NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS N e w s Native Plant Society of Texas, North Central Chapter P Newsletter Vol 33, Number 4 S April 2021 O ncc npsot newsletter logo newsletter ncc npsot © 2018 Troy & Martha Mullens & Martha © 2018 Troy Purple Coneflower — Echinacea sp. T

April Program by April 2021 Program David Hopman Creating Beautiful Low ­Maintenance Polycultures of Native Plants in North Texas: Principles and Examples Bio Page 16 Virtual Meeting

Chapter of the Year (2016/17) Chapter Newsletter of the Year (2019/20)

Visit us at ncnpsot.org & Native Polyculture at Hopman residence 4-1-2018 www.txnativeplants.org Index Chapter Leaders President's Corner by Gordon Scruggs ...... p. 3ff President — Gordon Scruggs Pollinator Pathway by Avon Burton ...... p. 7 [email protected] Flower of the Month, Carolina Phlox Past President — Karen Harden by Josephine Keeney ...... p. 8f Activities & Volunteering for April 2021 Vice President & Programs — by Martha Mullens ...... p. 10f Morgan Chivers Everything you need to know about Wildflowers Recording Secretary — Debbie Stilson by Martha Mullens ...... p. 11 Treasurer — Position open Answer to last month’s puzzle and a new puzzle ...... p. 12 Hospitality Chair — Corinna Benson, April Calendar” Page by Troy Mullens ...... p. 13 Traci Middleton Two Uncommon Native Flowers of the Prairie Membership Chair — Beth Barber by Martha Mullens ...... p. 14f April Program, Speaker Bio ...... p. 16f Events Chair — Position open Membership Report by Beth Barber ...... p. 18 NICE! Coordinator — Avon Burton Hospitality by Corinna Benson ...... p. 18 Plant Sales Coordinators - Gordon Scruggs March Meeting Minutes by Debbie Stilson ...... p. 19 & Sandy Fountain & Josephine Keeney Parting Shots, News & Views by the Editors ...... p. 20ff Education/Outreach Chair — Open Volunteer Position Opportunites: Must read ...... p. 20 Webmaster — Frank Keeney Farmers Calendar by Troy Mullens ...... p. 21 Habitat for pollinators ...... p. 22 Field Trips — Eric Johnson Member Profile - Michele Cyr ...... p. 23 Speaker’s Bureau — Theresa Thomas Member Profile - Jim Prentice ...... p. 24f Donations/Grants Chair — Open iNat Challenge, Forest Bathing, & Trees ...... p. 26 Parliamentarian — Martha Mullens Prairie Celestial by Martha Mullens ...... p. 27 Facebook Manager — Open "Plant This and Not That" by Karen Harden ...... p. 28 Newsletter Editor — Troy Mullens Rough-leaf Dogwood by Martha Mullens ...... p. 29f [email protected] SW Regional Library Demo Garden by Sheila Franklin ...... p. 30 Assistant Newsletter Editor — Recommended Plants List (Complete) ...... p. 31f Martha Mullens This Year's Programs by Morgan Chivers ...... p. 33 Southwest Subcourthouse Garden Leaders Prairie Verbena, NICE! Plant of the Season (Spring) Gailon Hardin & Dawn Hancock by Dr. Becca Dickstein ...... p. 34 Native Plant Gardens at the Southwest Spring Plant Sale by Sandy Fountain ...... p. 35 Regional Library Leaders — White Settlement Monarch Way Station ...... p. 35 Join NPSOT, Mission Statement, next Meeting ...... p. 36 Theresa Thomas & Char McMorrow Newsletter Submission Requirements ...... p. 36 Molly Hollar Wildscape Garden Leader — Ann Knudsen Fielder House Garden Leaders — Josephine Keeney & Jane Osterhuis O.S. Gray Natural Area — Questions, Josephine Keeney White Settlement Waystation — Comments ? Merita Knapp & Sandy Fountain

Publicity Chair — Chairperson needed Use this link below ! & Martha Mullens Troy ©2017 NLCP Classes Coordinator — [email protected] Sandy Fountain, Theresa Thomas The President’s Corner - April 2021 - by Gordon Scruggs

I hope you and your family are well. We are very hap- plants that they rely on for their survival. Without the py that we have all been vaccinated at our house. Liv- native plants, most native insects would disappear. As ing with my 93-year old father, being vaccinated gives milkweed populations have been reduced by urban- us a sense of relief. With the historic winter storm in ization, agriculture, and the harvesting of natural re- February, I have been watching my gardens to see how sources, the Monarch butterfly populations have also the natives fared. Here in Grapevine the temperature declined and now this beautiful insect may soon be went down to four below. extinct. What the NPSOT is doing is important to fu- ture generations. The cold weather appeared to have no effect on our trees, including cedar elms / Ulmus crassifolia, I want to thank each of you for being a member of our sand post oak / Quercus margaretta, yaupon / Ilex great organization. If you have any questions or just ­vomitoria, and osage orange (bois-d’arc) / Maclura want to talk natives, please contact me at pomifera. I cannot as yet tell the effects on my bushes, [email protected]. except the autumn sage / Salvia greggii which is do- ing fine (see attached photo).

The forbs I am not so sure about. It looks like the scar- Many eyes go through the meadow, let sage / Salvia coccinea and wood fern / Thelypteris but few see the flowers in it. kunthii died. In my experience scarlet sage does not do well in areas exposed to the cold north wind. So Ralph Waldo Emerson its demise does not surprise me. I tossed out some seed, so I will have plenty blooming by early summer. It looks like the rest of the forbs fared very well. I have attached photos of some my plants with new spring growth. Since I am not very good at identifying na- tive forbs until they bloom, the photos with question marks are my guess at what they are. If you see any I misidentified, please let me know.

I read a very interesting article in Science (Plants & Animals, March 4, 2021) about butterflies. Research in to why butterflies are vanishing in the western U.S. turned up some surprising results. Habitat reduction and pesticides are often blamed for the rapid decline of insects. However, the study found that warmer weather caused by climate change may be having a greater impact.

I feel we are at a critical time in history with hu- mans being a major contributor to climate change and the rapid decline of insects. The famous botanist Four-nerve daisy / Tetraneuris scaposa is the first E.O. Wilson said that if insects disappeared from the spring flower in my gardens. 3/21 earth, this loss would cause the extinction of near- ly all terrestrial life, including humans. Studies have shown that 70% or more of the insects in an area have an evolutionary relationship with their local native Continued on Page 4

April 2021 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 3 The President’s Corner - April 2021 - by Gordon Scruggs Continued from Page 3

?Bee balm (Wild bergamot) / Monarda fistulosa? 3/21 ?Cedar sage / Salvia roemeriana? 3/21

?Lanceleaf coreopsis / Coreopsis lanceolata? 3/21 ?Prairie coneflower / Ratibida columnifera? 3/21 Photos © Gordon Scruggs © Gordon Photos Continued on Page 5 Page on Continued

Autumn sage / Salvia greggii with new growth com- Coral honeysuckle / Lonicera sempervirens 3/21 ing up from under the dead stems 3/21 April 2021 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 4 The President’s Corner - April 2021 - by Gordon Scruggs Continued from Page 4

Dixie iris / Iris hexagona 3/21 Engelmann (cutleaf) daisy / Engelmannia peristenia 3/21 Continued on Page 6 Page on Continued

False nettle / Boehmeria cylindrica 3/21 Four-nerve daisy 3/21 Photos © Gordon Scruggs © Gordon Photos

Frostweed / Verbesina virginica 3/21 Golden columbine / Aquilegia chrysantha 3/21

April 2021 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 5 The President’s Corner - April 2021 - by Gordon Scruggs Continued from Page 5

Maximillian sunflower / Helianthus maximilliani Mealy blue sage var. Henry Duelberg / Salvia farina- 3/21 cea var. H. Duelberg 3/21

Prairie verbena / Glandularia bipinnatifida (NICE! Standing cypress / Ipomopsis rubra 3/21 plant of the season) 3/21 Photos © Gordon Scruggs © Gordon Photos

Sundrops (day primrose) / Calylophus berlandieri 3/21 Winecup / Callirhoe pedata 3/21 Continued on Page 7 April 2021 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 6 The President’s Corner - April 2021 - by Gordon Scruggs Continued from Page 6 Photos © Gordon Scruggs © Gordon Photos

Tall goldenrod / Salidago canadensis 3/21 Texas thistle / Cirsium texanum 3/21

Pollinator Pathway - by Avon Burton

Judging by the beautiful blooms on the Mexican Plum trees the Pollinator Pathway is waking up. I enjoy working on this project at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden to help increase public knowledge of the beauty and benefits of native plants and the important role they play for pollinators.

