Gardening

There’s a growing trend to incorporate native plants in landscapes not only for their ability to save water, but also for the incredible beauty and the countless ecosystem services they provide! Learn how to grow our favorite native wildflowers, trees, shrubs as well as perennials with lush vibrant colors and textures to make your garden the envy of the neighborhood. We’ll also talk proper soil preparation, proper installation and provide tips for long term maintenance to keep your native landscape looking its best. Free.

Learn basic design principles, plant placement, and all about the newest hardscape trends so you can “do it yourself” and save big! Transform your landscape into a beautiful low maintenance, water efficient landscape. Learn tips on how to use the ULandscapeIT tool on our website (WaterUniversity.tamu.edu) to become your own landscape designer. Free.

Wildflowers of Texas

Michael Eason will talk about Texas wildflowers and will explain the diversity of our flora and reasons behind this diversity. His presentation will include numerous photographs of Texas flora and their habitats. There will be images of plants that have rarely, if ever, been photographed, and the associated tales tracking down some of these plants. Michael will talk about new species in Texas and the rediscovery of a South Texas water lily (Nymphaea ampla), and will include examples of pollination biology, seed dispersal, and errors in collections.

Native and adapted plants are not only beautiful, water-efficient additions to your landscape, but they can be useful tools to attract beneficial wildlife as well. Learn ways to attract and provide habitat for butterflies, song birds, hummingbirds, bees and other animals that bring your landscape to life with activity. Whether you'd like to keep your landscape well-manicured, or if you take a more naturalistic approach, we have tips to meet your needs, suit your taste and capture your imagination.

Dottie Woodson will explain the Texas Smartscape Program and how to use it to design your home landscape. Texas SmartScape is helping to promote education on pollution prevention through efficient and effective water use and focuses on using native and adapted plants that grow well in our area – North Central Texas. Dottie is a former Tarrant Co. Agri-Life horticulturalist and currently is an Extension Program Specialist for Water Resource as well as contributor to local newspapers and TV programs. Potluck at 6:30 p.m.

Cindy Kearney is the presenter.

We'll discuss our future, what you like about the chapter, where you think we could improve, etc. (speakers, projects, events, volunteerism) As an incentive to come, we'll have free door prizes of Monarch Watch's asclepias viridis (or Green Milkweed) plugs. Maximum of (5) per person please. We'll have 50 and possibly 150 more if they're shipped in time. We also have a few gaillardia left over from the sale to give away. Bring snacks!

Ever been hungry on a hike? Many of our local plants – especially common weeds – are extremely nutritious. Director of horticulture Roger Sanderson shares which are tasty – and which are not! Sample some of the native fare. $30. 

Presenter is Dr. Ken Steigman, director of the Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area, a 2,600-acre preserve managed by a non-profit consortium headed by The University of North Texas. LLELA's mission is to preserve and restore native ecosystems and biodiversity of north Texas and to provide and promote environmental education and research. Dr. Steigman has 36 years of experience in working with the public to participate and enjoy restoring and managing native ecosystems. 

Speaker Randy Johnson of Randy Johnson Organics will speak on “Pollinators and Natives: An Ancient Marriage.”  One-sixth of all described species on Earth are angiosperms, the flowering plants. Their co-evolution with pollinators is the most important relationship in the terrestrial environment. These two entities co-evolved with and for each other, their healthy relationship is vital to the structure and maintenance of almost all terrestrial ecosystems. This ancient marriage is threatened... what are the issues and how can we help? This and more are discussed.