NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS N e w s Native Society of Texas, North Central Chapter P Newsletter Vol 32, Number 62 S December 2020 O ncc npsot newsletter logo newsletter ncc npsot © 2018 Troy & Martha Mullens & Martha © 2018 Troy Purple Coneflower — Echinacea sp. T

December Meeting December Meeting: See Page 18 "Nature Photography" For a program description By Troy & Martha Mullens p. 18 Virtual

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] Past President — Karen Harden President's Corner by Gordon Scruggs ...... p. 3f Vice President & Programs — Flower of the Month, Yaupon Holly Morgan Chivers by Josephine Keeney ...... p. 7f Activities & Volunteering for October 2020 Recording Secretary — Debbie Stilson by Martha Mullens ...... p. 9f Treasurer — Vanessa Wojtas Leadplant by Martha Mullens ...... p. 11ff Hospitality Chair — Corinna Benson, Indian grass, NICE! Plant of the Season (Fall) Traci Middleton by Dr. Becca Dickstein ...... p. 14 Membership Chair — Beth Barber Answer to last month’s puzzle and a new puzzle ...... p. 15 Events Chair — Vanessa Wojtas "Nov. Calendar” Page by Troy Mullens ...... p. 16 NICE! Coordinator — Avon Burton October Membership Report by Beth Barber ...... p. 17 Hospitality by Corinna Benson ...... p. 17 Plant Sales Coordinators - Gordon Scruggs December Program by Troy & Martha Mullens & Sandy Fountain & Josephine Keeney Narure Potography ...... p. 18 Education/Outreach Chair — Open Parting Shots, News & Views by the Editors ...... p. 19ff Webmaster — Frank Keeney Volunteer Position Opportunites: Must read ...... p. 19 Field Trips — Eric Johnson Farmers Calendar by Troy Mullens ...... p. 20 Speaker’s Bureau — Theresa Thomas Nov. Meeting, Native by Adam Black ...... p. 21f Nov. Program Review by Martha Mullens ...... p. 22 Donations/Grants Chair — Open Recommended Plants List (Complete) ...... p. 23f Parliamentarian — Martha Mullens Pollinator Pledge by the Xerces Society ...... p. 25 Facebook Manager — Open Half-Earth Pledge by E.O. Wilson ...... p. 25 Newsletter Editor — Troy Mullens Upcoming progrms for next year ...... p. 26 [email protected] Fort Worth Botanic Garden Management Assistant Newsletter Editor — Transfers from City of Fort Worth to BRIT ... p. 27 Martha Mullens Become an armchair botanist (Volunteer) ...... p. 27 "Past Meeting" Minutes by Debbie Stilson ...... p. 28 Southwest Subcourthouse Garden Leaders Join NPSOT, Mission Statement, next Meeting ...... p. 29 Gailon Hardin & Dawn Hancock Newsletter Submission Requirements ...... p. 29 Native Plant Gardens at the Southwest Regional Library Leaders — Theresa Thomas & Char McMorrow 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 — Open [email protected]

The President’s Corner - December 2020 - by Gordon Scruggs

I want to first ask for volunteers who are willing to commit some time each month to our Chapter to please step forward. We have positions open on the following committees: Field Trips, Donations and Grants, Education / Outreach, Publicity, and we need coordinators for NLCP (Native Land- scape Certification Program), and a Treasurer. We also need volunteers to help with the website. No experience necessary; we will train you and then work with you. If you want to help, but do not want a leadership position or have limited time that is fine too. Please contact me if you have an interest in working with us to keep our Chap- A few blooms remain on the Flame acanthus ter the best in Texas. Here it is mid-November and I am sitting out back drinking coffee in short sleeves watching the sun rise. Although most of the plants in my gar- dens are going to seed, I still have a few blooming. Some are loving this weather like the Engelmann (cutleaf) daisy / Engelmannia peristenia, Mealy blue sage / Salvia farinacea, Scarlet sage / S. coc- cinea, and Autumn sage / S. greggii. This month in addition to planting new plants ac- quired at the fall plant sale, I sowed seed for next year. This summer and fall I spent time collecting seeds. I am considering packaging and selling the collected seeds at the spring plant sale. A first year Butterfly milkweed still growing. Enjoy the following pictures from my gardens. I hope you are enjoying your gardens and the outdoors with this mild weather. If you have any A flower’s appeal is in its contra- comments or suggestions on my plans or just dictions – so delicate in form yet want to talk natives, please contact me at [email protected]. strong in fragrance, so small in size yet big in beauty, so short in life yet long on effect.

