Native Plant Society Landscape Certification – Level 2 – Houston

Advanced Training Opportunity: VMS category: AT: NGO Workshops and Programs on Wildlife Conservation and Land Stewardship

Registration website: https://npsot.org/wp/nlcp/

OVERVIEW

The Native Landscape Certification Program (NLCP) is a four level certification program developed by the Native Plant Society of Texas that teaches the value of including and preserving native plants in landscapes. 

Level 1: Introduction to Native Landscapes 
Level 2: Landscape Design with Native Plants 
Level 3: Installation and Maintenance of Native Landscapes 
Level 4: Stewardship of Native Plant Communities (to be developed) 

Participants must complete Level 1 before attending any other level. Subsequent levels may be taken in any order.

DESCRIPTION

Level 2: Landscape Design with Native Plants 

Learn how to create landscape designs incorporating native plants: 
– Understand ecological considerations important to landscape design 
– Identify cultural considerations impacting landscape design 
– Learn steps to the design process 
– Practice the design process during an hour long exercise 
– Become familiar with 45 native Texas plants recommended for your landscape and 5 plants to avoid 
– See plants in their natural setting 

The Native Plant Society (NPSOT) offers two levels of certificates: 
Completion – attend the full day. 
Competency – attend the full day and pass a test at the end of the class. 

Students graduating with either certificate may progress to another class level.

INSTRUCTORS

Russ Kane is a TX Gulf Coast Master Naturalist and Publicity Coordinator for Native Plant Society of Texas, Houston Chapter. He is a 40-year Houston gardener with an appreciation for the difficulties and pleasures it brings, and the benefits that Texas native plants offer. He is a long-time technical and food/wine writer and now also focuses on naturalist topics. 

and 

Margaret Gnewuch has been a member of the Native Plant Society of Texas, Houston Chapter for over 20 years and is a past president. Margaret has been studying, gardening, and enjoying native Texas plants for over 30 years. She is the Book Coordinator for our Wildscapes Workshop searching for native plant and nature books. 

and 

Mary Spolyar is a Texas Gulf Coast Master Naturalist and a member of the Native Plant Society, Houston Chapter. A native Houstonian, Mary’s interest in native plants grew from gardening for and rearing butterflies. She volunteers in the Natives Nursery at Houston Audubon’s Edith L Moore Nature Sanctuary and also at the Houston Arboretum, where she enjoys encouraging elementary school students to explore and appreciate the natural world around them.

IMPORTANT!

ChristChurch Presbyterian is located at: 
5001 Bellaire Blvd 
West Wing room 2-3 
Bellaire, TX 77401 
Driving directions and campus map: http://ccpres.org/welcome/contact-us 

Off Loop 610 take Bellaire exit 
Church is on Bellaire between Third St and South Rice Ave 
The parking lot only has 20 spaces (2 handicapped) when this is filled, please park on Third St 
West Wing room 2-3 (shown in gold on campus map) 

The plant walk will be held in Russ Pitman Park. Please wear clothing and shoes appropriate for the weather and walking outside for 2 hours. You may also need a bottle of water, insect repellent, sunscreen, and a chair cushion.

AGENDA

Tentative Agenda: 

8:00 – 8:15 Registration 
8:15 – 8:30 Class Overview 
8:30 – 9:45 Presentation – Landscape Design with Natives 
9:45 – 10:00 Break 
10:00 – 10:45 Presentation – Landscape Design with Natives 
10:45 – 11:00 Break 
11:00 – 12:00 Class Exercise – Designing a Home Landscape 
12:00 – 12:30 Lunch 
12:30 – 1:45 Presentation – Plant Knowledge 
1:45 – 2:00 Break 
2:00 – 3:30 Field Course – Plant Walk (at Russ Pitman Park) 
3:30 – 3:45 Break/Review 
3:45 – 4:30 Certification Test and Grading

REFRESHMENTS AND LUNCH

Break time refreshments will be provided. 

Lunch is limited to 30 minutes. You will not be able to purchase lunch in the area so please bring a bagged lunch.

QUESTIONS

Registration questions: Meg Inglis, NLCP Coordinator, meg.inglis@npsot.org or 512-589-1316 
Location and class specific questions: Margaret Gnewuch, Host Chapter Manager, marg_g@hughes.net, 713-657-0372 

Lodging: Please contact Margaret Gnewuch if you need help locating lodging.

INCLEMENT WEATHER

Extreme events such as flooding may cause us to cancel the class. In such a case an email will be sent to registrants from the NLCP Coordinator 24 hours prior to the class.

DISCOUNT

Level 1 is the same rate for all registrants: $37.
Subsequent levels are $37 for Native Plant Society of Texas (NPSOT) members and $52 for all others. 
Become a NPSOT individual member for only $35: http://npsot.org/wp/join-renew/

PRICING – REGULAR (AUG 2, 2018 – OCT 5, 2018)

CANCELLATION POLICY

If you need to cancel your registration, please contact the NLCP Coordinator as soon as possible so another student may come in your place: Meg Inglis, meg.inglis@npsot.org or 512-589-1316. Fees may not be applied to future classes. Only cancellations made by midnight on the Monday prior to class are eligible for a refund. Upon cancellation, a $10 handling fee is deducted from the refund to cover charges incurred from our third party registration service provider. Thank you for your understanding in this matter!