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— by Gary Bowers
Are you new to the area and want to know what to plant? Maybe you have experience with native plants and you’re looking for ideas on some different native plants to work with? Or maybe you just want to know more about the Texas Native Plant Society.
Join us on Thursday, Sept 12 at the Georgetown Public Library for our “Getting Started with Texas Native Plants” panel discussion. Our panel will be made up of local members who have experience working with and teaching others about native plants. Submit questions to the panel in advance by completing the survey at this link.
Come and learn more about how native plants can help you save water, provide nectar plants for native pollinators, and give shelter and food for birds.
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NPSOT-Williamson County meetings are free and open to the public.
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[Post updated July 28, 2020, to add a link to Andrew’s presentation. (See last paragraph.) PD]
— by Nancy Pumphrey
Attendees during the Aug 08 2019 monthly meeting with Andrew Brazell speaking.
Tonight’s program was “Front Yard Native Prairie” presented by Andrew Brazell who lives in Weir and has devoted himself and his family to raising wildflowers and reclaiming his 15 acres of meadow. At this point, he has reclaimed about half the property from its former use in cattle-ranching.
Andrew was featured on Central Texas Gardener in 2014 and now contracts to give advice on growing native grasses and wildflowers across Texas. Andrew presented a very interesting presentation with great slides of his beautiful meadows. He is presently in the process of developing demonstration gardens and pollinator gardens for tours. Andrew’s presentation can be viewed at this link.
You can see the August 8, 2019 business presentation slides here.
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— by Randy Pensabene
In February 2019, the Williamson County Chapter – NPSOT received a request from the Georgetown NEST Empowerment Center to design and install a Butterfly Garden. It would be located at their facility at 2201 Old Airport Road, Georgetown, Texas and needed to be completed for their open house celebration on May 16, 2019. The NEST (Nurturing, Empowering, Supporting for Tomorrow) is operated by The Georgetown Project, a local nonprofit providing services that support their mission: “A community where no child is hungry, hurt, alone, or rejected, and where all children and youth believe they are loved, respected and treated with dignity”. The NEST Empowerment Center is a safe haven after the bell rings offering basic needs, counseling, academic and enrichment support for GISD high school students who are homeless, at-risk or living in transition. Gary Bowers and Randy Pensabene met with NEST personnel, Dennis Dalton, Case Manager, and Bebe Johnson, NEST Empowerment Center Coordinator, to better understand their vision and our role. The NEST’s objectives were to:
attract butterflies to collect and raise caterpillars as an enriching, science-based activity for the youth;
support other pollinators and hummingbirds;
provide a relaxing nature area for the staff and kids to enjoy; and
have a beautiful garden by the main entrance to the NEST building.
Area at project start
We soon came to an agreement for an all native plant butterfly garden and determined each organization’s responsibilities for the various project aspects and costs. The specifics of how we would work together were documented, which facilitated a stress-free working relationship throughout the project. Next, Randy Pensabene and Pat Perkison met with Barbara Wright, Wright’s Nursery, to consult on native host and nectar plants for butterflies. Pat researched and drafted a preliminary list of native butterfly plants and whether they were a butterfly larval host plant or a nectar source and in which season of the year they provided this service. This list was utilized in choosing the final plants.
At this point, Beth Erwin, a long-time horticulturalist, joined the project, jumped right in and began searching for plants, making changes as needed with consideration for a pleasing garden design.
While Beth procured the native plants, Gary and Randy built a screened butterfly enclosure. We found a small birdbath that was perfect to use as the “butterfly puddler” (i.e. water source). Additionally, NEST got the kids involved to clear the bed, set the pavers, assemble the tool shed and install the trellis.
On planting day, the plants were arranged in the bed space and it didnt take long to get them all in the ground. They received a good watering-in and later were mulched and plant labels added so that everyone could identify the native plants. Beth also installed a drip-irrigation system to ensure the plants survived.
Hooray! We met the deadline, attended a wonderful dedication party for the new NEST building and celebrated with our new friends. Beth continues to check on the plants, adjust the irrigation and fight the good fight against the weeds while our plants get established and flourish. We want to thank all our wonderful volunteers and the Williamson County Chapter – NPSOT wants to thank the NEST for including us in this very worthwhile project and for the important work they do in youth development in Georgetown, Texas! We encourage our members to go by and visit the NEST Butterfly Garden.
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