Terri Guillemets

Continued on Page 4

December 2020 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 3 The President’s Corner - December 2020 - by Gordon Scruggs Continued from Page 3

Frostweed going to seed. Fruit on Turk’s cap.

Golden columbine is recuperating from the hot summer. Lance-leaf coreopsis seed pod.

Look closely and you will see the Cedar sage seed pods. Mealy blue sage var. H. Duelberg enjoying the mild fall weather.

December 2020 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 4 The President’s Corner - December 2020 - by Gordon Scruggs Continued from Page 4

One of several Texas thistle rosettes. One of the blooms on Gregg’s mistflower that has not yet gone to seed.

Seed pod on Bush sunflower. Seeds on a Toothleaf goldeneye.

Seeds on the Fall aster. Some Purple coneflowers are still blooming.

December 2020 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 5 The President’s Corner - December 2020 - by Gordon Scruggs Continued from Page 5

The Coral honeysuckle leaves are getting The Mealy blue sage is going to seed. Wild bergarmot (bee balm) seed heads. colorful.

Autumn sage is blooming. Many flowers on the Engelmann daisies. Scarlet sage is blooming for the sulfur butterflies.

Seeds on Blue mistflower. Yellow prairie flax is still blooming.

December 2020 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 6 Yaupon Holly — Flower of the Month for December Story & Photographs by Josephine Keeney

Yaupon Holly, Ilex vomitoria Aquifoliaceae (Holly Family)

What a wonderful and useful plant Yaupon Holly is!!

This lovely shrub or small is one of the few evergreen plants native to Texas. It has an upright habit and grows up to 25 feet, but usually smaller. It is not particular about soil or water and can tolerate drought as well as sun or shade.

This is a monoecious plant, so you need a male and a female plant to get berries, but luckily there are so many planted all around that it is usually not necessary to plant both of them. However, if you want berries you need the female, so purchase one in the fall to make sure you get a female. You can also just purchase a plant from a reputable nursery, or take and root a cutting from a female plant to be sure you get a female.

Yaupon will self seed although not abundantly, and if you use the seedlings you must wait until the plant is mature enough to bloom, to find out what you have.

If you have enough space these seedlings can be used to form an evergreen screen or fence row, which in many cases is very useful and a great bonus for birds as a shelter from weather and predators.

The berries are very beautiful and a favorite food of mockingbirds, cardinals, and blue jays. It is really fun to watch the mockingbirds try to defend their shrub from all the other birds.

The name vomitoria refers to an old custom of native Americans who used the leaves to make a tea and drank it in great quantities until it caused them to vomit. This was done during ceremonies to cleanse the body of impurities and raise the mind to a higher level of consciousness.

The leaves contain caffeine and a tea can be made by lightly toasting them in a 300 degree oven for about a half hour, then crushing about one tablespoon of leaves in a cup and pouring boiling water over them. They say it is quite good with a little honey added.

I must say I haven’t tried it yet but I plan to get up the courage one of these days.

