Native Plant Society of Texas
Boerne Chapter
The Home of
Operation NICE!™
Natives Instead of Common Exotics
Web site: http://npsot.org/Boerne
Newsletter
April 2015
Volume 15 Number 4
Monthly Meeting Tuesday April 7, 2015
Cibolo Nature Center at 140 City Park Road, Boerne TX
Lonnie Childs, from the Fredericksburg NPSOT (2012-2013 President), will talk about Naturalists of Frontier Texas, including two of the better known Texas explorers who spent time in the Hill Country, Charles Wright who explored between San Antonio and El Paso, and Ferdinand Lindheimer who became known as the “Father of Texas Botany” for his vast exploration. Childs will cover Texas, 1820 to 1880, when hundreds of naturalists searched for specimens to broaden knowledge and understanding of botany, zoology, paleontology, and geology. Since retiring from business and ranching, Lonnie Childs is pursuing his life-long interest in history and nature. He currently serves as the Immediate Past President of the Native Plant Society of Texas and has attained the Master Naturalist certification. As usual our social begins at 6:30pm. The meeting will begin at 7pm.
President’s Message
Welcome to Spring, All:
Isn’t it grand - days of beautiful sun and then it rains again. This type of weather doesn’t get much better. Each night I listen to the weather and check the weather each morning on the internet. Constantly changing – well it is Texas. I love the days of 70 plus degrees. I really got over anxious and planted my tomatoes two weeks ago and they are thriving. Today, I planted my bell peppers. My black eyed peas have come up and the lettuce, radishes and spinach are smiling at me. All my herbs and flowers are jumping up and looking wonderful. How I love this time of year.
I have been gathering medicinal plants that are growing all around us. We have made tinctures of cleaver, anemone and shepherds purse, as well as agarita and horehound salve. We have so much fun and it is so wonderful to use it for healing.
I hope everyone is planning to attend the wonderful field trips that have been set up. This time of year it is wonderful to see everything that is in bloom and enjoy the nice temperatures. I know you will enjoy being out in the wonderful outdoors.
I am looking forward to the Mostly Native Plant Sale on the 3rd and 4th of April. Please, if you have some spare time, come and assist with the sale while enjoying being with our members – we always have a great time. We are going to have so many wonderful plants, some we haven’t had before or at least not for a long time, and hopefully a lot of buyers. If you have any questions – please contact Betty Dunn. I will be there Friday and Saturday and look forward to seeing you all.
Everyone take care and I'll look forward to seeing you at the April chapter meeting. Enjoy the wonderful spring weather.
Daneshu
Chapter Activities
Operation Nice!
NICE! ™Plant of the Month
April 2015
Aromatic Sumac
(Rhus aromatica)
By Betty Dunn
The NICE! plant of the month for April is commonly known as Aromatic Sumac, but it does suffer from other less flattering names like Skunkbush. If you’re one of the fortunate ones to have this plant in your landscape, you probably already know why it sometimes has this unfortunate name. If you are still wondering why, just crush a leaf then sniff the released vapors to get your answer! Not to worry. Its great wildlife benefits more than make up for this odiferous fault. On second thought, since it is listed as highly deer resistant maybe this characteristic is not a bad thing. It may not be a preferred item on the deer’s menu, but during the worst of the recent drought my thicket was nibbled almost bare so protection by fencing is in order.
I was really pleased when birds planted an Aromatic Sumac for me. I watched it grow into a nice little thicket, which it will do, and waited patiently for the promised bright red little drupes, which are used by birds and other wildlife. Those berries were said to persist throughout the winter into early March after the year in which they were produced, and I’ve seen them on specimens in friends’ yards. None appeared on mine even after a few years! I wondered; just how old do these shrubs need to be to produce those berries? When looking for the answer to that question, I found that this is one of those dioecious plants, that is, it produces only one unisex flower type on each plant. My little thicket clones were all males! I wasn’t totally upset since they do turn beautiful colors in the fall. Promised colors include red, purple, yellow and orange, but mine turn just red. Maybe that characteristic is clonal, too? Another reason to like even the male plant is that this species is a larval host to both the Banded and Red-banded Hairstreak butterflies, which are really cute little guys. I’ll bet you’ve seen them fluttering around in your landscape if you look at small things.
So, now I’m on the lookout for a female Aromatic Sumac to add to my landscape as I still want the female yellowish flowers that appear before the leaves emerge, and are very attractive to both bees and adult butterflies. In addition to being propagated by seed, where both male and female plants would be produced, Aromatic Sumac is easily propagated by semi-hardwood cutting taken from summer to fall. It’s even more easily propagated by simply transplanting one of the suckers that form around the established plants. Using one of the two latter methods ensures you get a plant of the desired sex since it will be a copy of the parent. So, if you have a female plant, I may be interested in helping you control your thicket! However, there are now several native plant nurseries that offer this plant, and many are careful to cultivate the female as most people want to see the female flowers and berries.
These deciduous shrubs are said to grow rapidly to 5-12 feet tall and 4-6 feet wide. Mine grew rapidly, but only achieved around 4-5 feet tall, perhaps because it’s in semi-shade. Regardless, this shrub would be a great selection for erosion control on banks due to its spreading characteristics, or it could be used as a deciduous hedge. Plus, in addition to wildlife food, the thicket offers shelter to small critters when they need a place to retreat for safety. Try it in your landscape; you’ll be glad you did!
Operation NICE! Tip: Ensure greatest wildlife benefit by including female plants in the landscape. Good for soil erosion control on banks or drainage areas or may be used as a deciduous hedge. Thickets help provide wildlife with shelter and safety during times of stress. This generally pest and disease free plant looks great planted in drifts as they occur naturally. Remember, plant diversity is necessary for a healthy environment.
