NPSOT-Williamson County Chapter
Native Plant Society of Texas (NPSOT-Wilco)
** ARCHIVED POST – LINKS AND IMAGES MAY NOT WORK**
— by Vicky Husband
Visit two Native Plant gardens that were planned with pollinators in mind! Park & Start at San Gabriel Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 1322 E University Ave, Georgetown, TX 78626. Next stop is the Williamson County Landfill Pollinator Garden, 600 Co Rd 128, Hutto, TX 78634. Optional dutch lunch in Hutto afterwards. See you there!
** ARCHIVED POST – LINKS AND IMAGES MAY NOT WORK**
** ARCHIVED POST – LINKS AND IMAGES MAY NOT WORK**
— by Kathy Henderson
Promoting Habitat Restoration in Urban Areas was the title of our program which was delivered by Cheryl Lewis, president of the new Post Oak Chapter of NPSOT. She summed up her ideal in the phrase “as it was in the beginning…”
Most of Williamson County was beautiful prairie when humans first appeared on the scene and we need to do what we can in urban areas to return to that status, working with and around the necessary buildings and other structures. She urged restoration of habitat in ways that support the environment and the creatures in that environment. In that portion of the presentation, we saw a graphic depicting the root system of native prairie plants. Click the image below for a full-size PDF from the Minnesota State Department of Natural Resources.
Cheryl offered some good ideas for plants to use and, of course, they are all native. She mentioned that natives are necessary for our wildlife because the leaf chemistry in natives is different than non-natives and this can make a big difference for our wildlife. She noted that Straggler Daisy aka Horseherb (Calyptocarpus vialis) hosts the Bordered Patch Butterfly. So don’t disparage the Straggler Daisy! Cheryl also referenced some research that suggests using Indian Blanket (Gaillardia pulchella) to control invasive Bastard Cabbage (Rapistrum Rugosum). There were lots of good ideas and great resources in her presentation.
Finally, if you haven’t seen the “Selah, Water from Stone” short film, take less than 10 minutes to get some inspiration by hearing David Bamberger’s story.
Cheryl’s full presentation can be found here in PDF format.
You can see the April 11, 2019 business presentation slides here.
** ARCHIVED POST – LINKS AND IMAGES MAY NOT WORK**
** ARCHIVED POST – LINKS AND IMAGES MAY NOT WORK**
(Note: in May, we meet at the Georgetown Public Library.)
Don’t miss NPSOT-Wilco’s chapter meeting on May 9, 2019, when our program topic is “Rangeland Ecology” with David Riley of Plateau Land & Wildlife Management.
Abstract As Aldo Leopold once said “The central thesis of game management is this: game can be restored by the creative use of the same tools which have heretofore destroyed it—axe, plow, cow, fire and gun…” Rangelands over time can be degraded due to overuse or misuse of natural resources and it can be a difficult task to return to its natural state. During this presentation I will discuss the 5 different management tools and how they can be utilized to restore native rangelands.
David is a 4th generation Texan who grew up around the Hill Country. His passion for wildlife led him to College Station to receive a B.S. in Wildlife Ecology and Management from Texas A&M University. David’s early career with Texas A&M Agrilife Extension/Research and Texas Parks & Wildlife Department fueled his passion for working with private landowners throughout the state, which eventually led him to Plateau Land & Wildlife. David has travelled and worked throughout the whole state of Texas and has an expansive knowledge of native Texas wildlife and wildlife management. He is credited as an Associate Wildlife Biologist from the National Wildlife Society. As a biologist with Plateau Land & Wildlife Management, David works closely with hundreds of landowners annually to ensure that their wildlife management needs are met.
NPSOT-Williamson County meetings are free and open to the public.
** ARCHIVED POST – LINKS AND IMAGES MAY NOT WORK**