Newsletter 2021 September

NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS N e w s Native Plant Society of Texas, North Central Chapter P Newsletter Vol 33, Number 9 S September 2021 O ncc npsot newsletter logo newsletter ncc npsot © 2018 Troy & Martha Mullens & Martha © 2018 Troy Purple Coneflower — Echinacea sp. T

Virtual Meeting September 2 September 2nd Program

Soil health is vital to Randy everything growing Johnson By Randy Johnson Speaker See page 26 for bio and program details

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

Visit us at ncnpsot.org & www.txnativeplants.org Chapter Leaders Index President — Gordon Scruggs [email protected] President's Corner by Gordon Scruggs ...... p. 3 History of NCC NPSOT by Martha Mullens ...... p. 4 Past President — Karen Harden Venus' Looking Glass by Martha Mullens ...... p. 5 Vice President & Programs — Flower of the Month, Red buckeyee Morgan Chivers by Josephine Keeney ...... p. 6f Recording Secretary — Debbie Stilson What a Plant Knows by Martha Mullens ...... P. 8f Treasurer — Eric Johnson Activities & Volunteering for September 2021 Hospitality Chair — Corinna Benson, by Martha Mullens ...... p. 10f Tracie Middleton Answer to last month’s puzzle and a new puzzle ...... p. 12 September Calendar Page by Troy Mullens ...... p. 13 Membership Chair — Beth Barber Fall Symposium ...... p. 14 Events Chair — Position open Bioblitz by Sam Kieschnick ...... p. 15 NICE! Coordinator — Avon Burton White Settlement Monarch Garden Plant Sales Coordinators - Gordon Scruggs By Marcie Delgado ...... p. 16 & Sandy Fountain & Josephine Keeney Members' Photos ...... p. 17f Education/Outreach Chair — Open Membership Report by Beth Barber ...... p. 19 Hospitality by Corinna Benson ...... p. 19 Webmaster — Frank Keeney August Meeting Minutes by Debbie Stilson ...... p. 20 Field Trips — Eric Johnson Parting Shots, News & Views by the Editors ...... p. 21ff Speaker’s Bureau — Theresa Thomas Volunteer Position Opportunites: Must read ...... p. 21 Donations/Grants Chair — Open Farmers Calendar by Troy Mullens ...... p. 22 Parliamentarian — Martha Mullens NICE! Native Plant Partner Nurseries ...... p. 23 Facebook Manager — Open I-35 Waystation by Kim Conrow ...... p. 24 Newsletter Editor — Troy Mullens Color photography ...... p. 25 September Program ...... p. 26 [email protected] About Octobers' program ...... p. 27 Assistant Newsletter Editor — Recommended Plants List (Complete) ...... p. 28f Martha Mullens This Year's Programs by Morgan Chivers ...... p. 30 Southwest Subcourthouse Garden Leaders Purple Passionflower, Passiflora incarnata Gailon Hardin & Dawn Hancock NICE! Plant of the Season (Summer) Native Plant Gardens at the Southwest by Dr. Becca Dickstein ...... p. 31 Agarita, Mahonia trifoliolata Regional Library Leaders — NICE! Plant of the Season (Fall) Theresa Thomas & Char McMorrow by Dr. Becca Dickstein ...... p. 32 Molly Hollar Wildscape Garden Leader — Join NPSOT, Mission Statement, next Meeting, Ann Knudsen Newsletter Submission Requirements, Fielder House Garden Leaders — Presidents of NCC NPSOT ...... p. 33 Josephine Keeney & Jane Osterhuis O.S. Gray Natural Area — Josephine Keeney Randol Mill Pollinator Garden — Questions, Josephine Keeney White Settlement Waystation — Comments ? Tom Salmi (new) Publicity Chair — Chairperson needed

I hope you and your families are doing well. It a variety of native plants, and (3) enhance the nat- is terrible that we continue to suffer the conse- ural aesthetics. quences of the pandemic. We just need to pull to- There is still nothing I find more enjoyable than gether as Americans and get through these trou- going for a hike and identifying Texas native wild- bling times. flowers. With the new purpose, I now find much When I retired, my goal was to do a lot of hiking. more enjoyment in gardening. It is one way I con- I enjoy the outdoors and wanted to take advan- tribute to improving our environment. Another tage of the free time enjoying nature. Although way I contribute is working with our great chap- my primary outdoor interest had always been an- ter to accomplish our society’s mission of pro- imals and fossils, I decided that with retirement I moting research, conservation and utilization of would have plenty of time to also learn the local native plants and plant habitats of Texas through wildflowers. education, outreach and example. When I looked online for wildflower books, I I find our society’s mission extremely important, stumbled on the Native Plant Society of Tex- particularly considering the rapid reduction in as. After looking at the local chapter’s website, I plant and animal populations around the world. thought they looked like a group of like-minded If you believe this mission is important, then we individuals. So I joined the North Central Chap- need you to participate in our chapter’s leader- ter. I started going to the monthly general mem- ship. We need volunteers to be officers and lead bership meetings and quickly made many friends. our chapter into the future. We have positions Being a member of the NPSOT, I quickly became open for Chairpersons on the following com- more knowledgeable of native plants. Not just be- mittees: Events, Field Trips, Donations / Grants, ing able to identify wildflowers, but understand- Education / Outreach, Hospitality, and Publicity. ing the important role native plants play in our No experience necessary, we will train you. You fragile ecosystem. I began to better understand can help us by working in a demonstration gar- the ecological balance between plants, animals, den or volunteering at the plant sale. I have found soils, and climate. With my new friends in our the best part of our organization is meeting fellow chapter and my increased understanding of our members. Please contact me if you have an inter- ecosystem my appreciation of nature climbed to est in working with us to keep our Chapter the a new level. best in Texas. My greater appreciation of nature changed my Native plants are crucial to sustaining and reha- gardening goals and practices. I quit planting the bilitating our ecosystem. We have awesome mem- showy flowers of the month from the local box bers in the North Central Chapter. If you have store and started growing natives from seed or any questions or just want to talk natives, please purchased at native plant sale events. I stopped contact me at [email protected]. using pesticides, installed drip irrigation, and now operate my irrigation system manually only in the driest of seasons. I began digging up the non-native flowers and replacing them with natives. With this new knowledge, the purpose of my gar- What a lonely place it would be to dening evolved to having a native micro-ecosys- have a world without a wildflower. tem in my yard. I want my gardens to be a place where native plants and animals interact and Roland R Kemler flourish in an urban environment. To meet this new purpose for gardening, I adopted three goals. The goals are (1) cultivate milkweed, (2) maintain

