamaulipas, Mexico, we learned that local folks used these sweet berries as a recipe addition.Finding granjeno in a nursery is rare, but, Ernesto Carino, owner of Medina Garden Nursery 13417 State Hwy 16-N in Medina, told me it is easily grown from seed. I hope to supply Ernesto with seed this summer!For your viewing pleasure, here a 34 second video showing a long-billed thrasher eating granjeno drupes: Nice! Tip: This NICE! (Native Instead of Common Exotic) plant, although uncommon, is well worth having. The primary reason for adding a spiny hackberry to your landscape is that it is a great attractant for butterflies—it is the host plant for the American snout butterfly and Hackberry emperor—as well as birds, bees and moths.Regional StuffBalcones Satellite of the Texas InvadersWe began our invasive plant eradication at Government Canyon in September, 2015. We knew that we would find a few Chinaberry trees (Melia azedarach); however, we have been very surprised by the sheer number and size of the specimens!Why are we finding them in this State Natural Area? First, it only takes one berry (drupe) to germinate and begin an infestation. It is likely that the first plant grew from a bird-dispersed seed from a nearby homestead. Second, Chinaberry is very fast growing, and can reach 18 to 24 feet in height in just 4 to 5 years and 50 or 60 feet at maturity. It is reproductively mature when it reaches the size of a shrub! Third, it is resistant to insects and pathogens and thus can outcompete native vegetation. Additionally, its leaf litter raises soil pH, which alters soil conditions needed for native plant seed germination and plant growth. Fourth, Chinaberry reproduces by both seeds and by root sprouts or from root collars. The drupes float, and are easily carried downstream during flood events. Chinaberry was introduced in the mid-1880s from the Himalayas and Asia. Many of our volunteers remember Chinaberry trees in their grandparents’ yards, where they were planted for shade. Since Chinaberry’s introduction; however, it has become a major invasive nuisance. It is common in disturbed soil, lowlands, riparian thickets, roadsides, forest margins and around homesteads. Two years ago, the state of Texas added the Chinaberry tree to its Noxious Weeds List, which prohibits its growth or sale. If you have a Chinaberry tree, consider removing it. If you see Chinaberry in parks or natural areas, please notify the park manager.In San Antonio, local volunteers are needed for eradication of invasive plants. No prior experience is required. Sturdy shoes, long-sleeved pants and shirts, gloves and water are necessary. We have a supply of tools, but welcome anyone who brings their own. For details of exact location and directions, contact Lonnie at lonnieshockley@satx.. Those on the mailing list will receive notification of the location of the eradication area and cancellation for severe weather conditions. Join us on Tuesdays, February 2, 9, 16 and 23 between 8:30 to 10:30 AM.Happenings – the CalendarFebruary 2 (Tuesday) 7:00 PM. Monthly meeting Alex Gonzalez, Topic: Master Planning with Texas Natives. Come at 6:30 to socialize.February 7 (Sunday) 1:00 PM. Plant Rescue Plant Identification Field Trip at Park Village (new development) 1 mile east of Blanco Road on the south side of Highway 46 at 27055 Highway 46, Bulverde (see article above)March 1 (Tuesday) 7:00 PM. Monthly meeting: Marvin Hatter, Topic Plant Propagation.To find out about activities and workshops with other organizations call or visit their websites:Cibolo Nature Center (830.249.4616) Master Naturalist:San Antonio, Alamo Chapter Kerrville, Hill Country Chapter Friends of Friedrich Wilderness Park (210.372.9124)Medina River Natural Area Second Saturday Programs (210.624.2575) For more information or to RSVP for any event please contact by telephone. Website: Our meetings are free and open to the public. Join us the first Tuesday of the month, January-June and September-December, at 6:30 p.m. at the Cibolo Nature Center, Boerne, Texas.Our SponsorsPlease support the following businesses that sponsor our newsletterA LITTLENATURE STORE106 E. Theissen St.Boerne, TX830-249-2281BERGMANN LUMBER CO.236 S. MainBoerne, TX830-249-2712830-816-2193FANICK’S GARDEN CENTER1025 HolmgreenSan Antonio, TX210-648-1303GARDEN GATE COTTAGE ON EVERGREEN COURTBoerne, TX?Rebecca Rogers. Proprietor rjrogers@ 830 249 1808HILL COUNTRY AFRICAN VIOLETS & NURSERY32005 IH 10WBoerne, TX830-249-2614RAINBOW GARDENS2585 Thousand OaksSan Antonio, TXRonnie Grell, President210.494.6131REMAXASSOCIATES-BOERNEBob Bockholt, GRI309 Water Street, Boerne, TX830-816-2660,Free 800-455-1551STONE & SOIL DEPOT INC.26923 IH 10 WestBoerne, TX210.687.1005Burns Garden Center & Landscape25840 IH 10 West Ste CBoerne, TX 78006210-698-9669Become a Sponsor!Become a Sponsor!Medina Garden NurseryGrowing Native Plants Since 19993417 State Hwy 16-N,Medina, TX 78055(830) 589-2771 ................
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