Did you know that this week (October 19-25, 2009) is Texas Native Plant Week? In June of this year, Governor Rick Perry signed into law a bill designating the third week of October as Texas Native Plant Week. In the Dripping Springs area, Hays County Commissioner Karen Ford is hosting a Native Plant Walk and Talk at the Precinct 4 offices to celebrate the week.

At Plateau, we're celebrating until October 31, 2009*, by offering $100 off a Consulting Site Visit with Report (normally $495**) or the more in-depth Habitat Assessment with Report and Maps (normally $995**). Our on-site visits provide an opportunity to walk your land with a Master-Level wildlife biologist and learn more about your property's special characteristics such as its native Texas plants and wildlife habitat. Have your questions about your land answered and receive specific recommendations for improving the quality of your land and its native wildlife. These on-site visits are a great opportunity to bring along friends and family so they can also learn about the land and habitat - a personalized "walk and talk" for your own property. Please mention this Texas Native Plant Week offer when contacting Plateau to enjoy this limited time celebratory offer.

TEXAS NATIVE PLANTS
Native Texas plants can be used to attract and benefit wildlife, particularly birds and butterflies. To a large degree, wildlife management is plant management (i.e. knowing your plants, their uses, and how to manipulate them). Wildlife have four basic requirements: space, cover, food, and water. The plant community on your property influences each of these requirements either directly or indirectly.

At one of Plateau's Wildlife Management Valuation seminars, an attendee brought a small forb (weed) to be identified. The Plateau biologist identified the plant as pigeonberry (Rivina humilis), a shade tolerant perennial whose berries were readily eaten by birds. The wildlife benefit was confirmed as she excitedly told the biologist about some of the animals she had been seeing on her property.

Here are just a few more examples of wildlife-beneficial native Texas plants:

The upright growth form of little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), a perennial warm season grass, provides fantastic nesting cover for Bobwhite Quail. This grass decreases in abundance with moderate to heavy livestock grazing. Illinois bundleflower (Desmanthus illinoensis), a native, nitrogen-fixing legume for which seeds can be readily purchased, is a great food source for white-tailed deer and can also serves as an indicator of deer overabundance. The seeds of this plant are eaten by various birds. Antelope horns (Asclepias asperula), a sprawling perennial flower with milky sap, has leaves that are considered very poisonous but does a great job of attracting monarch butterflies.

A better understanding of the plants on your property will lead to an increased appreciation of your land. During a Consulting Site Visit or Habitat Assessment, Plateau biologists can help you identify the plants on your property and discuss their wildlife values. Plant identification will pave the way to understanding how particular plants contribute to your wildlife populations. If you commit yourself to learning all about the plants on your property, your wildlife will thank you for it!

Plateau Land & Wildlife Management
(512) 894 - 3479 or (888) 289-9409 (Toll free)
plateau@PlateauWildlife.com

*Contract signed and site visit scheduled by October 31, 2009.
** Within our normal service area.