September 2021 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 3 History of NCC NPSOT - by Martha Mullens

In a continuing effort to unravel the truth about the history of the North Central Chapter of NPSOT, the Historical Committee has uncovered these facts. If anyone can add to or correct this information, please send the information to [email protected]. Thanks. Martha Mullens

History When the Fort Worth Chapter of NPSOT was deactivated, a group met across from Weston Nursery at the estate of Randy and Sue Weston to form the North Central Chapter which was activated in June of 1993. Suzanne Tuttle served as the first president for the first 4-5 years. NCC NPSOT started meeting at FWBG in 2000.

Presidents of NCC NPSOT 1993-1997 Suzanne Tuttle 1997-1998 Jim Leavy 1999 Jeanne Strickland (The name of Stephen Hayden was mentioned several times as a possible president, but he has moved out of state and I don’t know how to contact him. There were some questions about dates due to the fact that the first few years officers were elected from June to July. I haven’t found out yet when it changed to January to December (maybe 1997 or 1998) so in at least one term year someone probably served from July to December or July to December of one year and then January to December of the next.) 2000 Glen Nerwin 2001-2002 Helena van Heiningen 2003-2004 Gailon Hardin 2005 Pat Lovejoy 2006-2007 John Bridges 2008 Hester Schwartzer 2009-2010 Dawn Hancock 2011-2012 Nancy Laine Price 2013-2015 Theresa Thomas 2016 Starr Krottinger 2017-2018 Kim Conrow 2019 Karen Harden 2020-2021 Gordon Scruggs

I would like to thank these people for their help in supplying this information: Helena van Heiningen, Gailon Hardin, Hester Schwartzer, Dawn Hancock, Theresa Thomas, Starr Krottinger, Suzanne Tuttle, Jim Leavy, Frank & Josephine Keeney, and Jeanne Strickland.

Martha Mullens

September 2021 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 4 Venus' Looking Glass - by Martha Mullens Venus’ Looking Glass Triodanis perfoliata by Martha Mullens

Venus’ looking glass is one of my favorite plants, Although these plants are inconspicuous, bloom- not just because it is purplish in color, but because ing April-June, their beautiful blue to purplish pink it looks so delicate and isn’t. It was a ‘free’ plant.The blooms would make them a nice addition to a garden first time it appeared in our yard was in 2017, but if planted in a group. Because they are annuals, you we didn’t plant it. It has returned sporadically since can choose to move them easily. Several nurseries then. This year it grew in the crack in our driveway. online offer seeds, roots and potted plants. What a delightful little plant. Its name refers to the shiny, mirror-like black seeds. How cool is that? The Cherokee steeped the roots along with parts of other plants and drank the infusion for indigestion. There are 6 species that are native to Texas, but 2 which are the most common to our area are Triodanis perfoliate and Triodanis leptocarpa. Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish the two by looking at the flowers alone, but a clue is that T. leptocarpa prefers sandy soils and limestone outcrops. T. perfoliate prefers clayish soils and disturbed areas. Another member of this genus which is more common in the Hill Coun- try and is found on the southern margin of North Central, is western Venus’ looking glass, Triodanis coloradoenis. It grows more on hillsides and rocky bluffs.

Venus’ looking glass rarely grows over 18 inches tall and may only reach 6 inches. Ours are about 6-8 inches tall. Depending on the species: the erect stalks are branched from the base or unbranched, and the 1-inch long leaves are sessile, can be round to ovate and are often clasping. Flowers are small, about ½ Venus' Looking Glass Triodanis perfoliate inch across and sessile. There may be one to several flowers in a leaf axil depending on the species.

References: 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, pages 500-2 Eason, Michael, Wildflowers of Texas, Timber Press, Portland, OR, 2018 Enquist, Marshall, Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country, Lone Star Botanical, Austin, Texas, 1987 Loughmiller, Campbell and Lynn, Texas Wildflowers, A Field Guide, University of TX Press, Austin, TX, Revised 2006 Wills, Mary Motz, Howard Irwin, Roadside Flowers of Texas, Univ. of TX Press, Austin, Texas, 1961

September 2021 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 5 Red buckeye — Flower of the Month for September Story & Photographs by Josephine Keeney

Red Buckeye, Aesculus pavia var. pavia Hippocastanaceae (Horse-Chestnut Family)

This beautiful tree is a slow grower but very much worth the wait because, in time it will reward the patient gardener with unsurpassed beauty.