Mexican Plum Pollinator Pathway Natives sign photo Pollinator pathway

Photos © Avon Burton

April 2021 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 7 Carolina Phlox — Flower of the Month for April Story & Photographs by Josephine Keeney

Carolina Phlox, Thick-leaf Phlox, Phlox Carolina

This lovely Texas native is a perennial herb There are many native Phlox in Texas. with an intoxicating fragrance. Drummond phlox, Phlox drummondii, Its native habitat is woodland edges and clear- ings. It is found from northeast Texas to Geor- Rio Grande Phlox, Phlox glabriflora gia and north to Maryland. Texan Phlox, Phlox nivalis subsp. texensis

The erect stems grow up to three feet tall with Downy Phlox, Phlox pilosa subsp. latisepala a gorgeous cluster of fuchsia pink flowers at Goldeneye Phlox, Phlox roemeriana the top. The bloom period lasts two or three Pointed Phlox, Phlox cuspidate months, starting in June and lasting till the end of September. Wild Blue Phlox, Phlox divaricata Threadleaf Phlox, Phlox mesoleuca If the stems are cut back by about half, after the blooms fade, it will re-bloom again in a few Santa Fe Phlox, Phlox nana weeks, making the bloom season very long. Trailing Phlox, Phlox nivalis

This beautiful flower can tolerate some shade Oklahoma Phlox, Phlox oklahomensis but it will do best in full sun. It has a tendency­ Prairie Phlox, Phlox pilosa to develop powdery mildew, if it doesn’t get Streamside Phlox, Phlox pilosa subsp. riparia enough light. Carolina Phlox loves moisture, so keep it moist Cold-Desert Phlox, Phlox stansburyi but not soggy. Threeseed Phlox, Phlox triovulata It is best propagated by division or cuttings, which are very easy to root. As the plant be- comes older it comes back stronger every year. This plant does very well in north central Tex- Phlox Photos on Page 9 as if given appropriate moisture.

The stock I have came from a cutting started by a friend’s grandmother from Cooper, Texas who found this Phlox in a meadow.

April 2021 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 8 Carolina Phlox — Flower of the Month for April

Continued from Page 8

Carolina phlox on my slope Flower bed at Fielder

Photographs by Josephine Keeney

New shoots Closeup

April 2021 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 9 April 2021 Activities Scheduled - by Martha Mullens

Some activities are being allowed with restrictions. Programs listed may be cancelled, rescheduled or changed to online due to covid-19. Check with the sponsors. Restrictions: social distancing, masks required for entry, screening before entry. North Central Chapter of Native Plant Society of Texas www.txnativeplants.org Thurs., April 1: 6:30 PM * zoom: Creating Beautiful Low Maintenance Polycultures of Native Plants in North Texas by David Hopman * Note different format. Tuesday, April 26 board meeting 6:30 PM zoom Native Prairies Association of Texas Fort Worth Chapter Most in-person hikes, events, tours and meet-ups cancelled. Mon., April 12: 7 PM zoom: TBA Check website for events and field trips [email protected] Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge https://www.fwnaturecenter.org/ Hardwicke Interpretive Center closed. Admission tickets for all visits must be purchased online in advance of visit. $6 adults, children $2, seniors $3. Instructions on website. Masks required. Social distance 6 feet. Limit 10 in group. No reservations required for admis- sion Monday-Friday, but required for weekends and CFW holidays. Activities for $5/members free. Pre-registration required. Schedule of activities (April ) not available. Check Website. NATURE HIKES: April 1-April 30 9-10:30 AM Hike: Specifically for wildflowers Cross Timbers Master Naturalist FWBG http://www.ctmn.org/ No in-person meetings. No in-person group activities. Mon., April 19 7:00 -8:30PM zoom: Biology of Mosquitoes by Nina Danko from Tarrant County Public Health Department Tarrant County Master Gardener Association https://tarrantmg.org/ Live meetings suspended until further notice. April 1 9:30 AM Zoom online meeting: Monarchs Beyond Milkweed by Wendy Pappas of Arlington Parks & Recreation TX A & M AgriLife Water University offers free online classes. Registration required. Check website for details. wateruniversity.tamu.edu Aggie Horticulture Courses online AgriLife Courses online Fort Worth Botanic Garden https://www.fwbg.org/ Programs check with office. Pre-registration. General admission ($12) open regular hours. Tickets sold online. Classes are limited to 15 outdoors with 6 feet between participants. Mask use is encouraged. April 1-June 30 10:00 AM Topiaries in the Garden members free/regular admission April 1-Dec. 31 9:00 AM-3:PM Self-Guided Exploration $6 registered/$12 unregistered April 1-Fri., Dec. 31 2:30 PM Stickwork: artist Patrick Dougherty weaves plants into sculptures free for Members/regular admission to nonmembers BRIT https://www.brit.org/ Some onsite educational programs are available. Some programs will be online. email questions to [email protected]. Workshops: In-person classes are limited to 15, have restrictions of 6 feet between participants and most are conducted outdoors. Mask use is encouraged outdoors and required indoors. Wed., April 7: !0 AM-12 PM Photographing Parade of Pollinators $37 mem/$42 non Sat., April 17: 1-4 PM Beginning Nature Drawing $40 members/$50 non (Tinsley) Sat., April 17: 10 AM-12 PM Spring Flower Pounding $30 members/$35 non (BRIT) Sat., April 24: 10-11 AM Walking Class: Tinselly Garden $20 members/$25 non Sat., April 24: 10AM-noon iPhone Nature Photography Workshop 10Am-noon $37 members/$42 nonmembers (Rose Garden) Sat., April 24: 1-2 PM Walking Class: Native American Plant Uses in North Central Texas $20 members/$25 nonmembers (BRIT) Xerces Society webinar April 22: 12-1:30 PM Insect Apocalypse? What Is Really Happening, Why It Matters and How You Can Be a Vital Part of the solution. https://www.xerces.org/events/oregon/insect-apocalypse-what-is-really-happening-why-it-matters-and-how-we-can-all-be-vital

Kim Conrow, president of the Native Plant Society of Texas, will discuss plants native to Texas and the importance of using native plants in gardening and how they help the local environment. Free presentation via Zoom. City of Ft. Worth. April 10th. https://www.fortworthtexas.gov/departments/library/events/earth-day-2021 Volunteer opportunities Cont. on page 11

April 2021 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 10 April 2021 Volunteer Opportunities - by Martha Mullens As the weather warms and we want to get outside and volunteer, remember there are restrictions: Small groups can work at our demonstration gardens if social distancing is practiced, volunteers wear masks and bring their own tools. Contact leaders for more information. Fielder House Butterfly Garden 1616 W Abram St, Arlington 2nd & 4th Mon. Molly Hollar Wildscape Veterans Park, Arlington 1st Sat. Knapp Heritage Park Pollinator Garden 201 West Front Street, Arlington 1st Monday OS Gray Natural Area 2021 Abram St., Arlington 2nd Sat. Leader: Josephine Kenney River Legacy Park 701 NW Green Oaks Blvd., Arlington Volunteer Manager: Sherrie Ripple or contact Josephine Keeney 3rd Mon.

