The Texas Hill Country is in a drought. Droughts are tough on everyone and everything. However, droughts are survivable if you are willing to follow a few simple tips.
A summer like this makes the best case for planting native plants in your garden. Native plants are adapted to Hill Country summers. They still need water, but not as much as gardenias or azaleas.
Think native plants such as Turk’s Caps, Native Lantana or Desert Willow. These are a few examples of plants that require little water and attract pollinators.
Mulch, mulch and mulch. By adding mulch to your garden, you are helping to conserve water. Mulch does a great job of protecting plants’ roots by acting as insulation against the heat and holding in the moisture, reducing the need to water. The good news, the city of Boerne provides mulch for free.
Be water-wise. The city of Boerne has a year-round ordinance prohibiting landscape watering between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. So, think low and slow.
Soaker and drip hoses do a great job conserving water by doing more with less. These hoses are fantastic at getting the water to the soil and roots where it is most needed. Be sure and set a timer so you do not forget to turn off the water, but generally, 20 to 30 minutes is long enough. (Of course, this depends on your HOA or neighborhood’s watering guidelines.)
Put off pruning and fertilizing. Plants need all their “energy” in the summer heat to survive. Pruning and fertilizing add undue stress to the plants, causing them to go into growth mode.
Birds, bees, butterflies and even lizards need water, too. In the shaded areas of your garden, place saucers filled with water and maybe add a few rocks to make it easier for the wildlife to land or crawl on to get a drink.
Lastly, consider replacing the plants that do not survive with native plants. The Boerne Chapter of the Native Plant Society is here to help you. You may want to mark your calendar for our Fall Native Plant Sale on Saturday, October 22, at the Farmers Market at Herff Farm.
We all need to do our part to conserve water. Following these simple suggestions, your garden and the wildlife will thank you!
Follow our partners to learn more information about water conservation and native plants at the Boerne Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas at https://npsot.org/wp/boerne/, the city of Boerne’s water conservation efforts at https://www.ci.boerne. tx.us/1947/Water-Conservation and the State of Water, Texas Parks and Wildlife at http://www.texasthestateofwater.org/.
Felicia Zeitman is president of the Boerne Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas. The Cibolo is proud to have a long-standing partnership and collaboration with NPSOT.
Cibolo Happenings
July 13
• Art in Conservation: Drawing from Nature, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Join international artist Jeannette MacDougall and Rebecca Burritt in the Art of Drawing, which is simply a form of mark-making. With the practice of the basic skills of blind contour, proportion, value and detail, we learn to draw what we see through our interpretation. We develop a new awareness and appreciation of the natural beauty in the world around us. This class is hosted inside or outside the Herff House and is offered every Wednesday. Learn more on www.cibolo.org.
July 15
• Night Hikes for Adults: Explore the Cibolo at Night, 7-8:30 p.m. Join the Cibolo staff as they walk the trails learning about all the nocturnal animals that call the Cibolo home. This is a longer hike suitable for adults 18 and over. Attendees should bring comfortable shoes, a flashlight, and a water bottle. Register on www.cibolo.org.
July 16
• Farmers Market at Herff Farm, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Join us at the Farmers Market at Herff Farm and enjoy locally produced products and goods from small businesses and farms in the Texas Hill Country. Herff Farm offers trails and programming for children and adults. More information is available on www.cibolo.org.
• Art in Conservation: Watercolor, 10 a.m.-noon. Join international artist Jeannette MacDougall and Rebecca Burritt in watercolor class where you learn to paint with the practice of the basic techniques; glazing, wet-in-wet, dry brush and more. This class is hosted inside or outside the Herff House and is offered every Saturday. Learn more on www.cibolo.org.
• Moondance Outdoor Concert Series: Britt Ballenger. Enjoy music at the Nature Center, 7-10 p.m. Attendees can bring their chairs, coolers and friends to enjoy dancing under the full moon. Ticket pricing is available for members, nonmembers, students, and children. Learn more at www.cibolo.org.
July 23
• Forest Bathing, 9-11 a.m. We will guide you through interactions designed to improve your relationships with others and the more-than-human world. Join us for a meditative walk on the Woodlands Trail, and bring water, sunscreen, and comfortable shoes. We will meet in the parking lot of the Cibolo Nature Center before heading out on the trails. Register on www.cibolo.org.
July 30
• Farmers Cheese Making Class, 10 a.m.-noon. Attendees will use pre-harvested plants with Mark “Merriwether” Vorderbruggen, who will teach them how to identify them correctly. The class is a beginner-level cooking experience, but you’ll learn a great new, fun skill for anyone who’s never made cheese! This class is offered two times on the same day. You must only register for one class. Registration is required, and walk-ins are not allowed. This class occurs in the Gathering Hall at Herff Farm near the Nest Nature School campus. More information is available on www.cibolo.org.
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