The shiny leaves are made up of five pointed leaflets and are very large lending a tropical look to the tree. The flower clusters are 6 to 10 inches long in a beautiful orange red that can be seen from far away. It is a glorious sight to behold when in bloom and many people will stop and ask: “What plant is that?”

This tree is fond of water and will drop its leaves Large flower in summer and go dormant if not given an additional drink now and then.

It likes to grow as an understory tree and if you plant it under a large tree with light shade, such as a pecan or ash, it will remain green until fall when the leaves will turn yellow and drop along with the large seeds or buckeyes.

The seeds should be planted right away or they will be difficult to germinate after they dry out.

Red Buckeye is truly beautiful and deserves to be given a very special place in the garden.

Leaf and seeds

Additional Photos on Page 7

September 2021 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 6 Red buckeye — Flower of the Month for September

Continued from Page 6

Seeds planted sideways New leaves

Josephine with flowers

Photographs by Josephine Keeney except as noted

September 2021 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 7 What a Plant Knows Book review by Martha Mullens

What a Plant Knows A Field Guide to the Senses by Daniel Chamovitz Book Review by Martha Mullens

This book explores the secret lives of plants, from the ing them diet food, but the fat ones wouldn’t touch it. colors they see, to whether or not they prefer classical So I bought this play thing to give them some exercise. music to other types, to their ability to sense danger. This ‘rat’ runs back and forth and around under this nylon cover. Supposedly it stimulates their curiosity Would you be surprised to know that now scien- and leads them to chase the “rat” that runs under the tists believe that plants can see, smell, hear, taste, cover. Result: the fattest one briefly gave chase, then and touch? Dare we say “think”? Humans have been figured out that the “rat’” would come around again taught that we perceive our surroundings by using our eventually so she just laid down and waited to swat at eyes to see, our ears to hear, our noses to smell, our it. She didn't get much exercise. Conclusion: the cat hands to touch, and our tongues to taste. These sense is smarter than the inventor of the toy. I know that organs send messages to our brains, and we respond you statisticians are saying that my sample wasn’t big depending on the situation that we perceive and our enough to come to any valid conclusion. So what. I experiences. We think about the response, or, in the wasted $20, but I got a lot of laughs and learned more case of an automatic response, our brains cause us to about how cats think. Hope you got some chuckles respond. So how do plants see, hear, taste, smell, and too. If you have a cat, you are nodding your head. touch if they don’t have these organs and they don’t When I used to teach biology I told my students that have a brain to co-ordinate the responses? Well, that cats weren’t very smart. I was wrong. is what this book attempts to answer. New studies are being done in all these areas and the answers are sur- Let’s get back to plants. It seems that we have many prising. more things in common with flowers and trees than we realize. After many scientific experiments carried When I was in school, I was taught that only humans out by lots of different scientists over the years, the could think. Now we know that isn’t true. First, scien- result is that plants can ‘see’ their environment by tists discovered primates, such as gorillas and chim- responding to the different wavelengths of light, not panzees, could reason out the answers to problem. through rods and cones in eyes, but chemically. Think Next they learned whales, dolphins and elephants are about it. The process all life depends on that is carried very smart. Now they know that even the octopus can out by plants is photosynthesis produced by chemical reason. More and more animals have been added to reactions and light. They can ‘smell’ by using chemical the list. Currently all is not known about how organ- receptors. They can ‘hear’ by feeling vibrations. They isms respond to their environment, such as how does are sensitive to touch mostly by pressure and tempera- a jellyfish see and find food without eyes and a brain? ture changes. They ‘taste’ through chemical receptors. More studies are needed and there are lots of scientists They know what is happening to their neighbors. taking up the challenge. They know when a pesticide is used on them. They know when bugs are attacking them. Plants ‘know’ a I watch my cats and am amused at how they solve lot without having a brain. problems. We have some over-weight cats. I tried feed- Continued on page 9

September 2021 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 8 What a Plant Knows Book review by Martha Mullens Continued from Page 8

I don’t want to give away all the secrets revealed in the book. You will have to read it to learn the “how” these feats are accomplished. As scientists conduct more experiments, more will be discovered about what plants do know. This book gives the latest information. The author freely admits that his first book and earlier nature articles were incomplete in the information he imparted in light of new discoveries.

Plant a seed upside down with the root up and the stem/leaves down and it will turn over when it starts to sprout. Isn’t that amazing? Plants are amazing. The wonders in this book are amazing. I am fascinated, and I think you will be too. It is easy to read and not too scientific. I am highly recommending it for it is interesting and makes you ponder all the wonders of nature. What a Plant Knows offers a greater understanding of our own place in nature.

Depending on the condition, whether paperback or hardcov- er, and the copyright date, What a Plant Knows is available on eBay for $4-$12. At Amazon it costs $9-$12 and is also available in Kindle. At Half-Price Books you can get it for $7.50-$13.