Native Plant Gardens at SW Regional Library at Hulen 4001 Library Ln, Fort Worth Leader: Theresa Thomas: 2nd & 4th Thursdays Jan. 14 & 28

SW Tarrant Co. Sub Courthouse 6551 Granbury Rd, Fort Worth Leaders: Gailon Hardin, Dawn Hancock 2nd Sat. & last Wed. Volunteer @ Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge 9601 Fossil Ridge Rd, Fort Worth 76135 fwnc.org 817-392-7410 Volunteer Coordinator: Kenneth Nailey [email protected] Volunteer Positions: Docent, Outdoor Conservationist (Natural Guard). Restoration Greenhouse, Visitor Center Host, Special Events, Animal Care Volunteer at White Settlement Monarch Waystation Leaders: Sandy Fountain, Merita Knapp Workdays will be announced by email. Volunteer for Native Prairies Association Fort Worth npat.wordpress.com Volunteer at BRIT 1700 University Dr, Fort Worth 76107 GROW Volunteer Coordinator (BRIT & Fort Worth Botanic Garden) To volunteer: go to brit.org , pull down bar “Get Involved”, click on Volunteer, click on “Become a Volunteer” and fill out an application. Director of Volunteers: Montana Williams, 817-546-1846 Volunteer Coordinator: Veronica Marquez, 817-392-5543 All emails inquiries: [email protected]

Everything You Need to Know About Wildflowers by Martha Mullens

Everything You Need to Know about Texas Wildflowers Texas Highway article by Martha Mullens

I just ran across this article from March 2017 about Texas Wildflowers. Some of the topics are: What are the wildflowers of Texas? When and where to see wildflowers. Wildflower destinations. How to grow wildflowers. Favorite wildflower photos. Legends of wildflowers. How to cook prickly pear. You can also sign up for a newsletter sponsored by LBJ Wildflower Center entitled Petal Pusher. Check out the article. There is always something new to learn about wildflowers. https://www.texashighways.com/component/k2/item/7341-wildflowers-of-texas

April 2021 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 11 A New Puzzle by Troy Mullens © 2021

Answer to Last Months Quiz See page 22

A favorite color ! Erodium texanum Texas storks-bill Cool-looking center.

© Troy Mullens

New Quiz. Good southern U. S. native plant. Reseeds easily. Genus starts with a P Common name starts with a B Quarter-size blooms.

Send answer or request answer at [email protected]

April 2021 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 12 Prairie Celestials ©2021 Martha Mullens Purple drops of dewy splendor See Prairie Celestial sprinkled down with love, so tender, article on P. 27 from the heavenly Father above sharing with prairies to render, awe in us mere mortal benders.

April 2021 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 13 Two Uncommon Native Flowers of the Prairie by Martha Mullens

Two Uncommon Native Flowers of the Prairie Blue Funnel Lily Androstephium coeruleum & Wild Hyacinth Camassia scilloides by Martha Mullens While watching the presentation to the Cross Timbers Chapter of NPSOT March 11 about ‘Uncommon Native Prairie Wildflowers of the LBJ Grasslands’ by Suzanne Tut- tle, I was intrigued by two of the purplish ones. Again I mention that purple is my favorite color. I was struck by their beauty and rarity and how delicate they are. I also wondered how common they are to our region of North Central Texas so I began some research. Blue Funnel Lily, Androstephium coeruleum I could not find the blue funnel lily in the two guides I use the most: Eason’s Wildflowers of Texas and Geyata’s Wildflowers of Texas, but I found it in Mary Curry’s: North Central Texas Wildflowers. No surprise, since she is some- what of an expert on the LBJ Grasslands where she leads wildflower walks frequently with her daughter Claire. It Blue funnel lily Wild hyacinth is discussed in Shinners and Mahler’s Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas because Curry references it. Biggest surprise to me was discovering it in Linex’s Range Plants Wild Hyacinth, Camassia scilloides of North Central Texas because I never suspected that it (Quamasia hyacinthia) would have food value to deer and antelope. While the wild hyacinth is listed in the frequently used The blue funnel lily is uncommon in its range from the field guides more often than the funnel lily, it is still an Backland Prairie west to the Cross Timbers and Edwards uncommon plant out in the wild. It was formerly placed Plateau to the Rolling Plains. It grows on limestone mesas, in the lily family, but is now in the asparagus family. 5 spe- on grassy slopes, and in prairies. Even though the leaves cies of wild hyacinth are native to North America, but only may be 12 inches long, the plant is often overlooked be- one in North Central Texas. It is found in the central, east, cause its leaves resemble the grass where it grows and are and north portions of Texas, West Cross Timbers, north- much longer (12-18 inches) than the plant is tall (5-7 inch- ern Edwards Plateau, east to Louisiana, and north into es). The flowers are usually a beautiful delicate purplish Oklahoma, north and east to Ontario. This plant is much color (sometimes white), but due to their tiny size of one taller than the funnel flower, growing up to 30 inches, but inch across they may difficult to find because their bloom- it is still not easy to spot even though the leaves are 12-15 ing period is quite short from the end of March (some- inches long because they arch upward and then trail along times February) to the first part of April. As with all lilies, the ground mixing in with the grasses. Also, the leaves die it has 6 tepals (petals and sepals). Why it is called funnel back shortly after the flower sets seed, and the plant re- lily, I don’t know because the shape of the flower doesn’t mains dormant until the following spring. seem to me anymore of a funnel than any other lily. All lil- ies have a tube shape. It has a very distinctive characteristic Wild hyacinths are usually found in colonies in open of smelling like vanilla, spice, or grapes which gives it the grasslands, such as the LBJ Grasslands and open woods, name fragrant lily. It is also called prairie lily and funnel March to May. The flowers are light purple to lavender on a flower. spike of 6 inches. Flowers have 6 tepals and 6 bright yellow anthers. They bloom from the bottom of the scape upward. Funnel flower would make a great addition to a garden if you can find a source for the bulbs or seeds. There are Other common names are eastern camass, Atlantic cam- some sellers listed online which sell seeds. It prefers sandy assia, camass, camass lily, meadow lily, meadow hyacinth, to loamy soils that are well-drained. It will tolerate moist quamash, Indian hyacinth, camash, and meadow quill. acidic, neutral or alkaline soils. It will not grow in the shade so requires a sunny location. Wild Hyacinth continued on page 15

April 2021 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 14 Two Uncommon Native Flowers of the Prairie by Martha Mullens Continued from Page 14

The genus name, camassia, has its origin in one of the Wild hyacinth prefers rich acidic soils, but it will grow in sand, tribal names for the plant, kamas, meaning ‘sweet’ loam, clay, and limestone, but the soil must be moist and well in reference to the baked bulbs. Native Americans drained. It will grow in dappled shade, part shade or full sun. The and early settlers used the bulls as an important food sunnier the location, the more you will need to give it supplemen- source. tal water. It is most rewarding in masses. You need at least three in a clump for it to be noticeable because the colors are so subtle: pale Indigenous tribes of the Northwest even cultivated the lavender, pale blue, or pale pink. Five to seven produces an elegant blue camas. Caution should be exercised if you wish to display. The fragrance is sweet but light so it more enjoyable if the consume the bulb because the bulb does resemble the flowers are in masses.This plant would make a nice addition to the death cama, Zyfodenus elegans, which is deadly poi- garden because of the color, size, and the pleasant scent it exudes. sonous. Identification of the plants is easiest to distin- Seeds can be obtained from Native American Seed. Seeds should guish them when they are in flower. Another common be sown in the fall. Bulbs can be obtained from online sources, name is bear grass because the bulbs are much relished such as Prairie Moon Nursery. Bulbs should be planted in the au- by the grizzly bear. tumn. Once established the plants will spread to form a colony. If desired, divide after the leaves have withered in autumn.

References for Androstephium coeruleum: Books: Curry, Mary, North Central Texas Wildflowers, Mary Curry Pub., Decatur, TX, 2015 Diggs, George, Barney Lipscomb, Robert O’Kennon, Shinners and Mahler’s Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas, Austin College and BRIT Publishers, 1999, page 1198. Enquist, Marshall, Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country, Lone Star Botanical, Austin, Texas, 1987 Linex, Ricky, Range Plants of North Central Texas, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Weatherford, TX, 2014 Loughmiller, Campbell and Lynn, Texas Wildflowers, A Field Guide, University of TX Press, Austin, TX, Revised 2006 online: LBJ Wildflower Center wildflower.org wikipedia.org

References for Camassia scilloides: Books: Ajilvsgi, Geyata, Wildflowers of Texas, Shearer Pub., Fredericksburg, TX, 2003 Curry, Mary, North Central Texas Wildflowers, Mary Curry Pub., Decatur, TX, 2015 Diggs, George, Barney Lipscomb, Robert O’Kennon, Shinners and Mahler’s Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas, Austin College and BRIT Publishers, 1999, page 1200 Eason, Michael, Wildflowers of Texas, Timber Press, Portland, OR, 2018 Enquist, Marshall, Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country, Lone Star Botanical, Austin, Texas, 1987 Wasowski, Sally and Andy, Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region, Gulf Publishing Co. Houston, TX, 1991 online: LBJ Wildflower Center: wildflower.org Prairie Moon Nursery: prairiemoon.com U. S. Forest Service: fs.fed.us wikipedia.org

April 2021 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 15 April Program by David Hopman

Creating Beautiful Low Maintenance Polycultures of Native Plants in North Texas: Principles and Examples

UTArlington Professor of Landscape Architecture David Hopman has done extensive research on the design and implementation of polycultures of native plants in metropolitan areas of North Texas. He will discuss his methodology, show examples of his successes, and explain how both designers and homeowners can adopt this successful strategy for taking advantage of the many benefits of plants indigenous to the North Texas area.

