We all know the slogan “Keep Texas Beautiful”, but I recently read a new one – “Keep Texas Texas. We can help do this by honoring the natural beauty of our surroundings and encouraging and planting native plants. Our native plants are drought tolerant and survive difficult summers, like this year, with little water. Native plants provide both habitat and food for our butterflies, bees, and other wildlife.
Native Texan, Lady Bird Johnson, led the effort in 1965 for passage of the Highway Beautification Act. This legislation did much to encourage beautification of communities and highways throughout the U.S. In 1982 Mrs. Johnson helped found the National Wildflower Research Center in south Austin (Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center). If you have never visited it is well worth a trip.
In 2009 the Texas legislature designated the third week in October as Texas Native Plant Week. Over 5,000 species of native plants call Texas home making our state one of the most biologically diverse. So how can you find the right native plants for your landscape this October? I like to visit our local plant nurseries. The plants sold locally are more likely to be grown in our region and be pesticide free. Pollinators and pesticides don’t mix! Your local nursery salesperson will be helpful.
You may want to research before visiting a nursery to find plants just right for our “little bit of heaven” here in Wimberley. The Native Plant Society of Texas website is one of many good online resources. Just look under the resource tab on the website for “Plant Lists by Region”. While on this site you can learn about our local affiliate, the Hill Country Chapter. Another helpful site is Green Grow Austin found at austintexas.gov. This online book has helpful photos. Happy planting and Keep Texas Texas.
Becky Denton, Texas Master Naturalists