Excerpt from the book

Forests reverberate with sounds. Birds sing, frogs croak, crickets chirp, leaves rustle in the wind. This never-ending orchestra includes sounds that signal danger, sounds related to mating rituals, sounds that threaten, sounds that appease. A squirrel jumps on a tree at the crunch of a breaking branch; a bird answers the call of another. Animals constantly move in response to sound, and as they move, they create new sounds, contributing to a cyclical cacophony. But even as the forest chatters and crackles, plants appear ever stoic, unresponsive to the din around them. Are plants deaf to the clamor of a forest? Or are we just blind to their response?

September 2021 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 9 September 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 may be required for entry. North Central Chapter of Native Plant Society of Texas www.txnativeplants.org Thurs., September 2: 6:30 PM zoom: Soil Health by Randy Johnson Tuesday, September 28: board meeting Native Prairies Association of Texas Fort Worth Chapter In-person hikes, events, tours and meet-ups require masks. Fall Plant Sale Mon., Sept. 13: 7 PM zoom: North Texas Outreach & Stewardship Director (?) Check website for events and field trips [email protected] October 30, Cross Timbers Master Naturalist FWBG http://www.ctmn.org/ 10 AM to 1:30 PM No in-person meetings. No in-person group activities. Mon., Sept. 20 7:00 zoom: Bison & Prescribed Burning by Daniel Price Registration Required Tarrant County Master Gardener Association https://tarrantmg.org/ Live meetings suspended until further notice. Details by e-mail Mon., Sept. 20 9:30 AM Zoom: turf by Chrissie Segers TX A & M AgriLife Water University offers free online classes. Registration required. River Legacy Park Check website for details. wateruniversity.tamu.edu Aggie Horticulture Courses online AgriLife Courses online Fort Worth Botanic Garden https://www.fwbg.org/ General admission ($12) open regular hours. Tickets sold online. Programs check with office. Pre-registration. Classes are limited to 15 outdoors with 6 feet between participants. Mask use encouraged. Sep. 1-Dec. 31: 9:00 AM-3:PM Self-Guided Exploration $6 registered/$12 unregistered Sep. 1-Dec. 31: 9:00 AM-6:00 PM PM Stickwork: artist Patrick Dougherty weaves plants into sculptures free for Members/regular admission to nonmembers Xerces Society webinar Thur., Sep. 23: 12-1:00 PM Biological Control in Urban Parks Books available at Xerces gift shop online for $57 donation: 100 Plants to Feed the Monarch 100 Plants to Feed the Bees Gardening for Butterflies Attracting Native Pollinators Farming with Native Beneficial Insects 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. Sat., Sep. 25 8:30-10 AM Birding Walk with Audubon Society members $10/non $12 Sat., Sep. 25 9-10 AM Slow Garden Experience FWBG More expensive classes online: Sat., Sep. 18: 9 AM-12 PM Papermaking with Plants members $55/$65 non FWBG Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge https://www.fwnaturecenter.org/ Hardwicke Interpretive Center Open 9 AM-4:30 PM. Admission tickets for all visits must be purchased online in advance of visit. $6 adults, children $2, seniors $3. Dogs $1. Instructions on website. No reservations required for admission Monday-Friday, but required for weekends and CFW holidays. FWNCR open 7 AM-5 PM until September. Activities for $5/members free. Pre-registration required. Thurs., Sep. 1: 9-10 AM Spiders of the Refuge Tues., Sep 7: 9-10 AM Wasps: Unconventional Pollinator Wed., Sep. 15: 9-10 AM Grasshoppers: Prairie’s Long Jumpers Mon., Sep. 20: 9-10:30 AM Green Machines (Look at leaves to ID trees)) Tues., Sep. 21: 9-10:30 AM Invasive Species Wed., Sep. 22: 9-10:30 AM iNat with a Naturalist Activities and Volunteer opportunities Mon., Sep. 27: 9-10:30 AM Bird Songs Cont. on page 11 Wed., Sep. 29: 9-noon Hardcore Hiking September 2021 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 10 Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge continued

Weekday Nature Hikes 9:00-10:30 AM $5 with paid admission/members free Sep. 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24, 30 Pre-registration required

Early Birds: 8:30-10:30 AM Sep. 13 $5 with paid admission/members free Pre-registration required

September 2021 Volunteer Opportunities - by Martha Mullens

Our chapter, nor the state NPSOT, cannot sponsor, encourage or plan any in-person (large group) meetings, events or demonstration garden activities indoors or outdoors at this time, according to Gordon Scruggs, Chapter President. As the weather warms and we want to get outside and volunteer, remember there may are restrictions: Although Gov- ernor Abbot has rescinded the mask requirement for fully vaccinated people outdoors, it is recommended that small groups work at our demonstration gardens if social distancing is practiced, volunteers wear masks and bring their own tools. Leader: Josephine Kenney 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. Randol Mill Pollinator Garden 1901 Randol Mill Rd. Arlington 4th Mon. Volunteer Manager: Sherrie Ripple or contact Josephine Keeney 3rd Mon. River Legacy Park 701 NW Green Oaks Blvd., Arlington Leader: Theresa Thomas 2nd & 4th Thursdays 8:30 AM-12:00 noon Native Gardens at SW Regional Library at Hulen 4001 Library Ln, Fort Worth Leaders Gailon Hardin, Dawn Hancock 2nd Sat. & last Wed. SW Tarrant Co. Sub Courthouse 6551 Granbury Rd, Fort Worth 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 8215 White Settlement Road Leaders: Tom Salmi 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]

Quiz Small tree/shrub Eastern U.S. , west to E/NC Texas Was considered very important during the Revolutionary War. Why?

