The home of
Operation NICE!™
Natives Instead of Common Exotics
Web site: http://npsot.org/Boerne
NEWSLETTEr
DECEMBER 2015
Volume 15 Number 10
Monthly Meeting Tuesday December 1, 2015
Chapter Holiday Potluck
Theme: Whatever goes with ham (provided by the board)
Pick a category: Appetizers, Casseroles and Entrees; Vegetables and Side Dishes; and Desserts.
You may also like to bring beverages (of the alcoholic or non-alcoholic persuasion). Coffee and apple
cider will be provided, as will ice, plates, cups, and cutlery. We look forward to the amazing collection
of dishes we are sure to see and taste.
Set-up for the social will begin at 4:30 PM and we could use some extra hands to make things a little
easier on everyone. If you can come a bit early, our hospitality committee would be much
appreciative! Arrive at 6:30 to visit and set out food; eating will begin at 7 PM.
Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas!
President’s Message
Happy Thanksgiving to Boerne NPSOT Members,
By the time you receive this we will probably have colder weather, but with the recent rains my yard is
full of native plants in bloom. We can really be thankful for the rain.
We will start celebrating the Christmas holidays early in December with our annual December Pot
Luck party. Please mark Tuesday, December 1, 6:30 pm on your calendar. Our NPSOT Board will
bring hams and drinks. Please bring one of the following, appetizer, side dishes, salad, or desert. If
you have a table Christmas decoration you can share during the party, please bring it. The food is
always outstanding and so are the members. We always have a joyous time.
We are continuing our tradition of bringing in-kind gifts to help the Kendall County Women’s Shelter to
the party. They were overjoyed with our contributions last year! This year they have shared their wish
list, which is included on a separate page at the end of the newsletter for ease of printing and use.
The Board is developing a survey to find out how our members would like to participate in chapter
committees, projects and activities. We will have the survey at the party December 1. Please
complete it and offer suggestions for things to add to it- we want your ideas.
I hope to see you December 1.
Enjoy the Holidays,
Kathy Ward
Chapter Activities
Bigtooth Maples for Boerne Program
By Carolyn Walden
Congratulations, Native Plant Society of Texas- Boerne Chapter for the 10th year of the annual
Bigtooth Maple Tree Program giveaway and Suzanne Young (aka Maple Momma, as dubbed by Bill
Ward)!. Five years ago in a November 2010 Native Grown article published in the Boerne Star, Bill
wrote about the then success of the program achieved by Maple Momma and her team of volunteers.
That year 104 trees were given to residents and businesses who submitted applications. An
additional 38 trees were given to the city and planted along Main Street and around Main Plaza. I
would estimate that those trees brought the 5-year total to approximately 550.
You probably have noticed the striking fall color of these trees around town, especially this fall. The
objective of the Bigtooth Maples Program was to bring native maples back to Boerne. They are found
naturally from southeast Idaho down through Nevada, Arizona, southern New Mexico, the Big Bend
area and the Hill Country. The program was to be a 10-year project that has been generously
supported by the Lende Foundation; however, Suzanne says ”And we still have a couple more years
to go”. For a variety of reasons, we have not run out of funds. All of the trees were grown from seed
by chapter-member Chuck Janzow, who then provided sapling trees to Love Creek Orchard in
Medina Texas, which then supplied all of the trees for the program. These long-term commitments
have ensured the program’s success and effectiveness.
Now 5 years later, on November 20 and 21, 141 trees were given away bringing us to a total of 1,243
Bigtooth maples awarded to Boerne residents and businesses in ten years. What an achievement,
thanks to the organization and enthusiasm of Maple Momma and her volunteers.
The Old No. 9 Hike and Bike Trail will gain additional maples thanks to Woodside Village
Homeowners Association and Great Homes builders desire to plant more maples along the trail.
Woodside Village was awarded 28 Bigtooth maples to plant at the entrance to Autumn Ridge, in front
yards and along neighborhood trails and the Old No. 9 Trail. Great Homes new location at the Old
No. 9 and Blanco Road and new buildings will allow for many maples to be planted in their new
landscape.
Kudos to Maple Momma and her teams!
Regional Stuff
Balcones Satellite of the Texas Invaders
Avoiding Nurseries That Sell Invasive Plants
The holiday season is a time for giving and receiving. If you love plants, you may be planning to visit
your local nursery for holiday greenery, gifts for others or plants for your winter landscape or
vegetable gardens.
One of the challenges we face with invasive plants is that many of these plants are being promoted
and sold at local nurseries. The profits from the sale of invasive plants are huge. I will never forget the
conversation I had with a local nursery several years ago. I had just learned that ligustrum is an
invasive plant that forms monocultures and crowds out native plants. A local nursery was promoting
the sale of ligustrum in their weekly advertisement. I called the manager of the nursery, explained that
these plants are invasive, and asked if they could stop selling them. After a long pause, the manager
said, “Unless someone makes a law, it’s not going to happen.” Needless to say, I never shop this
nursery, and have urged others to avoid it as well.
