WilCo Native Plant Society of Texas Chapter Snags Award

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TX — The Williamson County chapter of The Native Plant Society of Texas recent was awarded the Mary Jo Laughlin and Eula Whitehouse Memorial Award.

The honor was bestowed on Saturday, Oct. 5, in recognition of visual art that illustrates, interprets, or promotes native plants.

Chapter members worked with the Williamson County Parks and Recreation Department staff and Good Water Master Naturalists for two years to update and replace older, existing interpretive plant signs, and install new ones, officials described. The signs were installed at several locations in the county including Berry Springs Park and Preserve, the eastern and western portions of the Brushy Creek Regional Trail, and the western portion of the Jim Rodgers Trail in the Southwest Williamson County Regional Park.

Information on these parks and trails can be found at www.wilco.org/parks.

Members of WilCo chapter of The Native Plant Society of Texas (left to right): Vicky Husband, Sue Wiseman, Belinda Buescher, Kathy McCormack, Kathy Galloway, and Bob Kamper.

“The Native Plant Society volunteers have been tremendous partners with the county in educating the public about native plants and in keeping our parks looking their best," Russell Fishbeck, Williamson County senior director of parks and recreation, said in a prepared statement. "We congratulate them on receiving this award which recognizes them for the tremendous work they do for the benefit of the public."

The Texas Legislature designated the third week in October as Texas Native Plant Week. Residents are invited to celebrate the Oct. 20 to 27 by visiting one of the Williamson County locations. There, interpretive plant signs will be displayed so attendees can learn more about native plants.

Sample native plant interpretive sign. Image courtesy of Williamson County.

Information about the project can be found at https://npsot.org/wp/toolchest/?page_id=788. Want to learn more about your local native plants? The Chapter’s website (https://npsot.org/wp/wilco/) has information about their monthly meetings, field trips and classes.