Newsletter 2019 June
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NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS N e w s Native Plant Society of Texas, North Central Chapter P Newsletter S Vol 31, Number 6, June 2019 O ncc npsot newsletter logo newsletter ncc npsot © 2018 Troy & Martha Mullens & Martha © 2018 Troy Purple Coneflower — Echinacea sp. T June 6 Meeting June 6, 2019 Program Program by Michael Eason “Flora of the Chihuahuan Desert” Normal Meeting Times: by Michael Eason 6:00 Social, 6:30 Business 7:00 Program Redbud Hall Deborah Beggs Moncrief Garden Center Fort Worth Botanic Garden Chapter of the Year (2016/17) Visit us at ncnpsot.org & Program details on Page 23 www.txnativeplants.org Chapter Leaders Index President’s Corner by Karen Harden ......................... p. 3ff President — Karen Harden Crow Poison by Martha Mullens ............................... p. 6f [email protected] Flower of the Month, White Yarrow Past President — Kim Conrow by Josephine Keeney ........................................ p. 8f Vice President & Programs — Activities & Volunteering for May 2019 Ray Conrow by Martha Mullens ....................................... p. 10ff Recording Secretary — Debbie Stilson Membership by Donna Honkomp ............................ p. 12 Treasurer — Vanessa Wojtas May Meeting Minutes by Debbie Stilson ................. p. 13 Mistflower Photo by Candy Halliburton ................. p. 13 Hospitality Chair — Corinna Benson Oliver Nature Park Field Trip by Eric Johnson ....... p. 14 Membership Chair — Donna Honkomp Emergency weeding by Gailon Hardin .................... p. 14 Events Chair — Chairperson needed Purple Coneflower, NICE! Plant of the Season NICE! Coordinator — Rozanna Francis by Dr. Becca Dickstein ..................................... p. 15 Plant Sales Coordinators - Gailon Hardin, Answer to last month’s puzzle and a new puzzle ...... p. 16 Sandy Fountain & Josephine Keeney “June Calendar” Page by Troy Mullens ..................... p. 17 Education/Outreach Chair — Bill Freiheit Texas? Columbine by Erika Choffel .......................... p. 18f Will You Speak for the Prairie by Jo Ann Collins ..... p. 20f Webmaster — Frank Keeney May Program Review by Ray Conrow ...................... p. 22 Field Trips — Eric Johnson Demo Gardens Field Trip by Eric Johnson .............. p. 22 Speaker’s Bureau — Theresa Thomas Hospitality Report by Corinna Benson .................... p. 22 Donations/Grants Chair — Laura Penn June Program Summary & Bio .................................. p. 23 Parliamentarian — Martha Mullens Chihuahuan Desert Photos by Michael Eason ........ p. 24 Facebook Manager — Sandra Fountain Ray & Kim Conrow's front yard ................................ p. 25f Newsletter Editor — Troy Mullens Northwest Prairie Restoration ................................... p. 26 The Ferns and Lycophytes of Texas [email protected] A book review by Martha Mullens ................ p. 27ff Assistant Newsletter Editor — Stella Rowan Field Trip by Eric Johnson .................. p. 29 Martha Mullens Photos by Laura Penn & Kim Conrow ......... p. 30 Southwest Subcourthouse Garden Leaders Parting Shots by the Editors ....................................... p. 31ff Gailon Hardin & Dawn Hancock Plant Sale by Josephine & Gailon Hardin ............... p. 34 Native Plant Gardens at the Southwest NC Texas Pollinator Garden Plants ........................... p. 35 Join NPSOT, Mission Statement, May Program ....... p. 36 Regional Library Leaders — Theresa Thomas & Char McMorrow Molly Hollar Wildscape Garden Leader — Ann Knudsen News Flash Fielder House Garden Leaders — ******************** Josephine Keeney & Jane Osterhuis Bring your Michael Eason Publicity Chair — Vicki Gleason NLCP Classes Coordinator — Texas Wildflowers Guide to the Merita Knapp meeting to be autographed, & Martha Mullens Troy ©2017 (or buy one at the meeting). The President’s Corner - June 2019 - by Karen Harden What a busy month it has been. In late April, During the months of April and May, we had we traveled to Alpine for the State Board meet- a few activities planned. There was a field trip ing. Eight chapters were represented, which, I to Oliver Park on April 27. The Chisholm Trail thought, was a pretty good turn-out considering Community Park event was held on April 28. the distance. The wildflowers along the back- Our plant sale was on May 4. We had another roads were just gorgeous. I wish there had been field trip to the Stella Rowan Prairie on May 11. time to stop to take pictures. Maybe another day. As of this writing, a native prairie plant rescue is Along the way we stopped at a native plant nurs- scheduled for May 17-19, a field trip is planned ery in Mertzon. Turns out the gentleman who to visit our demo gardens on May 19 and to end owns the nursery was at one time a member of the spring fling, a field trip is scheduled on May the