Photos on Page 8

December 2020 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 7 Yqupon Holly — Flower of the Month for December

Continued from Page 7

Small tree Branches with berries

Close-up of branches. Close-up of berries

Photographs by Josephine Keeney

December 2020 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 8 December 2020 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 Dec. 3 6:30 PM Because of the pandemic, there will not be an in-person holiday party. Instead a speaker. Go-to-meeting online Nature Photography Troy Mullens No December Board Meeting

Native Prairies Association of Texas Fort Worth Chapter Most in-person hikes, events, tours and meet-ups cancelled. Mon., Dec. 14 7 PM on zoom Senior Marine Creek Land Scholars present Native Plant Seed Bomb results https://fortworthnpat.wordpress.com/

Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge https://www.fwnaturecenter.org/ Hardwicke Interpretive Center closed. Weekday naturalist-led outdoor programs will be available, but pre-registration is required. Check website for specific programs. 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. Starting October 1 no reservations required for admission Monday-Friday. Reservations required for weekends and CFW holidays. Starting Nov. 1 dog fee $1.

Cross Timbers Master Naturalist FWBG http://www.ctmn.org/ Mon., Dec. 14 6:30 PM virtual Holiday Party on zoom Sam Kieschnick Nature Myths

Tarrant County Master Gardener Association https://tarrantmg.org/ Live meetings suspended until further notice. Dec. 3 9:30 AM Zoom online meeting Awards, Project Reviews, New Officers TX A & M AgriLife Water University offers free online classes. Registration required. Check website for details. wateruniversity.tamu.edu

Fort Worth Botanic Garden https://www.fwbg.org/ Live meetings cancelled. Any other programs check with office. General admission ($12) open regular hours. Tickets sold online. online instructions. Dec 7-31 9:00 AM-3:00PM Mon.-Fri. Self-guided Exploration $6 prereg/$12 if not reg

BRIT https://www.brit.org/ All onsite educational programs are suspended through September. Some programs will be online. email questions to [email protected]. online lecture: Dec. 1 12 -1 PM Textiles from by Lesti Robertson online Workshops: Sat.-Sun., Dec. 5-6 10 AM-12 PM Winter Botanicals Watercolor members $65 /$75 non-members Sat., Dec. 12 10 AM-12PM Self Care: Plants, Textiles & Therapy members $55/$65 non-members

Volunteer opportunities Cont. on Next Page

December 2020 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 9 December 2020 Volunteer Opportunities - by Martha Mullens

Our chapter, nor the state NPSOT, cannot sponsor, encourage or plan any in-person (large group) meetings, events or demonstra- tion garden activities indoors or outdoors at this time, according to Gordon Scruggs, Chapter President. Workdays or events may be cancelled or rescheduled due to the corona virus covid-19. Check with the leader of each group. 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.

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.

River Legacy Park 701 NW Green 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

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, Visi- tor Center Host, Special Events, Animal Care

Volunteer at White Settlement Monarch Waystation Leaders: Sandy Fountain, Merita Knapp Workdays cancelled until further notice.

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]

* Note: Master Naturalists and Master Gardeners can get volunteer hours for work performed.

December 2020 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 10 Leadplant - by Martha Mullens