Bio: Since accepting the position as a professor at the Graduate Program in Landscape Architecture at The University of Texas at Arlington in 2004, David Hopman, ASLA has energetically pursued a faculty role bridging practice and research. The courses he teaches reflect his research interests in plant materials and ecology, ecologically performative landscapes, landscape aesthetics, critical regionalism and computer visualization. Professor Hopman designed and implemented the first extensive green roof in the Dallas/Fort Worth area in 2008 above the Life Sciences Building at UT-Arlington. He was in charge of the Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES) certification for The Green at College Park on the UT-Arlington Campus in February of 2012; one of the first three projects worldwide to receive certification. This important certification system was developed by the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, The National Arboretum, and The American Society of Landscape Architects. It is the landscape corollary, with or without buildings, to the USGBC LEED certification system. He is the author of an upcoming book titled: Creative Regionalism: Renewing the Aesthetics of Landscape in Environmental Design and Planning with a foreword by Dr. Frederick R. “Fritz” Steiner.

Landscape architecture practice experience as a registered landscape architect includes Kings Creek Landscaping, Huitt-Zollars, Inc., RTKL, Mesa Design Group, Inc., and a current indepen- dent practice. Recent projects include consulting on green roof design for the Forest Park Med- ical Center (with David C. Baldwin, Inc.) and the shops at Park Lane (with TBG Partners), The Plano Environmental Education Center landscape (with David Rietzsch and Associates), and the planting design for the Bush Presidential Library in Dallas (with Michael Van Valkenburgh and Associates). Program Photos continued on Associate Professor, Landscape Architect Next page Landscape Architecture Program The University of Texas at Arlington College of Architecture Planning and Public Affairs (CAPPA) Department of Planning and Landscape Architecture

April 2021 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 16 April Program by David Hopman Continued from Page 16

BRIT polyculture in January

David Hopman

BRIT polyculture in November.

CAPPA Polyculture_4-12-2018

April 2021 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 17 Membership and Hospitality

Membership Report, April 2021 By Beth Barber

I am so looking forward to the colors and textures of Spring. It is with much hope that I am checking to discover what will come back after the super cold of winter. Now with the milder temperatures and sunny days we have more opportunity to visit with others and talk about our gardens, the joys, and the benefits of growing native plants. Enjoy these weeks. We now have 203 members in our chapter. There are 4 new members. They are: Karla Jones of Arlington, Evanne Elliot of Keller, Lois Melbourne of South- lake, and Franco Rivera of Fort Worth. To all four of you, we’re so glad you have joined us and look forward­ to meeting you. Welcome back and thank you to all who have recently renewed their membership. Don't forget to download your membership card. A link is included in your membership 'joining/renewal' notice.

NPSOT Membership Card Example Show card for discount at select NICE nurseries.

Hospitality by Corinna Benson

Welcome all.

In-person meetings are still Covid 19 pending.

April 2021 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 18 March 4, 2021 General Meeting Minutes - by Debbie Stilson

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY NORTH CENTRAL CHAPTER March 4, 2021 Online Zoom Meeting

President Gordon Scruggs called the meeting to order at If you get it in to [email protected] by March 6:36 P.M. and welcomed the guests. 15, it can be in the April newsletter. Gordon suggested sending in photos of how the plants coped with the cold Secretary Debbie Stilson: The minutes from the February weather. It would be interesting to see how the non-native were in the March newsletter. Please un-mute if you have plants fared versus the native plants. any comments. They are approved. NICE: The NICE plant of the season is prairie verbena Treasurer: The financials for this month income $375, and they should start showing up in nurseries soon. expense: $2,452, for a net expense of $2,077. The cur- rent bank balance is $14,250. We currently do not have a Announcements treasurer, so please email [email protected] if you There is a By Law change proposed at the State level. would like to volunteer. It has to do with the flexibility of the timing of the State Board Meetings and the third quarter financials. You can Vice President Morgan Chivers announced that we were go to NPSOT.org to vote. getting together a group order from Monarch Watch from The Spring Symposium is on Saturday March 13. You the University of Kansas. The ecoregions specific flats can go to NPSOT.org to register. of 115 for $50 for our area are antelope horns and green Check your email for the notification that the Native milkweed. Please email Morgan at [email protected] your Plant Society is looking for an Executive Director and let zip code, phone number and how many of each milkweed them know if you are interested and qualified. you are interested in. It comes to $2.30 a plant and there The Spring NLCP courses are posted. It is inexpensive is no minimum to buy. Please let him know by March 7 and you can take them from the convenience of your own since he is placing the order on March 8. home. Sandy Fountain and Theresa Thomas are working The Spring Native Plant Sale will be on May 8, which is on a Level 1 NLCP class for our chapter and hope to have only two months out, so start getting those plants in pots. Level 2 and 3 ready next year. Email [email protected] if you would Ann Knudson said that anyone can come and volunteer like to grow plants or help at the sale. It will be safe out- the first Saturday of the month at the Molly Hollar Wild- doors with masks and social distancing, and registration scape between nine and noon. Covid rules are followed, will be online. masks and social distancing, and there is a lot of weeding and cutting back that needs to get done. Membership: We have 199 members and no new mem- bers in the past month. When you renew, follow the link Meeting adjourned at 6:52 P.M. in the email to get your official membership card, which is good for a 10% discount at some gardens. Tonight’s Program: Mark Morgenstern founder of ­Morning Star Prairie Plants discusses: Demonstration Gardens: We have nine throughout Tar- rant County. It is the face of our organization. Please email Propagation Techniques for Native Plants. [email protected] if you would like to find one near you. You can learn about native plants from members. Newsletter: The March newsletter came out yesterday. Troy Mullens said he and Martha would really appreciate it if you would write three or four short paragraphs and send in some photos.

April 2021 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 19 Parting Shots - Last Minute News & Views of the Editors by Troy & Martha Mullens

Must read: Volunteer Opportunities in a Leadership Role

Your chapter of NPSOT needs you. We have openings for chairpersons for Treasurer, Field Trips, Donations and Grants, Education/Outreach, Publicity, White Settlement Monarch ­Waystation, and Events. We also need one or two more volunteers­ to help with the website and Facebook. You do not have to have any experience because­ the current chairpersons will train you. Contact your President, Gordon Scruggs, or reply to­ [email protected]. Consider this:

It only takes a few hours a month or Get together with a friend. Maybe the two of you would like to be Co-Chairs. Training will be provided and help is always available. Get your feet wet. It is very rewarding and will help keep our chapter one of the best in the state.

®

THE POWER OF PEPTIDES™

Link https://www.pollinator.org/pollinator.org/assets/generalFiles/Pollinators-and-Agriculture-Poster-2021.pdf

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Farmer’s Calendar - April 2021 (excerpted from The Old Farmer's Almanac) Long before the garden begins to produce, it achieves perfection, a condition from which its subsequent career, however fruitful, can be only a decline. Where I live, that moment comes, say, two- thirds of the way through April, when you plant the peas and radishes and lay out the rows for the rest of the garden.

It’s in the laying out of the rows that you can make your garden a success of a kind impossible in later months. I split new stakes and get a ball of twine to mark the rows. I get a 20-foot tape so I can keep the rows honest. Putting them in by eyeball would be good enough for the plants, but it wouldn’t be good enough for the mind and it’s the mind I’m gardening for. I make sure the twine is taut, the lines straight, and the corners square. I take these pains in the garden before it really is a garden because doing so is a kind of magic to make me a better gardener. I’m trying to fool myself. It doesn’t work. In six weeks, the garden will be a mess; in ten, it will be a jungle. But for right now, it looks pretty sharp, doesn’t it? Today the garden looks for all the world as though somebody around here knew what he was doing.

