Native Plants Go the Extra Yard

While there is a positive movement towards the use of adapted and low-water use plants in our San Antonio landscapes, there are even more benefits to planting natives.

Native plants have a purpose in the yard. They provide food (seeds, nuts, leaves), shelter (nesting, protection, resting, perching), erosion control (protecting soil surface and root structure in soil), and enhanced diversity.

Native birds, bees, mammals, reptiles, native insects (yes, we want them too), etc. primarily require a native plant for their survival. The greater the selection and diversity of plants, the greater the diversity of fauna and fewer problems you will have with any single issue in your yard.

Plants that are native to Texas, and more desirably, native to our region of the state, are the recommended choices.

What do native landscapes require LESS of?

1. Water – Native plants have evolved to be adaptive to our feast or famine weather patterns during the year and once they are well established, they will survive even if they’re not thriving.

2. Pesticides – In a balanced landscape, there may always be some plant being munched on, but the insects in our yards are what feeds birds (90% of our bird species feed their young on insects – not bird seed or bread) and reptiles (think anoles or false chameleons). The decreased use of pesticide application in the landscape makes for a better world.

3. Fertilizer – Native plants occur and thrive in nature without fertilizer, although they do get nutrients through leaf litter, compost, mulch, and rainwater. Addition of organic matter is another reason to mulch with organic materials instead of converting to gravel or rock mulch in the garden.

Ask a Naturalist: Ice Plant

What is this icy looking plant?

I spotted it in the Blanco side of the park when the temperatures were below freezing…

You were lucky to see Frostweed (Verbesina Virginica) in its “frosty” state. When temperatures drop below freezing, the dead stems of Frostweed exude liquid that freezes into icy formations. This native plant is a member of the Aster family and grows in rich loamy soils near creeks or under shade trees. Frostweed has straight, unbranched stems that grow about three to six feet tall. It is a perennial that blooms August through November.

Ask a Naturalist: Butterflies in San Antonio

What are the butterflies seen around San Antonio recently?

Snout Butterflies migrated through San Antonio recently. This common name comes from the butterfly’s elongated mouth-parts that form a prominent snout. While still caterpillars, they feed on Hackberry trees. As adults, Snout Butterflies are attracted to fermenting fruit and wildflowers.

The Snout Butterfly is also known by the scientific names of Libytheana bachmanii or Libytheana carinenta.

Photos taken by Donald Ewers. See more of his work at www.whileonawalk.blogspot.com.

Rare Orchid Found in PHP

The month of May brought about a rare and wonderful sight at Hardberger Park—a terrestrial orchid, the crested coralroot (Hexalectris spicata).

Oddly enough, Texas is home to 54 orchids, all of which are terrestrial (Liggio and Liggio, Wild Orchids of Texas, 1999). This differs from tropical orchids which are mainly epiphytic (air plants) (Liggio and Liggio 1999). It may be surprising to some that, like grasses, palms, and lilies, orchids are actually monocots (Brown, Field Guide to the Wild Orchids of Texas, 2008).

Perhaps the most prominent characteristics of all the orchids are the typical 3 sepal, 2 petal flower structure. A third petal is modified into a type of landing platform for insects (Brown 2008). Most of the Texas orchids occur in the moist conditions of east Texas (Liggio and Liggio 1999). However, some of the most unusual Texas orchids occur in the Edward’s Plateau region and right here in Bexar County.  These are members of the Corallorhiza and Hexalectris genus.  Unlike other orchids, these lack chlorophyll and thus do not carryout photosynthesis.  These plants, traditionally termed saprophytic, derive their nutrients from decaying leaves and vegetation (Liggio and Liggio 1999).

Hexalectris spicata found late this spring at Hardberger Park is more accurately termed by recent publications as myco-heterotrophic instead of saprophytic.  The plant derives nutrients, starches, and sugars from mycorrhizal fungal associations with the roots (Poole et al, Rare Plants of Texas, 2007).  But perhaps the most amazing and interesting fact of all, because orchid seeds lack an endosperm, seeds have to fall right where the mycorrhizal fungus is in order to further develop (Liggio and Liggio 1999). So, conditions have to be perfect not only in order for the leafless plants to emerge from the ground but also for the seeds to develop. <em>Hexalectris spicata</em> or Crested Coral Root can be found in live oak woodlands in the Edward’s Plateau, growing out of decaying leaf litter (Liggio and Liggio 1999; Brown 2008). The color of the stems, which can reach up to 80 cm tall, can vary but are usually deep purple (Brown 2008).  PHP Staff was excited to see this rare beauty  at Hardberger Park, protected from the destructive hand of man.

Ask a Naturalist: Red Oak Trees

Why are there no red oaks among canopy trees in the Phil Hardberger Park on NW Military?

...there are plenty of live oak, elm, juniper, hackberry and mesquite trees

Both sides of Hardberger Park (on NW Military and Blanco) have plenty of live oak, juniper, hackberry, mesquite, and cedar elms. However, the Texas red oaks (Quercus buckleyi) are confined to the Salado Creek area (on the Blanco side). This is due primarily to soil type. Texas red oaks tend to grow mainly in the "limestone outcrops and slopes or in stream bottoms..." (Flora of North Central Texas by Shinner and Mahler). The only real limestone outcrop we have at the park just so happens to be over along the creek. They also like areas that receive more moisture and are more mesic. These are areas that are well drained and typically do not have deep soils. All the other species listed tend to grow in a wide variety of soils and ranges and can typically handle a bit less mesic conditions.

Ask a Naturalist: Black goey stuff on sidewalk

What is that black gooey stuff all over the ground at the park (NW Military side)? It looks like tar.

The black stuff all over the ground and sidewalks on the NW Military side of the park is the fruit from the Texas persimmon. The fruits start out green and ripen to a black color. The Texas persimmon is a native small tree all over the park. Wildlife including birds and raccoons depend on the tasty fruit when very little else is out there to eat.

Ask a Naturalist: Whitebrush

Why is there so much Whitebrush in PHP East, but not in PHP West?

What a great question! The answer to the question relates to soil types, depth, moisture, and soil disturbance.  Whitebrush or Aloysia gratissima is found typically in draws or other areas receiving extra runoff and areas that have deep (or in our case deeper soils).  Whitebrush is found on PHP West.  You just haven't seen it yet because we currently do not have an open trail through the Whitebrush thickets but that will change in September.  Areas with "LvA" for Lewisville silty clay are areas with the highest density of Whitebrush in the park.  Only LvA and LvB soil types (where most of the Whitebrush is found) have soil profiles down to 62 inches, other soil types at the park are much less or more shallow. 

Finally, if all these conditions are met, Whitebrush can be associated with highly disturbed and overgrazed areas.  We know the property was heavily grazed by cattle in the Voelcker dairy farms days and probably up until a few years before the city purchased the property.

Whitebrush is truly a remarkable plant that you will be hard pressed to find at the north side parks!  We get a lot of questions on this plant when it is blooming and the air has a sweet aroma to attract bees and butterflies from far off.  It is a true gem of the park!