Lead Plant canescens and Indigo Bush, Amorpha fructicosa by Martha Mullens

I noticed that our speaker for November had a pho- Upper leaflets are dull green and smooth, lower leaf- to of the lead plant, Amorphya canescens, listed as lets are paler, smooth or with fine hairs. Flowers grow part of his talk on underutilized Texas native plants on erect spikes, 2 ½ to 6 inches in length, usually in for landscapes. This made me curious as to whether two or more clusters but sometimes solitary. 6-9 inch this plant is native to our area so I started a search. spikes of blooms are dark blue to reddish-purple in I was disappointed that I could not find it in any of color with orange anthers. The fruit consists of a pod, the field guides so I went to Shinner and Mahler’s as with all members of the or legume family. Flora of North Central Texas and discovered that A bit unusual for the peas is that the pod has a curved it is a shrub. There I learned that 2 other of tip. A very unusual characteristic of false indigo is Amorpha are listed for this region: A. fructicosa and that each pod contains only 1-2 seeds. A. paniculata. Most of us are more familiar with A. False indigo is reported to be slightly poisonous to fructicosa, which is also called false indigo, and in- livestock because of alkaloids, but cattle will browse digo bush. Sally Wasowski refers to it as river locust. it and deer love it. The seeds are eaten by game and Linex and Wasowski also call it indigo bush amor- songbirds. pha. The flowers of all three have only one petal. In fact all 15 species of the genus Amorpha found in For home use, it does best in wet soils and along have only one petal. streams for stabilization of banks. Sally Wasowski states that you can grow it if you keep it watered, but Amorpha canescens is found on sandy prairies in she recommends planting in an area of poor drain- the West Cross Timbers, also in the Panhandle, age or at the edge of a water garden. She says that it southeast and south-central Texas. A. fructicosa is will grow in all types of soils, either sand, loam, clay, the most widespread across Texas on stream banks acidic or calcareous limestone, even poor drainage is and limestone soils A. paniculata grows in wooded ok. Her advice is to keep it pruned to 5 trunks. Prun- and wet areas on the far east margin of north cen- ing the lower branches for two years will produce a tral Texas, mainly in southeast and east Texas. A. nicely shaped tree by the third year. Not pruning will paniculata­ is called panicled amorpha. Because of its produce a loose, airy shrub. She likes it because it is occurrence mostly in east Texas, many of us may not small and graceful. She suggests that if you plant it in be familiar with this species. A. texana is endemic to a flowerbed, cut off the bloom stalks to prevent hav- Texas and the most drought resistant. I am going to ing to weed out seedlings. She recommends propaga- concentrate on the first two. tion by softwood or hardwood cuttings or layering. If False indigo, A. fructicosa, is a shrub that has many seeds are used, they should be scarified. She obvious- stems which form large clumps. The usual height is ly loves this plant a lot and believes that you will also between 6 and 8 feet. All characteristics of this plant is you have room for it. are highly variable. The stems are brown to gray and There is plenty of information in all the guides about show varying degrees of hairiness and are gland dot- A. fructicosa, but very little about the lead plant (lead- ted. Leaves are compound, 3-10 inches long with 9-27 plant or leadplant). leaflets which vary from oval to elliptic to oblong with pointed or rounded tips. Margins are smooth. Continued on Page12 December 2020 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 11 Leadplant - by Martha Mullens Continued from Page 11

Amorpha canescens is called lead plant because of Plant materials are readily available from com- its grayish leaves. It is also called lead plant amor- mercial sources online or the native seed network pha, downy indigo bush, prairie shoestrings, buffalo online. Because transplanting is rarely successful, bellows and formerly Amorpha brachycarpa. plants should be grown from seeds, greenwood, or hardwood cuttings. It is recommended that seeds be Leadplant is a subshrub to herbaceous perennial scarified or stratified over winter and planted in the with multiple stems that grow to about 3 feet tall. spring. Leadplant will grow among grasses in a prai- Leaves are odd-pinnately compound and covered rie setting also. in dense lead-colored silver-gray hairs. The purple flowers are along the top parts of some of the stems Some Native Americans made a tea from the leaves in June-July. The are orange and extend out of lead plant and drank the teas to treat ailments past the one petal. Pods only contain one seed. such as pinworms, eczema, rheumatism, neural- gia, open wounds, and cuts. Some tribes made Leadplant is adaptable and will grow in somewhat a substance to smoke from the leaves and buffalo acidic to alkaline soils and tolerate some salinity. It fat. Some believed that it could be used to make a is fire resistant and can tolerate a moderate amount “medicine” to attract buffalo to the person that had of grazing. It is native from Manitoba and Ontario, it on their clothing. The term ’buffalo bellows’ came Canada, to Montana east to Michigan and south to about because the flowering of the leadplant coin- New and Louisiana in well-drained prai- cided with the time of the year that the buffalo were ries, on rocky bluffs, and open woodlands. It is an in rut and bellowing. excellent plant to control soil erosion because of its deep, branching, woody root system. Other than the Aren’t plants fascinating? They are the foundation common pests of grasshoppers, small mammals, of all life. and mildew, there are no major diseases. Its nectar attracts insects. Deer and other mammals like the fruit. Photographs on the next page