Farmers Almanac 2021 Edition

The First Full Moon of Spring & the Paschal Full Moon April’s full Moon is the first to occur after the March equinox, which makes it the first full Moon of spring and the Paschal Full Moon. The Paschal Full Moon is the full Moon that determines the date of Easter. Find out more about Easter and Paschal Full Moon here.

WHY IS IT CALLED THE PINK MOON? Although we wish this name had to do with the color of the Moon, the reality is not quite as mystical or awe-inspiring. In truth, April’s full Moon often corresponded with the early springtime blooms of a certain wildflower native to eastern North America: Phlox ­subulata—commonly called creeping phlox or moss phlox—which also went by the name “moss pink.” Thanks to this seasonal association, this full Moon came to be called the Pink Moon!

A full Moon in April brings frost. If the full Moon rises pale, expect rain.

According to folklore, the period from the full Moon through the last quarter of the Moon is the best time for killing weeds, thinning, pruning, mowing, cutting timber, and planting below-ground crops. Read more about Gardening by the Moon. Pink Moon by SE Reimer Her beauty always catches me unprepared her reflection is a poet’s muse and as so oft before Other April full Moon names include the Sprouting Grass Moon, the Egg Moon, and the tonight again, i pause and wonder long... Fish Moon. "who else, my love, is watching you?"

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Habitat for Pollinators Download pdf's from links

Maintaining Diverse Stands of Wildflowers High quality pollinator meadows sometimes experience a decline in wildflower diversity or abun- dance as they age. This guide provides recommendations on how to bring declining meadows back into a high quality condition.

Collecting and Using Your Own Wildflower Seed In this document we outline the basic steps of collecting native plant seed using readily available, non-specialized equipment, as well as tips for cleaning, storing, and sharing seed to expand pollinator habitat on farms and in our communities.

Roadside Best Management Practices that Benefit Pollinators These best management practices provide concrete steps that can be taken by any roadside manage- ment agency to improve roadside vegetation for pollinators. The BMPs cover management of existing habitat, including ways to modify the use of mowing and herbicides to enhance roadsides, and meth- ods to incorporate native plants and pollinator habitat into the design of new roadsides.

Roadside Habitat For Monarchs: Monarch Butterflies, Weeds, and Herbicides Roadsides provide more than just milkweed. They can also provide diverse nectar sources to feed adult monarchs and other pollinators—but ensuring that roadsides can continue to provide the best habitat requires some thought and care. This guide highlights best management practices to reduce the impacts of herbicides on monarchs.

Answer to last months quiz, Erodium texanum Texas storks-bill or fillaree is a low-growing plant. Its long-stalked, oval leaves, with three rounded lobes, form an initial rosette close to the ground. From this rosette, horizontal stems extend to 15 in. The purple, five-petaled flowers bloom in clusters of two to three, opening late in the day and closing in the morning, except on cloudy days. Prominent yellow anthers contribute to the showy character. The blossoms are sensitive to light, opening late in the day and closing in the morning, except when it is cloudy. Beaks on the seed pods resemble storks' bills; thus the common name. During low humidity the tip coils, but straightens again when the humidity is high. In this way the seeds are dispersed.

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Member Profile -Michele Cyr

Michele Cyr Cook Children’s Concierge Services Hello, So there was a mention at the last zoom meeting, I believe, about posting who the membership was; since we haven’t met in person for a while. Jim & I just completed our Master Naturalist training last year and we had to say something about ourselves and send in photos for our ceremony. I thought since I am fairly new to the Native Plant Society that I could start that off and maybe Jim will send in his details. I love to travel. Whether it’s Thailand or Tyler, I’m happy to explore! · Very few things scare me. I can handle bugs, spiders or snakes without any fear. I’m even happy to take on a kindergarten class! · I am a life time Girl Scout & enjoy helping kids and adults to feel comfortable outdoors. · I joined NPSOT at the 2020 Fall plant sale. I have been gardening for many years. I have a greenish thumb and a “Let Live” philosophy for weeds and things that pop-up in my garden. (I am changing that for Nandina, Bamboo & Privit though.) I’m in Honolulu, Hawaii for the Sunset 2019. I’m canoeing by South Llano State Park, near Junction, Tx Nov 2020 and the waterfall is Turner Falls in Oklahoma, Jan 2021. (The dog is Jamison, my daughter’s)

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Member Profile -Jim Prentice I became a Master Gardener (Dallas County) in the early 1990s. The program was new and wasn’t giving me what I wanted. Since then I have tried a lot of different volunteering experiences and didn’t find anything that ‘fit’. A couple of years ago a good friend suggested the Native Plant Society. I liked what I found, a program that had people that cared, community service, and training in an area that I was interested in. NPSOT has a Native Plant certification program and I have completed the three levels that were available and have received my certification in Native Plant Landscape Maintenance. I followed the NPSOT course work with the Citizen Forester training and am now qualified to assist in the maintenance of the various Urban Forests in the area. Last year we spent a lot of time Zooming thru the Master Naturalist training program, and that got us here.

The volunteer opportunities in these programs are across the board. Administration, monitor- ing different programs. Counting birds, critters, plants and many more. My preferred work is hands on, a chance to get some dirt under my fingernails and mud on my jeans. It was shortly after I joined NPSOT that there was a cry for help, “The weeds are taking over”. I showed up at the SW Courthouse to find a group of folks pulling “weeds” from the crushed granite walk- way. They were placing ­Bluebonnet rosettes into garbage bags. I have tried for years to have some bluebonnets in my garden and here was my opportunity for healthy transplants. I now have a wonderful spring showing of Bluebon- nets.

I continue to show up for volunteer opportunities. I have worked several demonstration gardens, trimmed trees, worked at the tree farm, became a (occasional) worker at the Nature Center greenhouse, and other assorted opportunities. I am looking forward to future opportunities.

Jim Prentice profile cont. on next page

April 2021 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 24 Member Profile -Jim Prentice Continued from Page 24 I am not bird watcher. I am not sure of many of their common names and less sure of the scientific names. Living on Eagle Mountain Lake, with a large back yard, I see a lot of different birds. I loosely monitor the duck families in the spring and early summer as they puddle around our cove. In the fall they leave and groups of Coots (Fulica Linnaeus­ ) take their place. I see Egrets and other verge birds looking for snacks. There was a Road Runner that visited every afternoon but a new neighbor moved in with a mouthy dog – no more road runner. I have bird feeders that better serve as squirrel feeders. There are times when I can’t help but take notice of a bird. The year before last my wife and I were visiting New Foundland. We toured the Gros Morne National Park and their geological features that modified the theory of how the Earth was formed. We traveled north to the camp where Eric the Red (a Viking) and his happy sailors lived for better than three years – His visit was 400 years before Christopher Columbus discovered America. We spent some time in the town of Elliston – The “Root Cellar capital of the world” (be still my heart). Close to town is a large rock/ small island that is a rookery for the Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula artica). This is the closest viewing point in the Amer- icas to observe this fantastic bird. The Atlantic Puffin is a small bird with a large beak. In appearance one would think that they lived in the tropics with Parrots and Toucans but no they do not. They come ashore to mate and reproduce and then they return to their preferred ‘home’, the rugged and windy North Atlantic. They fly very fast, 50MPH to 75MPH and dive into the ocean to depths of 200 feet.

My wife, our three toddlers, and I lived on Midway Island. This was 1974, 1975 and 1976. We had a cozy three bedroom cottage that was walking distance to everything. In the early summer (3 or 4 months each year) we shared our lawn areas and open spaces with the Goonie birds (Laysan albatross). This as another bird that spends most of their life at sea but comes ashore to mate and have babies. They are a big bird with a wingspan of 6 ft and reach upwards of 4 ft when they trumpet. The kids learned real fast to leave these guys alone, they were very pro- tective of their space and family. In the air the Goonie bird is an artist, graceful and elegant. Unfortunately, they have never learned how to gracefully handle landing or taking off from land, their landing closely resembles a controlled crash landing.

