Symposium News Release - Aransas/San Patricio Master Gardeners

“Natives Root Our Community”

By Maureen Crocker, Master Gardener

Much like native residents who have long standing connections and share a sense of “place”, native plants

have deep roots (literally!) and are part of the visual landscape that defines “place”. As a matter of fact,

native plants are often the visual focus of how we picture the place. The Coastal Live Oak trees in

Rockport-Fulton are a perfect example.

Hence, “Natives Root Our Community”, an upcoming half-day program about native plants hosted by the

Aransas-San Patricio Master Gardeners and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. It will be held 9AM – 2:30

PM on Friday, October 25 at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church with a beautiful view of the native plants

surrounding the meeting space.

Last Fall, the Master Gardeners offered a similar program focused on our precious Live Oak trees,

Quercus virginiana. As workshop attendees learned, the oak trees are also home to innumerable insects

on which birds feast. Did you know that birds feed their babies insects to fuel rapid growth? Migrating

hummingbirds love the nectar that fattens them up for their long journeys, but they also need protein

which they get from insects. Birds love oak trees because of the abundance of insect life in them and the

inability of most four-legged predators to get up in there with them.

The focus this year will be on native plants that can be easily incorporated into our gardens and how to do

it. Aside from the shelter and food they provide the animal kingdom, native plants are just about the

easiest plants to grow in the heat (and unpredictable freezes!) of Aransas County and surrounding areas.

Native plants grow here naturally and can usually survive on rain alone. Wildflowers are a perfect

example. The seeds sit dormant underground waiting for the right conditions to germinate. Temperature

and rain determine which wildflowers bloom and when. We love it when they appear as do the pollinators

who enjoy their nectar.

Angie Arredondo will start this year’s program with a deep dive into Texas native wildflowers, their

ecosystem, seed collection and propagation. Angie is the Manager of Education, Outreach, and Curation

at the Welder Wildlife Foundation with a Master of Science degree in Range and Wildlife Management.

She has led numerous wildflower workshops at the Welder Ranch and they sell out fast!

The second featured speaker is Dr. Michael Womack, Executive Director of the South Texas Botanical

Gardens & Nature Center in Corpus Christi. He is also the weekly garden columnist for the Corpus

Christi Caller Times. Over the course of his career, Dr. Womack’s interests have evolved from potted

tropical and landscape ornamentals into a strong focus on South Texas native plants and ecosystems. He

has a wealth of information about what to grow in the Rockport-Fulton area because he is a “native” of

Rockport. Dr. Womack will highlight native and adapted plants for the Coastal Bend and the wildlife

those plants support.
After the first two speakers get everyone fired up to “go native”, the third speaker will explain how easy it

is to incorporate native plants into home landscaping. Harry Villarreal, a landscape designer at Gill

Garden Center and Landscape Co. of Corpus Christi, is skilled at using native plants to create lasting

designs. Harry is a Corpus Christi “native” and knows the challenges Coastal Bend landscapes face.

Harry Villareal will close the session with practical information for transforming your property into a

native plant paradise.

With less pest management, less fertilizing and less watering required, native plants may be able to reduce

the amount of time you have to spend working in your garden and the amount of money you have to

spend on it. That means more time for relaxing in the garden. Check out the “Natives Root Our

Community” program at www.ASPMGStore.com. Tickets are $20 including lunch, snacks and a lot of

interesting people. We hope to see you there.