A study by University of Minnesota researchers concluded that the solution for controlling sale of
invasive plants will involve a public effort that develops consumer awareness of invasive species
while promoting interesting, fun, alternative plant choices to effectively change demand. The study’s
co-author Jennifer Drew said, “In the course of looking at this whole industry, it became evident that
the consumers can play a key role in the control of invasives with their purchasing power.”
As a consumer, you have power and can avoid nurseries that sell invasive plants. You can promote
your favorite nursery that refuses to sell invasive plants. We can make a difference!
The Balcones satellite current area of focus is eradication of invasive plants at Government Canyon.
No prior experience is required, just a desire to join us in making a difference!
When: December 1st, 8th and 15th 8:30 to 10:30 am. We will NOT be eradicating on December 22nd
and 29th. Wear attire suitable for working in rough terrain and brushy areas with stickery plants, loose
rocks, and assorted critters large and small. Work boots, gloves, hat, long-sleeved pants & shirts, and
water are necessary. We have a supply of tools, but welcome anyone who brings their own. For
details of exact location and directions, contact Lonnie at lonnieshockley@satx.rr.com.
Those on the mailing list will receive specific details about each week’s planned eradication, as well
as cancellation for severe weather conditions.
Lindheimer's Texas Exhibit
Sophienburg Museum, New Braunfels through May 2016
Sense the passion frontier naturalists had for exploration and learning about the world at the
Sophienburg Museum in New Braunfels. 'The Father of Texas Botany,' Ferdinand J. Lindheimer,
along with other 19th century naturalists, lived and collected in Central Texas and pioneered the
sciences throughout Texas. Not to be missed are actual plant specimens collected by Ferdinand
Lindheimer http://sophienburg.com/ . The New Braunfels Conservation Society also gives tours,
preferably by reservation, of the Lindheimer historic home and garden
http://www.newbraunfelsconservation.org/headway/lindheimer-house/.
Happenings – the Calendar
December 1 (Tuesday) 7:00 PM. Chapter monthly meeting – Holiday potluck
January 5 (Tuesday) 7:00 PM. Speaker to be determined.
To find out about activities and workshops with other organizations call or visit their websites:
Cibolo Nature Center (830.249.4616)
http://www.cibolo.org/calendar
Master Naturalist:
San Antonio, Alamo Chapter
http://txmn.org/alamo/
Kerrville, Hill Country Chapter
http://txmn.org/hillcountry/
Friends of Friedrich Wilderness Park (210.372.9124)
Medina River Natural Area Second Saturday Programs (210.624.2575)
For more information or to RSVP for any event please contact by telephone. Website: www.sanaturalareas.org

Our meetings are free and open to the public. Join us the first Tuesday of the month, January-June and SeptemberDecember, at 6:30 p.m. at the Cibolo Nature Center, Boerne, Texas.
Our Sponsors
Please support the following businesses that sponsor our newsletter
HILL COUNTRY
AFRICAN VIOLETS
& NURSERY
32005 IH 10W
Boerne, TX
830-249-2614
BERGMANN
LUMBER CO.
236 S. Main
Boerne, TX
830-249-2712
830-816-2193
MEDINA GARDEN
NURSERY
Growing Native Plants Since
1999
3417 State Hwy 16-N,
Medina, TX 78055
(830) 589-2771
STONE & SOIL
DEPOT INC.
26923 IH 10 West
Boerne, TX
210.687.1005
http://medinagardennursery.com/
Become a Sponsor!
or refer us to someone
who might want to
become a sponsor
A LITTLE
NATURE STORE
106 E. Theissen St.
Boerne, TX
830-249-2281
REMAX
ASSOCIATES-BOERNE
Bob Bockholt, GRI
309 Water Street,
Boerne, TX
830-816-2660
Become a Sponsor!
or refer us to someone
who might want to
become a sponsor
Kendall County Women’s Shelter Wish List
Food:
Fresh fruit and vegetables
Individual packets of nuts and snacks
Coffee in large cans
Canned fruits, vegetables and soups
Breakfast bars and cereal
Milk
Shelter Supplies:
Paper Towels
Bleach
Clorox Bleach wipes
Trash bags (30-gallon and 13-gallon)
Twin size blankets
Twin plastic mattress covers with zipper Plastic pillow covers with zipper Liquid hand soap and refills
Laundry detergent for high-efficiency washers Ziploc bags, plastic wrap, foil Printer paper Batteries
(AA, AAA, 9 volt, C, D) Hand sanitizer Office supplies
Medical Supplies:
Adult Band-aids
Nyquil, Ibuprofen, Tylenol
Melatonin, Cold/Flu medication
Baby Tylenol, baby cold/flu medication
Tums, Pepto Bismol, Preparation H
Pet Shelter Needs List:
Dog leashes
Dog food, cat food
Stainless steel no-flip bowls for pet shelter