Native Plant Society. I believe Kim Conrow 25 to the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens Native tried to persuade him to rejoin our great organi- Area. Yes, indeed, it was a busy month! I hope zation. While there, I couldn’t help myself and you were able to partake in one or more of these had to buy a Desert Willow. Actually, this was activities. kind of a pay back to my husband since he kept After our June meeting, we will not meet again repeatedly mowing over one I already had. In his until August. Our program for August will be defense, it was small and his mower is big. I think “Native Gardens of Our Members”. If you would he will be able to see our new tree. like to share pictures of your native plants, please While in Alpine, many board members traveled contact Ray Conrow. He needs one or two more to Fort Davis to tour the Chihuahuan Desert Na- members to come forward. Your native gardens ture Center. Our tour was led by Michael Eason, can be wildscaped, landscaped, or a pocket prai- who, by the way, happens to be our guest speaker rie. Will you share? for our June meeting! Michael is a published au- Summer is around the corner, but gardens thor of Wildflowers of Texas. I have his book, and still need to be tended. Please consider vol- it is a great field guide to carry and keep in your unteering at one of our demo gardens. Gar- car. Copies of his book will be available for pur- dening schedules can be found on our website chase at the meeting. Michael is also the State VP www.txnativeplants.org under the “About” tab. Chapter Liaison and is from the Big Bend Chap- Click on “Calendar 2019” and the schedule is at ter. Be sure not to miss your June meeting! the bottom of the page. Happy gardening! After our stay in Alpine, we headed to Terlingua and Big Bend with Kim, Ray, and Corinna. While “Let us dance in the sun, wearing wildflowers in there we hiked a couple of trails, took in the our hair” – Susan Polis Schutz Terlingua Cemetery at dusk, drove out to Santa Elena Canyon, visited Mr. Cool Stone (ask Kim), and just had a really good time. If you ever get an opportunity to go to Big Bend, take it! Although One person’s weed is another we missed the bluebonnets, there were plenty of person’s wildflower. desert plants still in bloom. The Blackfoot Dai- sies were magnificent, and have you ever smelled Susan Wittig Albert a Chocolate Daisy? Oh, my! I could stand in a patch of these all day and be blissfully intoxicated. Photos on Page 4 Yes, they do smell like chocolate! June 2019 NPSOT News North Central Texas Chapter Page 3 The President’s Corner - June 2019 - by Karen Harden Continued from Page 3 More Photos on Page 5 June 2019 NPSOT News North Central Texas Chapter Page 4 The President’s Corner - May 2019 - by Karen Harden Continued from Page 4 June 2019 NPSOT News North Central Texas Chapter Page 5 Crow Poison - by Martha Mullens Which One Is it? Crow Poison (False Garlic), Wild Onion or Rain Lily Nothoscordum bivalve, Allium drummondii or canadense, Cooperia sp. or Zephyranthes sp. Riding along in the car, you spot a bunch of white lily- Let’s put these facts together. If it is spring, you look like flowers in a yard, vacant lot, or field. Because you at the color and the growth pattern. The most preva- don’t have time to stop, you glance at them and won- lent that I have found in the early spring are the crow der whether they are rain lilies or crow poison or wild poison (cream-colored to yellowish) and wild onions onions. I have done this quite often so I know that (more pinkish). Both form clusters so notice the col- others must also. Unfortunately, there is no perfect or and whether the blooms are open or closed (crow way to tell them apart unless you get close enough to poison) on a cloudy day and time of day (crow poison distinguish their characteristics, but there is a way to late morning). Wild onions are rare in the autumn. In narrow down the choices. the fall, rain lilies and crow poison are more common. All 3 show up after a rain in abundance. Crow poison is more prevalent in the spring, one of the earliest, but sometimes appears in the fall. Rain lilies are most frequent in the summer and fall (June-October), although some may bloom in the spring (April-May). Wild onions bloom from March to May. The bloom time doesn’t help much. All are basically the same color, white. The wild onions may have a pale pinkish cast. The rain lily is the truest white although older flowers may have a pink-tinge on the outer surface. The crow poison (false garlic) is more of a cream with a yellowish cast due to the heavy yellow stamens. Close exam- ination shows narrow prominent stripes of green, red, or purple on the outer surface of the petals. The colors help a little bit more Crow poison with identification. Rain lilies are solitary and crow poison forms clusters of flowers. The growth patterns provide more information.