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iNat

City Nature Challenge 2021: Dallas/Fort Worth

April 30, 2021 - May 3, 2021 Join Texas Parks and Wildlife, Texas Master Naturalists, the Nature Conservancy, the Audubon Society, and many others in a fun challenge to see which city can document the most species during April 30 - May 3. It is easy to participate by joining an event or making observations on your own using the iNaturalist app. With the iNaturalist app, you just take a picture of a plant or animal, and the community will help identify which species it is. Any observation in the greater metropolitan area of Dallas/ Fort Worth will count during the four day challenge. You can participate by exploring the life in your backyard, in your local park, or on a field trip with your local naturalist group. You can also help with IDs for other people's observations to increase our species count, come to a bioblitz, or even hold your own event! The City Nature Challenge is organized by Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and California Academy of Sciences.

Trees and Plants

How a Garden Can Help You Feel Better https://www.treehugger.com/garden-can-help-you-feel-better-5114439

Shinrin yoku: The Japanese Art of Forest Bathing https://www.treehugger.com/shinrin-yoku-forest-bathing-books-4861941

Professor Spends 2 Years Sitting with an Ancient Oak https://www.treehugger.com/professor-years-sitting-ancient-oak-tree-5113754

Proximity and Trees https://www.brainpickings.org/2021/03/10/proximity/

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Prairie Celestial by Martha Mullens

Prairie Celestial (Nemastylis geminiflora) by Martha Mullens

This is one of my favorite flowers because I love purple (light blue to lavender in this instance). When Troy worked at the Fort Worth Nature Center as a weekend naturalist, he always kept a look-out for them so that I could come out there to admire their beauty. They are ephemeral because the bloom only lasts from late morning to about 3 PM so you have to be there at the right time. Each flower only lasts one day. They also only bloom for a short period of time in early spring, sometimes in late March and sometimes in early April. These characteristics give them the common name ghost iris or celestial ghost iris. Finally when you see them, it is worth the wait over winter to enjoy the beautiful blue-violet flowers which emerge in colonies. Once the seed has ripened, the bulb is renewed and the plant disappears until the following spring.

They often grow in open spaces, such as prairies, that are undisturbed by cultivation, but they will grow in the shade. Since they prefer moist conditions, they often will not bloom during a period of drought. Celestials prefer clayey soils but will grow in moist sandy ones, but usually not limestone, though they do prefer calcium rich soils which are alkaline. Unfortunately, they will not transplant successfully. You will need to gather your own seeds from the wild or dig up a few bulbs.The bulbs will colonize over time. Please be mindful that they are rather scarce. I have not been able to locate a source from which to purchase these although you can request seed from the Seed Bank Curator of the Wildflower Seed Bank of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Celestials grow up to 18 inches tall. Because of the 2-3 basal, grasslike “pleated” leaves (from prominent veins) this lends them another common name of prairie pleatleaf. The smallish (2-3 inch) flowers (usually 2) look best planted in groups in the home garden. From a distance, they somewhat resemble the cultivated irises of which they are related.

Not only are they pretty, but they also attract native bees. Other members of the iris family produce saffron dye (crocus) and perfumes (essence of violets) from the rhizomes of iris.

References online: LBJ wildflower Center: wildflower.org Wikipedia

Books: Ajilvsgi, Geyata, Wildflowers of Texas, Shearer Pub., Fredericksburg, TX, 2003 Diggs, George, Barney Lipscomb, Robert O’Kennon, Shinners and Mahler’s Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas, Austin College and BRIT Publishers, 1999, page 1174 Eason, Michael, Wildflowers of Texas, Timber Press, Portland, OR, 2018

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Plant This and Not That by Karen Harden

Spring is almost here and if you are like me, you are excited about getting plants in the ground. I know many are hitting the big box stores for their plants, but let’s step back, wait a couple of weeks and start hitting the area native plant sales that will be starting soon. While we are waiting, let’s plan on what to plant. How about ground covers? Ground covers are important as they can fill in the bare areas, keep the soil from drying out to quickly, and hold the soil in place. There are two plants I would like to focus on for ground covers. The lyreleaf sage (Salvia lyrate) and the golden groundsel (Packera aurea). Both plants are evergreens and the freeze this year did not faze my plants at all. Instead of planting mondo grass or liriope, I recommend these two great perennial Texas native pollinator plants. The following description is from the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center plant data base page on Salvia lyrate. “Lyreleaf sage makes a great evergreen groundcover with somewhat ajuga-like foliage and showy blue flowers in spring. It will reseed easily in loose, sandy soils and can form a solid cover with regular watering. It even takes mowing and can be walked on. The exposed lower lip of this and other salvias provides an excellent landing platform for bees. When a bee lands, the two stamens are tipped, and the insect is doused with pollen.”

lyreleaf sage, lyreleaf flowering sage

The following description is from the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center plant data base page on Packera obovate. “Golden groundsel is a rosette-forming perineal with several runner-like stolons terminated by similar rosettes. Slender flowering stems rise to 1½ ft. above the rosettes of oval leaves. Golden groundsel brings color to shaded spots in the ­landscape. Once established, it colonizes quickly and creates an effective evergreen ground cover.”

golden groundsels, golden flowering golden groundsels golden

Both plants are early bloomers, March – June, medium-high water use, and grow in sun, part shade and shade. My gold- en groundsel gets morning dappled sun and full afternoon shade. My lyreleaf sages are in dappled morning sun to full afternoon sun.

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Rough-leaf Dogwood by Martha Mullens

Rough-leaf Dogwood, Cornus drummondii by Martha Mullens Because of the weird bitter freezing weather that we experienced in Mid-February, many non-native plants died or were severely stricken. I believe that our very old fig bush may be a casualty. Even my knock-out rose doesn’t look well, but my miniature roses are leafing out. Live oaks look sad losing all their leaves, and whether they will survive is still debatable. The 30 plants that I had potted up for the spring sale all froze, yet their counterparts which remained in the ground survived. If this bad freeze has taught us anything about gardening, it is to plant natives. Most native plants have rebounded although some have begun their blooming cycle late. Our redbuds which normally start flowering the last week of February or the first week in March didn’t start blooming until almost the middle of March. Other plants that were seemingly inert have suddenly burst out in bloom or leaves. One day I go into the yard and there appears to be be nothing responding to the warm spring temperatures and the next, the rough-leaf dogwood is fully leafed out. The name dogwood comes from the old English dagger which means dagger or sharp-pointed. The wood was often used as skewers to roast meat, so another common name is skewer wood. There are only 2 species in the dogwood family found in Texas of the 90 world-wide. The flowering dogwood and the rough-leafed dogwood. The flowering dogwood, Cornus florida, usually grows farther east (Dallas County) and north east (Grayson, Fannin, Lamar, Cooke, Hunt Counties) in shaded wooded areas. It flowers March to June. The beautiful white blossoms attract butterflies and other insects and the fruits supply migrating birds with much-needed energy. 28 species of birds are known to frequent it. Deer, quail, wild turkey, squirrels, and small mammals also eat the fruit. Deer and cattle browse the leaves and root sprouts. The wood is a pinkish color and very durable. It has been used as a shuttle in looms. The native tree found in our area is the rough-leaf dogwood, Cornus drummondii. It grows along old fence lines, creek beds, on the edges of woodlands and bottomlands, probably due to browsing by deer or goats causing a browse line. But it can be found on hillsides where it has not been browsed. It is small and may be bushy, often forming colonies from the roots. Its pretty white blooms are produced from May to summer and attract bees and other insects. Bobwhite quail, wild turkey, and 40 species of songbirds and small mammals consume the fruits from fall into early winter. Deer and goats browse the leaves. If the trees aren’t blooming, you can tell the two dogwoods apart by rubbing the upper surface of the leaves. The rough- leaf dogwood leaf is indeed rougher due to more hairs. Another plant that may be confused with the rough-leaf dog- wood is the rusty blackhaw. During the spring they both bloom about the same time and the clusters of white flowers look similar. Looking closely, the flowers of the blackhaw have 5 petals and the rough-leaf dogwood has 4. The rough-leaf dogwood is a great small tree to grow in your yard. When it blooms in the spring, the flowers are showy and the bright green leaves are pretty most of the year. It is easy to grow in most any soil preferring partial shade. It may need supplemental water in the hot dummer drought to keep it from looking droopy. They are usually available at our chapter spring plant sale. Photographs next Page References: Diggs, George, Barney Lipscomb, Robert O’Kennon, Shinners and Mahler’s Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas, Austin College and BRIT Publishers, 1999, pages 560-61 Linex, Ricky, Range Plants of North Central Texas, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Weatherford, TX, 2014, page 252. April 2021 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 29 Parting Shots Page 10 - Last Minute News & Views by the Editors by Troy & Martha Mullens

Dogwood Photographs by Martha Mullens

The flowering dogwood, Cornus florida The Rough-leaf dogwood, Cornus drummondii

Southwest Regional Library by Sheila Franklin

As the volunteers were working in the SW Regional Library Native Plant Garden on 3-10-21, we were blessed with a Monarch nectaring on the Mexican Plum. Also our first bluebonnet bud!