Last months' Quiz Answer: Twyla Hornsby correctly identified this as Mexican Buckeye Small tree Soapberry family Fruit: 3-lobed capsule There is also a white-flowered species.

Venus’ Looking Glass by Martha Mullens What a beautiful crown! Royalties wear purple reflected in the mirror of your black shiny seeds.

September 2021 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 13 Fall Symposium

Symposium Schedule. The fall symposium registration is open! Registration link is on the opening page of our npsot.org website and found here on the sympo- Symposium link sium webpage https://npsot.org/wp/symposium2021/ https://npsot.org/wp/story/2021/13143/. Symposium page We have a great line-up of presentations and virtual field trips PLUS three free and open to the public virtual events!

The state is sponsoring an in-person field trip, open to the public, to the I-35 Waystations for Monarch sign ribbon cuttings on Saturday October 2nd. Details on the schedule.

September 2021 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 14 Bioblitz by Sam Kieschnick

Definition of Bioblitz: A bioblitz is a period of time when you take photos of any living organism and upload it to iNaturalist. iNaturalist is an online social network of people sharing biodiversity information to help each other learn about nature It's also a crowdsourced species identification system and an organism occurrence recording tool. The easy way is to use the app "iNaturalist" on your phone. Uploading a photo helps science and research and it is just plain fun to learn about what you have photographed. Here is some general information about iNaturalist https://txmn.org/crosstimbers/inaturalist/ Watch this video to learn how to use iNaturalist on your phone https://www.inaturalist.org/pages/video+tutorials#explore (You can also access the iNaturalist website from your pc) Second annual fall socially distant bioblitz in DFW! Last year, we had the first annual “fall socially distant bioblitz,” so obviously, it’s time we do our second! On Sep- tember 5 – 11, 2021, we will conduct another “fall socially distant bioblitz” in the Dallas/Fort Worth area on iNat- uralist. Much like last year, it will be a bit of a competition among the 6 master naturalist chapters in the DFW region. Each chapter will count iNat observations in the counties that they serve (so the CTMN counties will be Tarrant and Parker counties). Which master naturalist chapter will have the most observations, most species, and most participation?!? Last year’s bioblitz was tremendously successful! If you’d like to look at the results, here is the umbrella project: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/fall-socially-distant-bioblitz-dfw-urban-ecosystem We had over 35k observations from 1242 participants of over 2500 species. These numbers are crazy good! I made a lengthy post about some specific results, so if you’ve got a few minutes to read it, here you go: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/fall-socially-distant-bioblitz-dfw-urban-ecosystem/journal/40723 The Elm Fork chapter had both the most observations and the most species, but the CTMN’s were a close second in all categories! Much like last year, we will have daily challenges (with super hard ‘sub challenges’)! Big time props to whomever can check off all of these! As an added bonus, the City of Fort Worth is leading a “Parks for Pollinators” initiative, so observations made in City of Fort Worth Parks are especially valuable. We challenge you to go to your local Fort Worth Park and make some observations. Some of the ‘less visited’ parks may be particularly interesting. Ideally, we want you to get iNat observations in a public place (like your local park), but observations anywhere will count on this week. Remember, for the CTMN’s, only observations in the two counties that we serve count towards the totals. If you jump over to Dallas and make observations, you’re helping our friends in the North Texas chapter! It will be quite interesting to compare the results this year to last years – nature can fluctuate, and some years we have tremendous populations of one species, but barely any of another. So, events like these allow us to watch the ‘ebbs and flows’ of nature. Time spent making iNat observations and time spent curating (uploading your own observations or identifying other observations) will count as Volunteer Hours. Hopefully you can spend some meaningful time outside engaging with nature! I look forward to seeing what you see! If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know.

Sam Kieschnick , Urban Wildlife Biologist, DFW Texas Parks and Wildlife [email protected] Sambiology on iNaturalist , 214 215 5605

September 2021 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 15 White Settlement Monarch Garden By Marcie Delgado

WS Monarch Garden 8/26 Text and photos © Marcie Delgado at the White Settlement Monarch Waystation

It was a warm but peaceful morning in the garden. We have lots of blooms and lots of visitors. The garden was tended & watered, and all litter cleaned up. It’s really such a gem of a location.

September 2021 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 16 Members, Contributors, & Editor Picks Photos

©Avon Burton ©Erika Choffel Passiflora incarnata purchased at our NPSOT spring Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii (these could plant sale and gifted to a friend. She observed a Gulf be the Pam Puryear pink which I don't think is a true fritillary emerging nearby while she watered her gar- native. I don't have the plant tag or any info., but these den. sure are pretty!) From my yard. Clitoria mariana, or Atlantic pigeonwings, or Butterfly pea from Tyler State Park.