Resources:

Books: Diggs, George, Barney Lipscomb, Robert O’Kennon, Shinners and Mahler’s Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas, Austin College and BRIT Publishers, 1999, pages 624-6 Linex, Ricky, Range Plants of North Central Texas, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Weatherford, TX, 2014, page 263 Tull, Delena, George O. Miller, A Field Guide to Wildflowers, Trees, & Shrubs of Texas, Gulf Publishing, Houston, 1991, page 223 Wasowski, Sally, Julie Ryan, Landscaping with Native Texas Plants, Texas Monthly Press, Austin, TX, 1985, pages 124-5 Wasowski, Sally and Andy, Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region, Gulf Publishing Co. Houston, TX, 1991, page 230 Wrede, Jan, Trees, Shrubs, and Vines of the Texas Hill Country, Texas A & M University Press, College Station, TX, 2005, page 105

Online: wildflower.org plants.usda.gov gardenia.net

December 2020 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 12 Leadplant - by Martha Mullens Continued from Page 12

False indigo Bush, © Martha Mullens

Amorpha canescens © Adam Black

Amorpha canescens © R.W. Smith Cicada Killer on False Indigo Bush, © M.M. LBJ Wildflower

December 2020 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 13 NICE! Plant of the Season (Fall) Reported by Shelly Borders

Fall 2020 Plant of the Season Native Plant Society of Texas, North Central Chapter NICE Native Plant Partners Natives Improve and Conserve Environments Indiangrass, Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash: Tall, fall-blooming grass

Description: Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash, called Indiangrass and Yellow Indiangrass, is a tall, upright, perennial, warm-season ornamental grass. It typically grows to 3-5 feet tall with long blade- like blue-green leaves, with flower spikes up to 6-8 feet tall. The foliage turns yellow-orange in the fall, fading to brown in the winter. Indiangrass is 2-3 feet wide, with a bunching habit that increases in width each year. Before European settlement, Indiangrass was a major species in the Tallgrass Prairie ecosystem that dominated the central US.

Flowers and Seeds: Indiangrass flowers in the late Photos courtesy of Cathy Lustgarten (L) and summer to early fall with bright yellow flowers in Kathy Saucier (R) 8-12 inch clusters called panicles. As fall progresses the panicles become bronze to brown, turning gray by winter. The small seeds feed birds and other wildlife, and may self-seed in ideal conditions.

Planting sites: Once established, Indiangrass thrives in poor, dry to medium soils in a range of soil pH and soil types. It prospers in full sun.

Watering Instructions: Water Indiangrass well when planting it. After it is established, it is drought tolerant except in severe dry spells. Indiangrass will withstand occasional flooding, but will not survive marshy conditions.

Comments: Indiangrass is well-suited for naturalizing, erosion control, as a vertical specimen in border gardens and as a foundation plant. It is attractive in winter and should not be cut back until early spring, which is its only recommended maintenance for landscaping. Birds and small animals love its seeds. Indiangrass attracts butterflies and is the larval host for the Pepper-and-Salt Skipper butterfly. It is deer- resistant. It can be propagated by root division or by seed collected in the fall. Seed may need a cold treatment before germination. Consider planting Indiangrass instead of non-native invasive grasses like fountain grass (Pennisetum species) or Pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana). Companion plants include those with similar bloom times like Fall Aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium), Gulf Muhly, (Muhlenbergia capillaris), Gayfeather (Liatris mucronata), Gregg's mistflower (Conoclinium greggii) and Mealy Blue Sage (Salvia farinacea).

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 Texas Chapter meets on the 1st Thursday Feb thru June, Aug thru Dec at 6:30 pm, at Fort Worth Botanic Gardens, Deborah Beggs Moncrief Garden Center, Redbud Room. (Unless virtual). https://media.txnativeplants.org Written by Dr. Becca Dickstein

December 2020 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 14 Answer to Last Month’s Puzzle and A New Puzzle by Troy Mullens © 2020

New quiz

Casuality of The freezes What is the plant? It will be back.

