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Join us for our chapter meeting on June 13, at the Georgetown Public Library, when we’ll learn about “Climate, Soils and Biodiversity: Unexpected Relationships” with Dr. Michael Huston, TSU, San Marcos.
Dr. Michael Huston, Professor in the Biology Department at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas, has worked for over thirty years on a wide range of issues related to biodiversity, specifically understanding the spatial distribution of species diversity at scales ranging from microscopic to global, in ecosystems including tropical and temperate forests, streams and coral reefs, temperate grasslands, and semi-arid shrublands. Read more at the Texas Invasive Species Institute. Find information about Dr. Huston’s many publications at this link.
NPSOT-Williamson County meetings are free and open to the public.
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— 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!
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— 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.
