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The City of Dripping Springs has declared this week, Oct. 20-26 as Texas Native Plant Week in an official proclamation at the City Council meeting last week.
The proclamation was sponsored by council member Sherrie Parks and reads: WHEREAS, Texas is home to nearly 5,000 native plant species, recognized as plants that have evolved here naturally before European settlers arrived, plants that thrive in particular ecosystems without direct or indirect human interventions; and WHEREAS native plant communities form the ecological base upon which all other forms of life depend, from microscopic organisms to insects, birds, mammals, and people; and WHEREAS, founded in 1981, the Native Plant Society of Texas has expanded its outreach with over 30 chapters to promote the conservation, research, and utilization of native plants and plant habitats of Texas through education, outreach, and example; and WHEREAS, Texas Native Plant Week began with the vision of Faye Tessnow and Barbara Anderson, two members of the Highland Lakes Chapter, who led the effort to push the proclamation to the Texas legislature until it became law on September 1, 2009; and WHEREAS, native plants conserve water, provide habitats for birds, wildlife, and butterflies, protect the soil with long root systems, and eliminate or reduce pollutants and the need for herbicides and other chemical inputs; and WHEREAS, habitat loss and fragmentation, limited water for environ- mental flows, invasive species, and climate change are some of the major challenges to conservation and biodiversity in Texas, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department; and WHEREAS, Central Texas is in the third year of an historic draught, which, combined with a rapidly increased population, has placed stress on existing water supplies; and WHEREAS, homeowners, HOAs, landscapers, and local policy makers can help protect ecosystems, benefit wildlife, birds and the insects they need to survive, by selecting native plants when making their landscaping decisions; and WHEREAS, this annual celebration during the third full week of October is a reminder that everyone has a role to play in preserving our native landscape. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED BY THE MAYOR OF DRIPPING SPRINGS, TEXAS, THAT: 1. That October 20 - October 26, 2024, will be recognized as “Texas Native Plant Week” in the City of Dripping Springs; and 2. The City Council of Dripping Springs invites its citizens to attend the Dripping Springs Farmers Market and the Master Gardeners Native Plant Sale on Wednesday, October 23rd from 3 to 6 pm at Dripping Springs Ranch Park.