Answer to Last months quiz

Which bluestem is this? Splitbeard bluestem

Easy to identify now. Not easy to identify in The Spring and early Summer.

December 2020 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 15 Broomweed by Martha Mullens © 2019

Such an ugly, noxious weed with no leaves and tiny flower. Is there excuse to empower? Indians and settlers freed the dried stalks and blooms to make sweeping brooms.

December 2020 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 16 Membership and Hospitality

Membership Report, December 2020 By Beth Barber

Word spread to all areas of Fort Worth and the surrounding towns about the Fall Plant Sale near the end of October. People came from as far west as Weatherford, as far north as Sanger, as far south as Waxahachie, as far east as Dallas (yes, even Dallas), and all points in-between to look for and to buy natives. I suspect we will see more and more of our area showing the variety of plants that like being in this part of Texas. The word is definitely spreading.

We have 195 members in our chapter.

Welcome back all who have recently renewed their membership.

Welcome also to our new members: Ronald Ehrle of Crowley and Laura Smith of Saginaw.

Hospitality by Corinna Benson

Just to let you know we still have 3 hospitality slots open for February. Covid 19 pending.

Fall find! Name this thing ?

December 2020 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 17 Nature Photography by Troy & Martha Mullens

Some slides from the program Nature Photography

December Program

More about this program next month. i.e. How to get started.

What do you need.

Camera equipment

December 2020 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 18 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 Events, Field Trips, Donations and Grants, Education/Outreach, Publicity, and NLCP. 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.

December 2020 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 19 Parting Shots Page 2 - Last Minute News & Views by the Editors by Troy & Martha Mullens

Farmer’s Calendar - December (excerpted from The Old Farmer's Almanac) Clues #1 and #2: The room stank with a funky musk, and the cat hunched, its full attention given to the heating vent. When I snapped on the lamp, A-ha! Eye-shine glimmered from the open vent, and then a flash of white as something dashed under the dresser. After extracting the cat and shutting the door, I made an ignominious phone call to someone I'd heard was handy with these sort of predicaments. Hello, I greeted the person and got straight to the point: There's a weasel in my bedroom.

“Ermine” is the winter word for this creature whose brownish coat has turned pure white, a camouflage in snowy environs. Shouldn’t I have been grateful for a lithe carnivore to feed on the unseen things constantly scrabbling in the walls—Mice? Squirrels? Chipmunks? Every night, I bang to quiet them. Futilely. But whose bedroom is big enough to host both cats and weasels? After the Good Samaritan arrived and set up his trap, I expected a prolonged scuffle—so I closed the door and wished him luck. But before 5 minutes had elapsed, my uninvited roommate was caged and leaving the premises, on his way to a spacious field that matched his hue.

Farmers Almanac 2020 Edition

THE FULL MOON IN DECEMBER 2020 Technically, the full Moon reaches peak fullness on December 29, 2020 at 10:28 P.M. EST—and earlier is time zones further west. (Note: In England, the full Moon date is the 30th at 3:28 A.M.) Look for the full Moon to appear above the horizon just before sunset. To find the exact time that it will be visible in your area, consult the Moonrise Calculator. What makes this full Moon special? It’s most distinc- tive for its high trajectory across the sky, causing the full Moon to sit above the horizon for a longer period of time.

December 2020 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 20 Parting Shots Page 3 - Last Minute News & Views by the Editors by Troy & Martha Mullens

November Meeting See Review at the "Underutilized Texas natives for exciting landscapes" End of this srticle By Adam Black Adam Black is a lifelong plant enthusiast with a passion for the rare, unusual, and esoteric. Based in Navasota, Texas, Adam is always searching far and wide for interesting plant species or noteworthy se- lections to introduce to horticulture for landscape diversification benefits, while also collaborating with various gardens, universities and governmental agencies on collecting imperiled plant species for the purposes of ex-situ conservation. Prior to his current role with botanical and horticultural consulting, he served as director of The John Fairey Garden (formerly Peckerwood Garden) in Hempstead, Texas where he assisted with the transition of this award-winning private garden into a public garden. He pre- viously managed the forest pathology and forest entomology laboratories at the University of Florida, served as horticulturist for a number of years at Kanapaha Botanical Gardens in Gainesville, FL while also co-owner of the former Xenoflora LLC, a mail order nursery that introduced many new plants to cultivation from Adam’s international and domestic collecting expeditions.