April 2021 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 30 Recommended Plant List RecommendedFor North Plant CentralList for North Texas Central Texas

The purpose and mission of NPSOT is to promote research, conservation and utilization of native plants and plant habitats of Texas through education, outreach and example. Visit us on the web at www.txnativeplants.org for more information about the NC Chapter, or www.npsot.org for a local chapter in your area.

Key: E= Evergreen P= Tolerates poor drainage S= Shade tolerant F= Very showy in flower or fruit D= Drought resistant in full sun * = Suseptible to Oak wilt B= Attracts birds or butterflies FF= very showy in fall foliage

Shrubs Grasses Common Name Key Scientific Name Common Name Key Scientific Name E D P S B F E D P S B F Agarita E D B F Mahonia trifoliolata Big Bluestem D P B F Andropogon gerardii American Beautyberry P S B F Callicarpa americana Buffalograss D Bouteloua dactyloides Apache Plum E D B F Fallugia paradoxa Bushy Bluestem P B F Andropogon glomeratus Autumn Sage D B F Salvia greggii Eastern Gammagrass P S Tripsacum dactyloides Canyon Senna D F Cassia wislizenii Gulf Muhly P B F Muhlenbergia capillaris Coralbean D B F Erythrina herbacea Indian Grass D P B F Sorghastrum nutans Coralberry S B F Symphoricarpos orbiculatus Inland Seaoats P S B F Chasmanthium latifolium Dwarf Wax Myrtle E P S B Myrica pusilla Lindheimer Muhly D P B F Muhlenbergia lindheimeri Flame Acanthus D S B F Anisacanthus quadrifidus wrightii Little Bluestem D B FF Schizachyrium scoparium Fragrant Sumac D B F Rhus aromatica Seep Muhly D P B Muhlenbergia reverchonii Indigobush P B F Amorpha fruticosa Sideoats Grama D B F Bouteloua curtipendula Mountain Sage S B F Salvia regla Splitbeard Bluestem D P F Andropogon ternarius Pale Leaf Yucca E D S B F Yucca pallida Switch Grass P B F Panicum virgatum Red Yucca E D P B F Hesperaloe parviflora Smooth Sumac D B FF Rhus glabra Groundcovers Texas Barberry E D B F Mahonia swaseyi Common Name Key Scientific Name Texas Mock Orange F Philadelphus texensis E D P S B F Texas Sage/Cenizio E D S F Leucophyllum frutescens Cedar Sage S B F Salvia roemeriana Turk's Cap D P S B F Malvaviscus arboreus drummondii Frogfruit D P S B Phyla nodiflora Virginia Sweetspire P S B F Itea virginica Golden Groundsel D S F Packera obovata Wax Myrtle E P S B Morella cerifera Horseherb S Calyptocarpus vialis White Honeysuckle Bush S B F Lonicera albiflora Lyreleaf Sage E P S F Salvia Lyrata Missouri Violet S F Viola missouriensis Small Trees Pigeon Berry P S B F Rivina humilis Common Name Key Scientific Name White avens D P S B Geum canadense E D P S B F Wood Fern S Thelypteris kunthii American Smoke Tree D B FF Cotinus obovatus Bigelow Oak D Quercus sinuata breviloba Shade Trees Carolina Buckthorn D P S B F Rhamnus caroliniana Common Name Key Scientific Name Cherry Laurel E S B Prunus caroliniana E D P S B F Desert Willow D B F Chilopsis linearis American Elm D B F Ulmus americana Eastern Red Cedar E D B F Juniperus virginiana Bald Cypress P F Taxodium distichum Eve’s Necklace D S FF Styphnolobium affine Bigtooth Maple F Acer grandidentatum Goldenball Leadtree D S B F Leucaena retusa Bur Oak D Quercus macrocarpa Lacey Oak D F Quercus glaucoides Caddo Maple F Acer barbatum Mexican Buckeye D S B FF Ungnadia speciosa Cedar Elm D P B F Ulmus crassifolia Mexican Plum D S B FF Prunus mexicana Chinquapin Oak D Quercus muehlenbergii Possumhaw P S B F Ilex decidua * Live Oak E D Quercus fusiformis Prairie Flame Sumac D B FF Rhus lanceolata Loblolly Pine E Pinus taeda Roughleaf Dogwood P S B FF Cornus drummondii Mesquite D B F Prosopis glandulosa Rusty Blackhaw S B FF Viburnum rufidulum Pecan B Carya illinoinensis Texas Persimmon D S B Diospyros texana Post Oak D Quercus stellata Texas Redbud D S B F Cercis canadensis texensis * Shumard Red Oak D F Quercus shumardii Wright acacia D B F Acacia wrightii Southern Magnolia E S F Magnolia grandiflora Yaupon Holly E P S B F Ilex vomitoria Texas Ash D P B F Fraxinus albicans * Texas Red Oak D F Quercus texana Continued on Page 30

April 2021 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 31 Continued from Page 29 RecommendedRecommended Plant List for Plant North ListCentral Texas For North Central Texas Key: E= Evergreen P= Tolerates poor drainage S= Shade tolerant F= Very showy in flower or fruit D= Drought resistant in full sun * = Suseptible to Oak wilt B= Attracts birds or butterflies FF= very showy in fall foliage

Garden/Meadow Flowers Vines Common Name Key Scientific Name Common Name Key Scientific Name E D P S B F E D P S B F Baraba's Buttons B F Marshallia caespitosa Carolina Jessamine E P S B F Gelsemium sempervirens Bergamot/Beebalm P B F Monarda fistulosa Climbing Prairie Rose P B F Rosa setigera Big Red Sage B F Salvia penstemonoides Coral Honeysuckle P S B F Lonicera sempervirens Bitterweed P B F Helenium Amarum Crossvine E P S B F Bignonia capreolata Black Eyed Susan F Rudbeckia hirta Passion Flower P S B F Passiflora incarnata Blue Eyed Grass S F Sisyrinchium sp Virginia Creeper P S B F Parthenocissus quinquefolia Blue Flax D F Linum lewisii Blue Mist Flower S B F Conoclinium coelestinum Bluebonnet D F Lupinus texensis Perennials Cardinal Flower P S B F Lobelia cardinalis Common Name Key Scientific Name Cowpen Daisy D B F Verbesina encelioides E D P S B F Datura D B F Datura wrightii Blackfoot Daisy D B F Melampodium leucanthum Diamond Petal Primrose D F Oenothera rhombipetala Butterfly Weed B F Asclepias tuberosa Engelman Daisy D B F Engelmannia peristenia Calylophus D S F Calylophus spp. Engelman Sage D B F Salvia engelmannii Chile Pequin P S B Capsicum annuum Eryngo D F Eryngium leavenworthii Coreopsis D S B F Coreopsis lanceolata Fall Obedient Plant P F Physostegia virginiana Four-nerve Daisy E D B F Tetraneuris scaposa Fragrant Ageratina P S B F Ageratina havanensis Gayfeather D B F Liatris punctata mucronata Fragrant Phlox S B F Phlox pilosa Gregg's mistflower S B F Conoclinium greggii Greenthread D B F Thelesperma filifolium Mealy Blue Sage D B F Salvia farinacea Gulf Coast Penstemon P F Penstemon tenuis Purple Coneflower S B F Echinacea spp. Halberd Leaf Hibiscus P F Hibiscus laevis Rockrose D S B F Pavonia lasiopetala Horesemint D B F Monarda citriodora Texas Lantana D B F Lantana urticoides Indian Blanket D B F Gaillardia pulchella Wild red columbine D S B F Aquilegia canadensis Indian Paintbrush D F Castilleja indivisa Winecup S B F Callirhoe involucrata Maximillian Sunflower P B F Helianthus maximiliana Yellow Columbine E S B F Aquilegia spp. Mexican Hat D B F Ratibida columnifera Zexmenia D S F Wedelia acapulcensis hispida Partridge Pea D P B F Chamaecrista fasciculata Pink Evening Primrose B F Oenothera speciosa Prairie Onion B F Allium stellatum North Central Texas Top Ten Invasives Prairie Verbena D B F Glandularia bipinnatifida www.texasinvasives.org Ruellia S B F Ruellia sp Japanese honeysuckle Lonicera japonica Scarlet Sage P S B F Salvia coccinea Glossy privet Ligustrum lucidum Shrubby Skullcap D B F Scutellaria drummondii Chinese Privet Ligustrum sinense Skeleton Leaf Goldeneye D S B F Viguiera stenoloba Giant reed Arundo donax Snow-on-the-prairie D P B F Euphorbia bicolor Chinese wisteria Wisteria sinensis Spiderwort S F Tradescantia sp Vitex chastetree Vitex agnus-castus Spring Rain Lily F Cooperia pedunculata Nandina Nandina domestica Standing Cypress E D B F Ipomopsis rubra Chinaberry tree Melia azedarach Texas Bluebell B F Eustoma exaltatum russellianum Chinese tallow tree Triadica sebifera Two-leaved Senna D B F Senna roemeriana Johnson grass Sorghum halepense White Milkwort D B F Polygala alba Wild Foxglove F Penstemon cobaea