April 2020 NPSOT News North Central Texas Chapter Page 17 Members, Contributors, & Editor Picks Photos

Giant swallowtail

April 2020 NPSOT News North Central Texas Chapter Page 18 Membership Report, September 2021 By Beth Barber

Did you know that we have new software at NPSOT that will allow members to access their account, renew their membership, and update their information? You will still go in via the state website, but when you press the RE- NEW button things will look different. I think we will all be glad for the changes. But with those changes, I didn’t realize at first how many new members had joined in the past couple of months. So here is a big welcome to the following folks who joined in June, July, and August. Sorry I didn’t get your name in lights before now. WEL- COME: Sue Crain of Wichita Falls, Suzanne Pals of Bedford, Pamela Daniel of Southlake, Christal Danning of Joshua, Keiko Nishino of Coppell, Juli Willmott of Weatherford, Teddi Zonker of Watauga, and John Bridges of Keller. From Arlington we welcome Melissa Althouse, Mary Boone, and Alison Ravenscraft. From Fort Worth, welcome to Heather Bass, Corrine Brisbane, Joanna Yang and Stesha Pasachnik. Thank you to all of our renewing members who continue to help our chapter be so successful. And here is another change. The new software counts actual members, whereas the old system only counted households. At the time of this writing, we are 251 members strong in the North Central Chapter

Stesha Pasachnik Suzanne Pals Teddi Zonker

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. Terri Taylor

September 2021 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 19 August 5, 2021 General Meeting Minutes - by Debbie Stilson

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY NORTH CENTRAL CHAPTER August 5, 2021 Online Zoom Meeting

President Gordon Scruggs called the meeting to order at Also, Corinna Benson and Tracie Middleton are stepping 6:34 P.M. and welcomed the guests. down as Hospitality Chairs and will be happy to train the next Chair. Secretary: There were no comments on the June Minutes that were published in the August newsletter so they are Our next meeting will be Thursday September 2. approved. The photo and video contest entries are due by the end Treasurer: The income through June is $11,015; the ex- of August and they cannot have been published on other penses are $10,334 for a net of $680. The current bank bal- social media such as Facebook or Instagram. Please go to ance is $16,597. NPSOT.org to enter.

Fall Plant Sale: You have probably seen the email that You can update your information and renew your mem- has been sent out requesting growers for the plant sale on bership on the new membership database. October 30. Please respond to plantsaleleaders@txnativeplants.org if you can help. Our Society is following the CDC guidelines and we will have no in person meetings this year. Membership: We have 222 active members in our chapter, and thank you for all who have renewed. The Fall Symposium is October 6 – 10 and information will be sent out soon. Demonstration Gardens: We have nine gardens through- out Tarrant County that our leaders and volunteers take Our chapter is working with the City of Fort Worth and the care of, so let us know if you would like to volunteer and we Audubon Society to become a Bird City of Texas. The goal will find one near you. is to give birds, insects and other critters the habitat they need to survive. Newsletter: Thank you Troy & Martha Mullens and please send your photos and articles to him by August 15. Ann Knudson said that the first Saturday of August will be a work day at Molly Hollar Wildscape and the first mini NLCP: Our Level 1 course was a big success, and thank you class in a long time will be held outside on how to sharpen to Sandy and Theresa and Suzanne. After you take the first tools. one, you can take the others in any order. The presentation tonight is by Chris Helzer, the Nature NICE: The plant of the season is purple passionflower. Our Conservancy Director of Science in Nebraska, talking on new NICE nursery is Archie’s Gardenland. To see the com- Discovering Diversity in One Square Meter of Prairie. plete list of NICE nurseries, please go to txnativeplants.org. Meeting Adjourned 6:44 P.M. Announcements

Avon Burton, Theresa Thomas and Beth Barber have vol- unteered to be on the Nominating Committee, so please let one of them know if you or someone you know would like to be Secretary or Treasurer. And please do consider helping out our organization if they ask you. September 2021 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 20 Parting Shots - Last Minute News & Views of the Editors by Troy & Martha Mullens

One of a few off-season flowers of Salvia white- housei seen in Pecos Co. Texas. It is a strange member of this large, diverse genus that is pre- sumed to be one of the few totally reliant on the long proboscis of butterflies or moths to reach deep in the tubular flowers for pollination while seeking nectar (though not confirmed). Most Sal- via species are primarily bee or bird pollinated, though butterflies will visit them too. This species is only found at a relatively small number of sites in west Texas (and maybe nearby Mexico?) on limestone substrate.

Adam Black

Must read: Volunteer Opportunities in a Leadership Role

Your chapter of NPSOT needs you. We have openings for chairpersons for Secretary, Field Trips, Donations and Grants, Education/Outreach, Publicity, 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.

September 2021 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 21 Parting Shots Page 2 - Last Minute News & Views by the Editors by Troy & Martha Mullens

Farmer’s Calendar - September 2021 (excerpted from The Old Farmer's Almanac) This house was once part of a hill farm that started around 1790 and was worked until about 1925. On the place today are five wells that served the old farm. One is a spring a couple of feet deep that’s been scooped out and lined with stones. The others are more ambitious structures: 12 to 15 feet deep and lined with large stones laid skillfully in the manner of a house foundation. I try to imagine how you’d go about building such a well You’d have to dig out the hole, plumb 6 or 7 feet wide and as deep as needed. Two or three workers could dig, but once the hole was dug and the work of laying up the stones begun, only one worker could carry on at a time; there is no room for more in the stone-sided cylinder. Putting up the stones, you’d be alone down there. And the stones would be above. Somebody would have to lower them to you on ropes. You’d want a good man up top. As the stones rose around you, you’d need staging to stand on and work from. You'd dismantle it when you were done. How long would it take to lay up a well? For an experienced stoneworker with good help, a day or two. Would you toss a penny down the finished well for good luck? 1 would.