Veronia larsenii

Argyrochosma microphylla Amorpha canescens

December 2020 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 21 Parting Shots Page 4 - Last Minute News & Views by the Editors by Troy & Martha Mullens

Additional Photos for November Meeting "Underutilized Texas natives for exciting landscapes" By Adam Black

Amoreuxia wrightii Liatris elegans bridgesii

Review of November presentation by Adam Black Underutilized Texas Natives for Exciting Landscapes

Reviewed by Martha Mullens

Adam, a lifelong plant enthusiast, entertained us with outstanding photos of plants that he has viewed an/or collected from all across Texas. He is always looking for the rare and unusual plant species that he can intro- duce into horticulture for landscape diversification benefits. From his collections, he has propagated many plants for both private and public gardens. Other collecting he does to preserve imperiled plant species. He was co-owner of the former Xenoflora, a mail oder nursery that introduced many new plants to cultivation from his expeditions. I am certain that everyone learned something useful for enhancing their gardens

December 2020 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 22 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 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 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 33

December 2020 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 23 Continued from Page 32 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

December 2020 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 24 The Pollinator Pledge - by the Xerces Society Reported by Troy Mullens

To Bring Back the Pollinators, I will: 1. Grow a variety of bee-friendly flowers that bloom from spring through fall. 2. Protect and provide bee nests and caterpillar host plants. 3. Avoid using pesticides, especially insecticides. 4. Talk to my neighbors about the importance of pollinators and their habitat.

Sign the Pollinator Protection Pledge Today! https://xerces.org/pollinatorprotectionpledge/

The Half-Earth Pledge - by E. O. Wilson Reported by Troy Mullens

As a global citizen, I pledge to do what I can to support the Half-Earth Project:

• Take action to support species conservation; start by exploring the Half-Earth Map con- servation priorities areas, as well as information about my home and other areas of interest to me. • Share information about the Half-Earth Project with my network; ask friends and family to join me by signing the Half-Earth Pledge; share my pledge with my social media followers.­ • Participate in local conservation events; attend a Bioblitz or join a nature group in my area; use the iNaturalist app and upload species observations on my travels in nature. • Support policies that protect the Earth’s lands and oceans; keep up-to-date on local pol- icies; contact your representatives and share your thoughts and opinions on policies, because each policy action plays a role in reaching the grand, achievable Half-Earth goal. https://www.half-earthproject.org/pledge/

December 2020 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 25 List of the 2021 Programs Reported by Morgan Chivers

Program Selection In Progress If you have a program, or know someone who would like to present a program, contact [email protected] Or, suggest a topic and we'll put together a program.

Merry Christmas From your editors, Troy & Martha Mullens

Purple Cones on Black Spruce. Photographed north of the Arctic Circle © 2006, 2020 Troy and Martha Mullens

December 2020 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 26 Fort Worth Botanic Garden Management Transfers from City of Fort Worth to BRIT

BRIT Updates October 2020 Fort Worth Botanic Garden Management Transfers from City of Fort Worth to BRIT On October 1, BRIT assumed nonprofit management of the Fort Worth Botanic Garden, ushering in a new era for the 86-year old community favorite on its way toward becoming a world-class Garden.“The Fort Worth Botanic Garden is an incredible community asset,” said Mayor Betsy Price.

Become an Armchair Botanist and Help Liberate More Than 200 Years of Botanical Information from Herbarium Specimens

Like many other natural history collections, BRIT is in the process of making specimen images and data available in digital form. But in order to do that, we need your help transcribing the information related to these specimens.

