A patch of bare ground doesn’t stay that way for long. Mother Nature generally steps in with a succession of plant life that can heal, change and stabilize a disturbed landscape. That process of plant succession will be the topic of the January meeting of the Native Plant Society’s Cross Timbers chapter in Weatherford.
Range and grassland expert Dan Caudle will explain how over time — years, decades or centuries — groups of plants establish themselves, one after another, until an ecosystem become stable. You can tell by what species are growing in a prairie, for example, how recently the land has been disturbed and how far along it is in recovering its natural state. An understanding of these succession stages is important, says Caudle, in managing your property to establish, restore, maintain or enhance your lands.
Caudle is a native West Texan with a special interest in native grasses of the plains and prairies. He spent 40 years as a rangeland management specialist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service. He is now an independent consultant for landowners in Texas and Louisiana. Since 2014 he has also been a resident research associate at the Botanical Research Institute of Texas, located in Fort Worth.
The Cross Timbers Chapter’s monthly business meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 11, at Cherry Park Community Center, 313 W. Davis St. in Weatherford. The program will begin at 7 p.m. The public is always welcome and light refreshments will be available.
The mission of the Cross Timbers Chapter is to promote the conservation, research and use of native plants and plant habitats in Texas through education, outreach and example. For more information visit http://npsot.org/CrossTimbers.
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