Printing sponsored by: Precision Press Printing Arlington, Texas

For information about our chapter & participating nurseries visit www.txnativeplants.org/plants or scan the QR code.

Revised 2/2020

April 2021 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 32 List of the 2021 Programs Reported by Morgan Chivers

Thursday, February 4, 2021 Alison Ravenscraft Feeding Your Friendly Backyard Herbivore: CoEvolution of Native Plants and Native Insects

Thursday, March 4, 2021 Mark Morgenstern Propagation Techniques for Native Plants

Thursday, April 1, 2021 David Hopman Creating Beautiful Low Maintenance Polycultures of Native Plants in North Texas: Principles and Examples

Thursday, May 6, 2021 Bill Neiman & friends Become Native to Your Place with Native American Seed

Thursday, June 3, 2021 Luke Frischkopf Anole habitat & Texas native plants Tentative Title

April.... They're here.

Stemless Evening Primrose

©2021 Troy Mullens

April 2021 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 33 NICE! Plant of the Season Reported by Avon Burton

Spring 2021 Plant of the Season Native Plant Society of Texas, North Central Chapter NICE Native Plant Partners Natives Improve and Conserve Environments Prairie Verbena, Low-growing perennial spring color

Description: Glandularia bipinnatifida, known as Prairie Verbena in Texas, has a number of other common names including Dakota Mock Vervain and the poetic Spanish Moradilla, meaning “Little Purple One.” It is found widely in Texas and ranges to Central America. It prefers grassy, prairie habitats in nature. Prairie Verbena is in the large verbena family, which also contains Texas native favorites Frogfruit (Phyla nodiflora) and Texas Lantana (Lantana urticoides). Prairie Verbena is a short-lived, short-statured deciduous perennial growing to one foot tall and one and a half feet wide with widely dissected medium green leaves.

Flowers and Seeds: Prairie Verbena has a long flowering season, from March through October, with the heaviest blooms in the spring. Its flowers, Prairie Verbena, Photo courtesy of Avon Burton usually in the purple hues, are borne in clusters with each flower having five petals. It readily re-seeds.

Planting sites: Prairie Verbena thrives in partial shade to full sun in a range of soil pH and soil types. It prefers dry to somewhat moist sites and must be well drained.

Watering Instructions: Water Prairie Verbena well when planting it or its seed. It is drought tolerant except in severe dry spells.

Comments: Prairie Verbena is a favorite plant seen along Texas roadways and in fields during its blooming season. It is well suited for home gardens, especially those not regularly irrigated. It attracts butterflies and bees, with its flowers providing a nectar source. It is deer resistant. Prairie Verbena is easy to grow and can be propagated by cuttings or by seed. Consider planting Prairie Verbena instead of non-native Periwinkle, Petunia or Begonia. Companion species include Zexmenia (Wedelia texana), Mealy Blue Sage (Salvia farinacea), milkweeds like Antelope Horn (Asclepias asperula), Gayfeather (Liatris mucronata) and Sundrops (Calylophus berlandieri).

Look for the NICE Plant of the Season signs and information sheets on your next visit to a participating North Texas nursery. Thank you for using native plants in your landscapes. The Native Plant Society of Texas, North Central Chapter usually meets on the 1st Thursday of each month, excluding January and July, at 6:30 pm in the Deborah Beggs Moncrief Garden Center at Fort Worth Botanic Garden. In support of social distancing measures our meetings will continue to take place online until it is safe to meet

www.txnativeplants.org Written by Dr. Becca Dickstein

April 2021 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 34 Spring 2021 Plant Sale By Sandy Fountain RESERVED Note to Growers:Sell a lot, reserved: River Legacy Park for but buy twice as many the May 8, 2021 Plant Sale

Plant Sale

White Settlement Monarch Way Station Volunteer Leader needed

I am looking for someone to take the leadership role of the White Settlement Monarch Way Station. It is located at the White Settlement City Complex on White Settlement Road near the library (west side of Tarrant County). I have shared this responsibility with another member for the last few years. I would still like to volunteer there when I am able but would like to relinquish the leadership role.

If you are interested in doing this please let me know. All volunteer hours at the Monarch Way Station are eligible to be logged as Master Naturalist Volunteer hours (if you are a Master Naturalist). I can meet you there and show you around. The city shut down when Covid hit and there has not been any water there for over a year. The plants are doing very well but are in need of having the dead growth from last year trimmed away.

If I do not get a volunteer to fulfill this position from our NPSOT chapter in the next week or so, I will ask the Cross Tim- bers Master Naturalists.

Thanks, Sandy Fountain

April 2021 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 35 4. Do not embed the photographs in the article. Re- Newsletter Requirement Suggestions member, the article will most likely be in two column 1. All submissions due by the 15th of the preceding format for easy reading. month. Exceptions are at the discretion of the Editors. 5. Please include a caption with each photograph and 2. Articles (text) should preferably be in plain text form. note any individual names of people. (No pdf’s). Any special formatting requirements should Examples: be noted. ( .doc .pages and .odt are OK) Photo names: Photo1.jpg, Photo2.jpg, Photo3.tiff etc. Photo Caption examples: 3. Photographs & charts should be sent separately as Photo1- Bluebell in my Garden large as possible. Location within the article should be Photo2 - Field trip group, names (l to r): noted. Example Bill Smith, Mary Jones, etc. Photo3 - Black Willow at FWNCR Photo4 - Flower, (Credit - Name, organization) April program: Thursday, April 1, 2021 David Hopman "Beautiful polycultures of Native Plants"

Visit us on the Web The purpose of the Native Plant Society of Texas is to promote the conservation, research, and utilization of the at native plants and plant habitats of Texas through www.txnativeplants.org education, outreach, and example.

Join the Native Plant Society of Texas! The North Central Texas Become a member of the Native Plant Society of Texas. Membership is open to any individual, NPSOT News family, or organization. Membership is renewable annually and extends for a year from the date we receive your original payment. Note new prices effective April 1, 2019. If you wish to join, please indicate your category of membership, then clip and mail this application with the is a monthly publication of appropriate remittance to: the North Central Chapter Native Plant Society of Texas of the Native Plant Society PO Box 3017, Fredericksburg, TX 78624 of Texas.

___ Student $35 ___ Family (2 or more) $60 For changes of address or ___ Senior (65+) $35 ___ Patron $100 information about contribut- ___ Limited Income $35 ___ Benefactor $250 ing to the newsletter, please ___ Individual $45 ___ Supporting $500 contact the newsletter editor. ___ Lifetime $1200 ___ Additional Chapter(s) $6 The deadline for submitting Name: ______articles for inclusion in the Address: ______newsletter is the 15th of every City, State, Zip: ______preceding month. County: ______Phone: ______Troy Mullens, Editor Chapter Affiliation: _____North Central [email protected] E-mail: ______Go to https://npsot.org/wp/join-renew/ for an on-line sign-up form or for additional information. A printable form is also available there.

April 2021 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 36