Landscaping with Native Plants of the Intermountain Region (original) (raw)

Aquilegia, Vol. 12 No. 4, July-August 1988: Newsletter of the Colorado Native Plant Society

1988

The Colorado Native Plant Society Newsletter will be published on a bimonthly basis. The contents will consist primarily of a calendar of events, notes of interest, editorials, listings of new members and conservation news. Until there is a Society journal, the Newsletter will include short articles also. The deadline for the Newsletter is one month prior to its release.https://epublications.regis.edu/aquilegia/1041/thumbnail.jp

Aquilegia, Vol. 12 No. 6, November-December 1988: Newsletter of the Colorado Native Plant Society

1988

Aquilegia, Vol. 11 No. 3, May 1987: Newsletter of the Colorado Native Plant Society

1987

Colorado Native Plant Society Newsletter, Vol. 9 No. 3, May-June 1985

1985

6th Lone Star Regional Native Plant Conference

2012

Thank you for being part of the sixth Lone Star Regional Native Plant Conference and while you're here, please visit all of the wonderful gardens that are part of SFA Gardens. Since 1985 the Gardens have grown from a small 1/4 acre patch on the south side of the SFA Agriculture building to 128 acres of on-campus property. The gardens boast an amazing diversity of plant life that has been accumulated through a network of friends, plant enthusiasts, nurserymen, and horticulture and arboreta research colleagues in the USA. There are four main garden areas-the SFA Mast Arboretum, the Ruby M. Mize Azalea Garden, the Pineywoods Native Plant Center and the Gayla Mize Garden. What makes SFA Gardens special is plants, people and plans! The Mast Arboretum is a 10-acre garden along LaNana Creek at Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, Texas. The Arboretum began in 1985 as a project of the first Landscape Plant Materials class taught by Dr. Dave Creech. Over the years, this garden has expanded into one of the most diverse collections of plants in the South. The Mast Arboretum is dedicated to acquiring, testing, introducing and promoting new plants for the landscape and nursery industry in the southern USA. The SFA Pineywoods Native Plant Center (PNPC) is a 42-acre garden on the north end of the SFA campus dedicated in 2000. It's a unique mixture of uplands, mesic mid-slopes, and wet creek bottoms. The Tucker House serves as the central feature of the property, which is surrounded by native forest and gardens that celebrate the wonderful diversity of native plants in the region. Since 1996, endangered plant research has been a core research practice. We are in a capital campaign to build a Conservation Education Center at the PNPC, which will support our environmental education programs on-site, in all weathers and in a building that exhibits green building practices and environmental conservation practices. The eight-acre Ruby M. Mize Azalea Garden is the result of a partnership of the SFA horticulture program and members of the Nacogdoches community, nurtured by several local families who believe beautiful gardens are an important part of community vitality and the education process. This garden was developed as a project of the SFA Mast Arboretum, and was begun in response to the wishes of Nacogdoches residents Mr. and Mrs. A. T. Mast, Jr. that the university beautifies its eastern entrance. It wasn't long until SFA alumna Dorothy Wisely lent a helping hand with an endowment for the garden. Construction began in an overgrown loblolly pine forest in the winter of 1997. Dedicated in April 2000, most of the plantings were completed 2 years later. Today, the garden contains 46 planting beds, 1.25 miles of universally accessible trails, and 50 benches. The garden features over 550 varieties of Rhododendron, 100 varieties of Camellia, two hundred plus Hydrangea varieties, and a wealth of other unique collections. After a decade in existence, the Ruby M. Mize Azalea Garden is a highlight of the annual Nacogdoches Azalea Trail. Special events each March include guided tours during azalea season, an annual Azalea Symposium, and a Little Princess Tea Party. The Gayla Mize Garden was initiated in 2011 as the result of an endowment by SFA alumnus Ray Mize to honor his late wife Gayla Mize, a long time supporter of Nacogdoches Beautiful, SFA Gardens, and many other civic adventures in Nacogdoches. This garden is a part of the 68-Eve's Necklace, Sophora affinis, is a great small native tree with good flower interest and black seed pods that hang well into the winter. Extremely drought resistant. Mexican buckeye, Ungnadia speciosa, sports redbud like flowers, good fall color and interesting buckeye-like seed. Basically a very large shrub, this drought tolerant species has performed admirably outside of its more western habitats. Texas mountain laurel, Sophora secundiflora, is almost a commodity in central and western portions of the state, but it does remarkably well elsewhere if given good soil drainage and full sun. Beautiful blue fragrant flowers are a key feature, but the evergreen glossy foliage is unusually crisp and clean. A white flowering form is rarely encountered but is quite striking. Possumhaw, Ilex decidua, is one of our favorites. A small multi-stemmed small tree with several varieties in the trade, possumhaws are underutilized in East Texas landscapes. Red or yellow berried. 'Warren's Red' is perhaps the most common variety in the trade, but there's a real need to introduce varieties that sucker less from the ground and from the basal portion of the plant. Yaupon, Ilex vomitoria, is a commodity known for durability, evergreen nature and its ability to tolerate heavy pruning and training. 'Scarlet Peak' is a new variety that is destined to replace 'Fleming's Upright' in the years ahead. Oakleaf Hydrangea, H. quercifolia, is not native to Texas but it's nearby in Louisiana and it's such a superior landscape plant we mention it here. It has surprising drought resistance in our area, but only if soil drainage is superior. It finds the steep banks of Sara's branch at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center so comfortable it's taken to naturalizing along this stream, perhaps a first in Texas? We are evaluating a great list of oakleaf varieties and seedlings. Viburnums are reliable and make great plants for the landscape. Rusty blackhaw, Viburnum rufidulum, and Arrowwood, Viburnum dentatum, are most well known. Viburnum nudum, Smooth withered Viburnum, is showy and durable. Paul Cox, formerly of the San Antonio Botanical Garden, has introduced two great plants that have performed well in landscapes-'Lord Byron' and 'Sir Robert', and both are crosses of V. obovatum and V. rufidulum. While V. obovatum, Walter's Viburnum, is certainly popular and several varieties are available, we've found their suckering nature to be quite frustrating. Cross vine, Bignonia capreolata, is one of our favorite native vines and we love Greg Grant's introduction, 'Helen Fredel'. With big flowers, glossy evergreen foliage and a tenacious habit, there's no better vine. 'Tangerine Beauty' is more readily available. Carolina Yellow Jessamine, Gelsemium sempervirens, sports bright yellow flowers and evergreen foliage. This is a another must have vine for the Texas landscape. Trumpetcreeper, Campsis radicans, is a tenacious vine that deserves respect for its ability to find its way any where it wants to go.

2nd Lone Star Native Regional Plant Conference

2003

Landscaping begins with a garden! As an alternative to a lawn, a natural garden centering upon habitat for butterflies and dragonflies native to the Cajun Prairie is recommended. This gardening experience involves creating a natural garden for ten common, locaJ butterflies. Dragonflies are bonus features. Monitoring the garden is central to our concept.