Since 2015, BRIT has joined other natural history collections around the world to participate in the Worldwide Engagement for Digitizing Biocollections (WeDigBio), a data campaign, virtual science festival and local outreach opportunity. All you need to help is a computer with an internet connection and a passion for

plants! Learn about the WeDigBio program and how you can participate in this virtual event.

December 2020 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 27 Minutes of Regular Meetings by Debbie Stilson November, December 2020

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY NORTH CENTRAL CHAPTER NORTH CENTRAL CHAPTER November 12, 2020 December 3, 2020 Online GoTo Meeting Online GoTo Meeting

President Gordon Scruggs called the meeting to order at President Gordon Scruggs called the meeting to order at 6:33 6:34 P.M. P.M. and welcomed guests. The planned program tonight Secretary Debbie Stilson: There were four months of min- with Dr. Ravenscraft had a conflict soTroy and Martha Mul- utes published in the November newsletter. I am sure you lens will have a presentation on Nature Photography. have all read them. Are there any comments? No? Then the The financials are year to date income: $10,613, expenses: following minutes stand as published: June 11, 2020, Au- $6,921 for a net of $3,692. The bank balance is $18,759. gust 6, 2020, September 4, 2020 and October 1, 2020. We need volunteers! Vanessa is stepping down as Treasurer Treasurer: The financials for this month are income: on January 1, 2021, so we really need someone to help out. $9,953.66, spend: $4,950.67 for a net income of $5,002.99, We also need chair members for NICE (Natives Improve and with a current bank balance of $22,315.00. Conserve Environments), Publicity, Education Outreach Vanessa Wojtas has decided to step down as treasurer. She and Donations/Grants. If you are interested, please email has done a great job. We have 32 logged on so we can pro- [email protected]. If you would like to volunteer at ceed with the elections. Please un-mute your microphones. the demonstration gardens, please look at our website txna- Are there any nominations from the floor, with the nom- tiveplants.org to find days and times. Please bring your own inee’s permission, of course? No? For President Gordon tools and water and wear a mask. This cold is great gardening Scruggs: Ayes. It passes. For Vice President Morgan weather, much more pleasant than the heat of the summer. Chivers: Ayes – that passes. For Secretary Debbie Stilson: If you are looking for holiday gift ideas and would like to Ayes this too passes. help our organization, please consider giving the gift of a The fall plant sale was a great success. We made $2,707, had membership at NPSOT.org. New members of our chapter re- 1,400 plants for sale and 33 volunteers. Special thanks to ceive the Michael Eason book Wildflower of Texas. You could Frank Keeney for doing such a great job on the websites also go to Café Press, the NPSOT store, and get items such as and to Josephine Keeney and Sandy Fountain and the many t-shirts and coffee mugs with our logo on it. The Native Plant volunteers who made this possible. Society of Texas can also receive donations through Amazon We now have 205 active members and 22 of them signed up Smile when you have selected that as your charity of choice at the fall plant sale. If anyone would like to join, please go and purchase items on Amazon. to NPSOT.org. In the spring we are planning the purchase of milkweed The newsletter has many great articles and photos. Please from Monarch Watch again and members can preorder. submit any you may have to [email protected]. Watch your email. Gordon planted 29 this year and he will The NICE plant of the season is Indian Grass. Please go to write up what he did and how successful it was. The plants we txnativeplants.org to find out more about that or where the received in 2020 were small and good and sturdy. NICE nurseries are. We have 195 members and two joined last month. The December newsletter will be out soon. Please submit ar- Meeting adjourned at 6:40 P.M. ticles and/or photographs to [email protected]. The NICE plant of the season is Indian Grass. If you would Tonight’s presentation will be by Adam Black on like to learn where the NICE nurseries are, please go to our Underutilized Natives for Exciting Landscapes website at txnativeplants.org.

Meeting Adjourned at 6:41 P.M.

December 2020 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 28 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) January program:

New Year No Program

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.

December 2020 NPSOT News North Central Chapter Page 29