Go Native: Be a Drought Survivor

BUFFALO – The last few droughts and water use limitations have highlighted how many traditional landscape plants are not really adapted to local conditions, said Cayla Christianson, Texas AgriLife Extension Service agent for Leon County.

To help local owners choose landscape plants and trees that are better adapted to the area Christianson and AgriLife Extension in Leon County have scheduled "Go Native: Be a Drought Survivor."

Set Jan. 28, 9:30 a.m. until noon at the Buffalo High School, 1724 North Buffalo Ave., Buffalo, the seminar is designed to provide alternatives to traditional landscaping with the use of native plants.

The first speaker will be Jason McKenzie, owner of the Piney Woods Nursery, Shenandoah. McKenzie will speak about plants native to the area that are suitable for landscapes.

"We tend to bring in plants from southern China -- crepe myrtle, azaleas, for examples -- and things from Viet Nam that tend to get a lot more moisture than we do," McKenzie said. "What we do is to try to steer people into using our more native plants, which we have a lot of."

There are thousands of native plants that are welladapted to East Texas and Central Texas conditions, McKenzie said. He'll give examples of many of the plants at the seminar.

Registration for the program is $20, and includes lunch and break refreshments. To register or for more information call the AgriLife Extension office in Leon County at 903-536-2531or email Lenora at lloden@ag.tamu.edu.