While they may be pleasant to look at and easy to find, invasive plant species can be detrimental to both wildlife and the environment.
David Faecke, a member of the Native Plant Society of Texas, said there’s a better way to garden and landscape one’s property than bringing plants in from another area.
He explains that one of his primary concerns is that many new residents to the Hill Country buy a home and property and then begin to landscape without concern for the plants native to the region.“You have to get out there and figure out what you have before you start cutting stuff down,” Faecke said.
Faecke knows this because he was one of those newcomers in 2000. Faecke had just bought his house when he and his wife Nancy stumbled upon a notice about a meeting being held by the Native Plant Society, an organization promoting the understanding and preservation of native plant species. After the meeting, he and his wife became believers in native plants and they decided to leave the Agaritas and cactuses in front of his house. Cat’s Claw, Acacia, Sky Flower and Yellow Esperanzas are among the plants Faecke now grows.
“They propagate themselves and they’re good for the wildlife; it’s the way to go,” Faecke said. Faecke said native plants are important for wildlife that may depend on local species for their existence.
Faecke doesn’t grow his own grass, nor does he water the grass naturally growing around his house. With the exception of fire ant killer, he doesn’t use pesticide or put other chemicals on his lawn. He also only provides minimal water to shrubs and flowers growing around his house, using a rainwater collection system he’s set up. He regularly waters his garden, but he explains that he allows much of the plant life on his property to survive on it’s own, as nature intended.
“Its been a terrible year to have a garden,” Faecke said as he pointed to the rainfall chart he keeps. “I’ve only watered enough to keep these native plants alive; my grass was brown and dormant before the recent rains in July.”
In his role as director of events for the Native Plant Society, Faecke sets up a fundraising booth at New Braunfels FolkFest sells plants that members have raised in their own backyards.
“The idea is to propagate native plants,” Faecke said. “We’re not trying to make a lot of money but not too many of the nurseries around here carry native plants — Schumacher’s (Hill Country Gardens) does and sometimes Home Depot or Lowe’s will have some, but they don’t have too many of them.”
John Siemssen, incoming president of the local chapter of the Native Plant Society, has grown concerned about changes that have come to the area recently and believes those changes make growing native plant species as important as ever.
“The development we have is putting a lot of pressure on the natural state of things ... native plants are a good way to connect with the land — you use less water, less fertilizer and less pesticide,” Siemssen said.