Farmers Almanac 2021 Edition

Harvest Moon September 20, 6:54 pm.

The Harvest Moon is the Full Moon nearest the September equinox, which occurs around September 22. The Harvest Moon is the only Full Moon name which is determined by the equinox rather than a month. This full Moon name is attributed to Native Americans because it marked when corn was supposed to be harvested. Most often, the September full Moon is actually the Harvest Moon, which is the full Moon that occurs closest to the fall equinox. In two years out of three, the Harvest Moon comes in September, but in some years it occurs in October. At the peak of harvest, farmers can work late into the night by the light of this Moon. Usually the full Moon rises an average of 50 minutes later each night, but for the few nights around the Harvest Moon, the Moon seems to rise at nearly the same time each night: just 25 to 30 minutes later across the U.S., and only 10 to 20 minutes later for much of Canada and Europe. Corn, pumpkins, squash, beans, and wild rice the chief Indian staples are now ready for gathering.

Other names are Corn Moon or Full Corn Moon or Barley Moon.

September 2021 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 22 Parting Shots Page 3 - Last Minute News & Views by the Editors by Troy & Martha Mullens NICE! Native Plant Partners Reported by Avon Burton

Natives Improve and Conserve Environments (NICE) Summer Plant of the Season is Purple Passionflower Vine, Passiflora incarnata L. For information on past plants of the season visit our webpage. www.txnativeplants.org/portfolio/nice/ Welcome Archie's Gardenland as our newest NICE! Native Plant Partner. Please support our partners: Archie's Gardenland 6700 Camp Bowie Boulevard, Fort Worth, 76116 817-737-6614 www.archiesgardenland.com/ EcoBlossom Nursery Online shop with delivery - Contact Anna Hurst (817) 720-5970 https://ecoblossom.com/ Weston Gardens in Bloom 8101 Anglin Drive, Fort Worth, 76140 (817) 572-0549 www.westongardens.com Stegall's Nursery 5652 Wilson Road, Fort Worth, 76140 (817) 483-0682 www.stegallsnursery.com/ Marshall Grain Garden Center 3525 William D Tate Ave., Grapevine, 76051 (817) 416-6600 www.marshallgrain.com Queen Bees Garden 200 E Main Street, Azle, 76020 (817) 444-2400 www.queenbeesgarden.com Stuart Nursery 2317 Fort Worth Hwy, Weatherford, 76087 (817) 596-0003 www.stuartnurseryinc.com

September 2021 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 23 Parting Shots Page 4 - Last Minute News & Views by the Editors by Troy & Martha Mullens

I-35 is the Monarch Highway…

If you find yourself on I-35 near Hillsboro or Salado pull into a TxDOT safety rest area and see our new Monarch educational signs! This was a collaborative effort between the Native Plant Society of Texas, US Fish and Wildlife Service and Texas Department of Public Transporta- tion. Peggy Sharp and Ilse Meir from the Tonkawa Chapter at a Bell County sign. 9 August 2021

Kim Conrow via Facebook

September 2021 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 24 Parting Shots Page 5 - Last Minute News & Views by the Editors by Troy & Martha Mullens

Color is powerful. It can trigger psychological responses, emotions and feelings of tranquil- ity, anger, serenity and more. Based on the placement of a strong point of saturation, it can draw the eye to specific locations within an image. They can be soft and muted or take on opposite characteristics wherein they are bold, vivid, intense and saturated. They fall into spectrums that can soothe the mind or create movement and calamity. The strategic use of color can be critical to the mood, feeling and impact of the photo itself.

Striking, saturated and bold colors beckon viewers to notice them, while soft and muted tones fade to a whisper in comparison. Primary colors tend to be bold, while pastels tend to be the whisperers. For instance, think about placing Easter eggs on a fire engine. Although your eye would eventually spot them, what would draw you into the image would be the intense red of the truck. The pastels become secondary, although if you held the egg in the palm of your hand, the colors would be obvious.

Colors fall into families—one being warmth. The warm tone family members are the reds, yellows and oranges. The opposite are the cool tone family members. They consist of blues, greens and purples. Warm tones give the illusion of coming forward in an image, while cool tones recede. This is most evidenced when a photo is made up of two colors that fall on the opposite sides of a color wheel. Think of a fall-colored yellow aspen set against a deep blue sky. The bold yellow tree pops off the page, while the sky takes a back seat in the distance. (Note the image of the fall color cottonwoods in red rock country.) Yellow and blue are op- posites as are red and cyan and magenta and green.

One strategic use of color is to find an offsetting pinpoint of color surrounded by an oppos- ing hue or tone. I look for a small, brightly colored subject that pops off the page because it’s immersed in its opposite. The tiny focal point becomes the primary subject. It may take up a very small percentage of the frame, but because of its color and contrast, the eye is drawn to it first and foremost. Study images where the color grabs you and try to figure out what the photographer did to create the situation. Apply your hypothe- sis to your next outing and see if it works. The more you understand light and color, the more you’ll be able to create images with impact.

