Gardening with Texas Native Plants; The Wildflower Slope.

We need to have a native plant/seed exchange so we can all apply.
C

Thanks Josephine-My Ag exemption is for Native Grassland I'll have to check that sight out more.

Yes!!! that is a wonderful idea let us do it! I will be glad to help in any way I can. Remember that it is 50% of the plant species not 50% of the number of plants.
I am so excited!!! I can't wait.
Josephine.

So when would the best time be, spring? Personally I would really enjoy trying new natives if I could actually find them and didn't have to pay a lot for them. Now I have to think about saving more seeds and maybe sowing a few to have plants to share, this could be fun.
C

If you want to plant seeds most of them work better for winter sowing since they require cold to germinate, I will check my seeds and see what I have to offer, but not tomorrow I have a lot lined up, I will do it soon as I can though, this is going to be great!

I have some to start, will take stock. Who else might be interested in trading/propagating some TX natives and finding out about the wildscape certification?
C

I got some seeds from Sheila at the spring RU for Western Ironweed. I'd be happy to share with you.

OH Good Lord save me from myself. I would like to participate.
I actually have seeds from the Wildseedfarms that are Tx/Oklahoma Blend. I would be glad to share some with those already on this thread. (Not an open offer) If your interested Dmail me. They need to be sown pretty soon, at least by the middle of Jan.
You can go to the wildseed farms website to see what is in the seed mix
Lisa

I would be in general, but I just dumped everything I had left of flowers and grasses into seedballs for the neighborhood. Plenty of wafer ash, if any one in the native range wants some...


1lisac, if you have a chance, go on a field trip with Lisa and Jason Spangler, from the native prairie association http://www.texasprairie.org/ . They know everything, but yet are still good explainers for regular people. Prairies aren't maybe as flashy as some habitats, but they're just as native.

I think Prairies are wonderful they are my favorite.
I could use some Wafer Ash
http://wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=PTTR
It is the larval host for the Tiger and Giant swallowtail butterflies and they are so wonderful.

I am not sure I have enough of any seed to share but would like to try and have a get together in the spring and bring some seedlings, cuttings etc. of natives to swap. I am going to start the following and if they do well will have a few in spring to share:

Salvia penstemoniodes
Drummonds phlox
Rudbeckia hirta
Verbena bipinnatifida
TX star hibiscus
Brazos penstemon
native white hibiscus (cannot recall name at moment)
Desert willow tree

Some of these I have only a few seeds, others I might have enough to share with one or two people if they want to try and grow some.

C

Cheryl are you already starting your trade list?!? LOL LOL

I want to get jump start on spring LOL

That is a very impressive list Cheryl, I hope they all do well for you, if that Verbena does well save some for me please.

Oh my Goodness, this is so heart warming! The Ironweed puts a great show indeed.
Yes, I will be glad to show you how to root the cuttings, it is not hard at all, and as I said most of them root, we will get to it in the spring.
In the meantime gather as many seeds as you can of different plants and sow then in your chosen area after you mow very close if there is grass, then rake and scatter your seed. That will be a start.
Josephine.

Josephine...The 50% is species, but is that meaning 50% of your property has to be planted with natives? Or is it of planting you have 50% are to be native species.

I am definately interested and have been working on more natives, not sure how to determine the ratio.

I think she said 50% of what you have in terms of species.

Yes at least 50% of the species in you yard or property have to be native.
I think the easiest way is to take a large note pad with three columns marked Native, Exotic and Question and go out and look at every plant shrub and tree in your yard, including grass, in other words take an inventory of every single plant.

Write down the plants in the appropriate column and that will give you a good idea of where you stand, then find out about the plants you are not sure about and put them in the proper column.
After you have enough plants to qualify you can send for the packet, and it will tell you what to do.

As a matter of fact, you can send for the packet even before you are totally ready, it will tell you which plants are good for wildlife and how to arrange them.

Hm, I hadn't thought about grass, I still have a lot of grass in the back yard. Can I have beds and still have a wildscape?

Sure you can Cheryl you just have to have the right plants.

This message was edited Nov 17, 2010 11:21 PM

O.K. guys, these are the requirements right on the application, so you can see what you need.
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/pwdforms/media/pwd_906_w7000_backyard_habitat_app.pdf

Oh my gosh -- I had no idea -- native plants could be so pretty and addicting. Just reading this thread has caused me major "wants".

Question -- I live in the country with a very large front yard -- bermuda, of course, never watered. Do you think it would work if I ordered the Tx/Oklahoma Blend from Wildseedfarms and spread them on top of the bermuda? Boy, that would be a dream come true!

Other than that idea, I love the idea of less work using natives! And feeding butterflies, hummers and etc. Wondering if our dog and cat will cause problems.

This is exciting! New ideas to dream about all winter.

Native American Seed is a good source of native seed.
http://seedsource.com/

AJ, are you going to join the wildscape seed group? Please do.
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Brenda, yes I do think it would work and that would be a good start, please sign up on the thread too the more the merrier.

Here is the link for both of you
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1141568/

Josephine, your slope is beautiful. Your hard work must be appreciated by everyone who drives down that street. You are an inspiration to us all.

Carla

Thank you Carla, I love native plants and wildflowers so much, it is neat to have other appreciate them too.
Josephine.

The Slope has gone through some changes with the shorter days and the cooler weather, soon it will be all gone.

What are the little red flowers?

That is Salvia gregii and there is some Bluemistflower still left.

Do you cut any of it back or is it left alone?
C

I cut all of it by hand all 800 square feet of it, it usually three or four sessions of about 3hours each.
Three hours is the longest I can squat, my legs hurt, but it is worth it.

I understand that, its a lot to cut back.
C

Not only that, but after it is cut we shred it and compost it or use it as mulch.

Bet that spreads a lot of seed too.

Some plants yes, and that is why I always have so many to give away, I pot many of them and give to friends, to the native plant society for their sales, to the fielder garden, and the Molly Hollar wildscape.

I enjoyed the tour of the Fielder Garden in Arlington this year. It is a small garden but has so much to offer the butterflies. Josephine and others have labeled each plant on the tour and a name and location list is available so you can see each one yourself. Of course it like the slope and our yards are getting into the winter sleep stage, but next year I would encourage those of you who can to visit that gem of a garden.

Thank you Sheila, I would love to have everyone come to visit next year.

My problem when I squat that long is I can't get back up lol. Will the wind ever stop blowing?

The wind is blowing here too and the leaves that were close to being ready are all coming down.