FIELD TRIPS
Land Heritage Institute
April 10, 2015
The Land Heritage Institute (LHI) is a special place on the lower end of the Medina River, which starts in the Hill Country north of Bandera. You will get to embrace beautiful South Texas terrain and hike along the Medina River.
Spring color should be at its peak. You will also get to experience a land museum that showcases every culture that shaped the state of Texas, starting with the first people, the American Indians, the Spanish and Mexican cultures and the first German settlers of the area.
Our guide, Peggy Oppelt, is a volunteer with the Land Heritage Institute and an Alamo Master Naturalist. She will lead a nature hike through some of the pristine land of LHI. The hike will be over 2 miles and semi strenuous. It will not be ADA accessible. Wear sturdy shoes. Cameras and walking sticks are encouraged.
Time: 10 AM to 12 noon
Donation: $3 per person
Location: 1349 Neal Road, between Applewhite and Pleasanton Road on the south bank of the Medina River.
Lunch: Don Pedro Mexican Restaurant (1526 SW Military Drive)
Reservations: Rheda Boardman, or 713 504 6253.
Please make your reservation by April 1st.
Love Creek Preserve-The Nature Conservancy
Friday May 1, 2015
Enjoy a tour at the 2200 acre preserve in western Bandera County. This area is often referred to as the beautiful Bandera Canyonlands because of the numerous springs and seeps originating from the geologic spring-fed stream separating the porous Edwards limestone from the dense Upper Glen Rose formation. These perennial, life-giving waters etch through deep, cool canyons, enabling a wide variety of Texas native plants and wildlife to flourish on the Edwards Plateau. It is a site of great biodiversity including many rare and endangered plants.
Rebecca Flack – Southern Hill Country Project Director/Love Creek Preserve Manager has recommended we have two separate tours to help accommodate people with different abilities.
Tour 1: Upland area driving tour with periodic stops to allow you to get out and look at interesting species (Tobusch fishhook cactus, Texas barberry). This tour will accommodate those who may not be able to do much hiking.
Tour 2: Creek area - Depending on your abilities the hike could be more than semi-strenuous. It is not on a maintained trail as you will be hiking, in places, directly in the creek bed to see various plants. For those who have knee, ankle, back or hip conditions, it may be difficult for you to navigate the terrain and rocky landscape. It can be a challenging hike, even without the major elevation changes experienced on the trail. It is a one mile round trip hike down a steep trail to the creek. We will need 4X4 vehicles to help shuttle people. Some may walk down but will appreciate a shuttle up. The number of people on this tour will be based on the number of available 4X4 high clearance vehicles.
Things to bring: good hiking shoes, hat, sunscreen, insect repellant, hiking poles, & plenty of water,
Time: 10AM to 12PM
Fee: None (donations appreciated)
Location: FM 337 West on Medina
Lunch: Bring a sack lunch as we plan to eat at the preserve
Reservations: Rheda Boardman, or 713-504-6253
Designate Tour 1 or Tour 2 and if you will have a 4×4, high-clearance vehicle to help with shuttling people on Tour 2 and the total number of people you can carry in your 4×4, high-clearance vehicle.
This filed trip will take special organizing by Becky. Please help by making your reservation as soon as possible.
Regional Stuff
The Gleaners – Native Seed Collectors
By Brenda Fest
The Gleaners group was established at Riverside Nature Center (RNC) in 1995. The members set out to educate themselves about the native flora of Kerr County and about gleaning seeds for sowing in their wildflower gardens and in the meadow at the RNC.
They also do plant rescue, volunteer in the RNC meadow and other gardens in Kerrville. An outreach program, Seeds: the Fruit of the Matter, which focuses on the process of collecting, cleaning and storing seeds, is available for garden clubs and other organizations.
The Gleaners in Kerrville is seeking to expand their corps of volunteers to include other counties. Brenda Fest, of Boerne NPSOT, is looking for interested volunteers to begin a Seed Gleaners group at the Cibolo Nature Center. Please contact her at or 830-688-1021 if you are interested.
The Hill Country Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalists
April 23, 2015
Feral Hog Program
Josh Helcel, extension associate for Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Gatesville, Texas
Josh will present a one hour feral hog educational program. Josh will also cover the early introductions, biology, water quality impacts, riparian impacts, agricultural damages, economic impacts, control strategies, emerging technologies, and management implications associated with feral hogs in the state of Texas. After the program, time will be allotted for any questions and concerns specific to the audience regarding feral hogs, their impacts, and effective control strategies.
Josh provides educational programs and landowner assistance across the 13-county Cross Timbers region as part of the Lone Star Healthy Streams Program and he works with the program’s feral hog component. Josh also conducts watershed-based educational programs focused on feral hogs and provides technical assistance to landowners to help them determine a feral hog population reduction strategy that is specific to their needs and their property.
Prior to working for Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service, Josh worked as an interpreter and public hunting coordinator for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and graduated with a bachelor’s of science degree in wildlife ecology and management from Texas A&M University.
Josh covers the Geronimo Creek Watershed in Guadalupe and Comal counties, Gilleland Creek Watershed in Travis county, Lake Granbury Watershed in Hood, Parker, Palo Pinto, Ranger, Erath and Jack counties; the Lampasas River Watershed in Bell, Burnet, Coryell, Hamilton, Lampasas, Mills and Williamson counties; and the Leon River Watershed below Proctor Lake and above Belton Lake in Comanche, Hamilton, Erath, Coryell, Mills and Bell counties and the Plum Creek Watershed in Caldwell, Hays and Travis counties.
Josh Helcel is a native Texan and developed a lifelong passion for the outdoors at a young age. His distinct educational and personal background led him to his career in the wise use and management of natural resources, and these experiences provide him with a unique perspective for tackling wildlife challenges.