September 2021 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 25 September Program by Randy Johnson reported by Troy & Martha Mullens

Title: Soil health is vital to everything growing

Synopsis:

Get to know what's happening in the world beneath your feet from soil expert, Randy Johnson. We know a lot about what's above our feet but little about the fascinating world beneath our feet. Most folks don't realize that almost all that we see above ground, terrestrially, is made possible by soil biology. Soil health is vital to everything growing, whether it’s your flower bed, yard, garden, pasture or field. Randy will discuss foundation organisms such as bacteria, protozoa, nematodes, soil mites, fungi, earthworms, etc.

Bio:

Randy Johnson graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences. His business, Randy Johnson Organics, offers native plants and seeds for sale as well as offering on-site environmental consultations. Randy was formerly the Horticulture Manager at the Dallas Zoo and the Director of Horticulture at Texas Discovery Gardens. He is a board member of Peckerwood Gardens in Hempstead, Texas, and is the Garden Consultant for the Lake Highland Community Garden. He has served as the President and Vice President of the Dallas Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas

September 2021 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 26 October Program - by Troy & Martha Mullens

Members "show and tell" plants Zoom meeting similar to last year. Participants will have 2-3 minutes to tell about their plant. Submit your photo(s) to [email protected] by Sept. 23 More information forthcoming at the September 2nd chapter meeting. Send questions to [email protected]

September 2021 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 27 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 29

September 2021 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 28 Continued from Page 28

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

September 2021 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 29 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 LandscapingAnole habitat for & lizards:Texas nativeSupporting plants garden biodiversity beyond the usual suspects July - No Program Thursday, August 5, 2021 Chris Helzer, The Nature Conservancy’s Director of Science in Nebraska

Thursday, September 2, 2021. Randy Johnson Introduction of Soil health is Vital to everything growing officer nominees

Thursday. October 7, 2021 "Show and Tell Plants" presented by Members

Thursday, December 2, 2021 TBD by Adam Black

September 2021 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 30 NICE! Plant of the Season, Summer Reported by Avon Burton

www.txnativeplants.org

September 2021 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 31 NICE! Plant of the Season, Fall Reported by Avon Burton

Fall 2021 Plant of the Season NICE Native Plant Society of Texas, North Central Chapter Native Plant Partners Natives Improve and Conserve Environments Agarita, Evergreen shrub with sharp-pointed leaves and fall berries

Description: Agarita, Mahonia trifoliolata, is an evergreen, holly-like, native Texas shrub that grows 3-6 ft. tall 3-5 ft. wide. It has stiff, spreading branches holding gray-green to blue-gray sharp-pointed, thorny leaves. Agarita leaves are 2-4 inches long, separated into three narrow leaflets further divided into lobes that are tipped with sharp spines. In nature, Agarita is found on hillsides and wooded areas and can form thickets.

Flowers and Seeds: Agarita blooms in February to March each year with cheery, fragrant, yellow, half-inch flowers with six petals and sepals. These are followed by small green berries that ripen to bright red from May and feed the birds until June. The berries are edible.

Planting sites: Agarita thrives in full sun to part shade. Full sun yields plants with the highest numbers of blooms and berries. The color of the foliage is also affected by sun exposure, with shadier conditions producing greener leaves and sunnier situations making grayer leaves. It is tolerant of most soil types as long as they are well-drained.

Watering Instructions: Water Agarita when planting it or its seed. Once established, it is drought tolerant. Photos courtesy of Kathy Saucier

Comments: Agarita looks great all year in several types of locations, as a stand-alone shrub or as a hedge. With its sharp leaves, it’s good as a barrier plant or security hedge. It is a wonderful substitute for non-native holly bushes, like Dwarf Burford Holly (Ilex cornuta). When working around Agarita, protective gloves are recommended to protect hands from the spines on the leaves. Dead fallen leaves on the ground are even sharper. Agarita’s mid- to late-winter blooms are a harbinger of spring and the edible berries that follow make a great-tasting jelly. However, those berries are hard to pick because of the sharp, scratching leaves. One tip for gathering the berries is to maneuver an open umbrella under an Agarita loaded with fruit and shake the bush until the berries fall into the umbrella. Agarita berries are a favorite food for birds. Ground birds, like quail, and small animals use the plant for cover. Agarita is deer-resistant, probably because of the prickly leaves. Agarita survived the February 2021 winter freeze. 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. Meetings are currently on Zoom and will resume in person when it is safe to do so. Updates will be announced in our newsletter which is available on our website.

www.txnativeplants.orgwww.txnativeplants.org Written by Dr. Becca Dickstein

September 2021 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 32 Presidents of NCC NPSOT Newsletter Requirement Suggestions 1. All submissions due by the 15th of the preceding 1993-1997 Suzanne Tuttle month. Exceptions are at the discretion of the Editors. 1997-1998 Jim Leavy 1999 Jeanne Strickland 2. Articles (text) should preferably be in plain text form. 2000 Glen Nerwin (No pdf’s). Any special formatting requirements should 2001-2002 Helena van Heiningen be noted. ( .doc .pages and .odt are OK) 2003-2004 Gailon Hardin 2005 Pat Lovejoy 3. Photographs & charts should be sent separately as 2006-2007 John Bridges large as possible. Location within the article should be 2008 Hester Schwartzer noted. Example 2009-2010 Dawn Hancock 2011-2012 Nancy Laine Price 2013-2015 Theresa Thomas 2016 Starr Krottinger 2017-2018 Kim Conrow October Program 2019 Karen Harden "Show and Tell Plants" 2020-2021 Gordon Scruggs By Members

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.

September 2021 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 33