Article by Leigh Allen, PWLTMN, Project Coordinator
Blue Mistflower – photo by author
Are you looking for a project that you can do at your home or in a close area? One that doesn’t involve a lot of time, but provides much needed data on our native pollinator plants? The Time to Restore Project may be just what you’re looking for.
The Time to Restore project is a collaborative effort involving several organizations, including the National Phenology Network and the Tribal Alliance for Pollinators, which focuses on pollinator restoration in the South Central US. The project seeks participant data to help guide restoration efforts, particularly concerning plant selection and climate change impacts. Data collection on nectar plant flowering and seed timing is a key component, utilizing platforms like Nature’s Notebook and iNaturalist. The project offers resources such as training materials, workshops, and online calls to facilitate participation and knowledge sharing. Specific priority plant species are identified for different states within the region and tracked throughout the year to record growth and pollination times.
American Beautyberry – photo by author
Louisiana, Oklahoma, and New Mexico have been tracking specific species for the past two years. This year, Texas has joined the effort. Including Texas took time because the state boasts nine distinct ecosystems, compared to just two or three in the neighboring states.
Texas specific guidelines, including the list of pollinator species can be found here
Buttonbush – photo by author
Plants that may be specific to the Piney Wood Lakes area include:
American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)
Antelope Horns Milkweed (Asclepias asperula)
Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
Blue Mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum)
Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
Buttonbush (Caphalanthus occidentalis)
Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
Common Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)
Eastern Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis)
Firewheel (Gaillardia pulchella)
Frostweed (Verbesina virginica)
Green Milkweed (Asclepias viridis)
Gregg’s Mistflower (Conoclinium greggii)
Horseherb (Calyptocarpus vialis)
Mealy Blue Sage (Salvia farinacea)
Purple Horsemint (Monarda citriodora)
Showy Milkweed (Asclepias speciosa)
Tall Blazing Star (Liatris aspera)
Tall Goldenrod (Solidago altissima)
Texas Bluebonnet (Lupinus texensis)
Texas Frogfruit (Phyla nodiflora)
Texas Lantana (Lantana urticoides)
Turk’s Cap (Malvaviscus arboreus)
Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)
More information can be found at USA National Phenology Network
For more information on doing this project for the Piney Wood Lakes chapter, contact Leigh Allen at pwltmn.leigh@gmail.com.
Antelopehorn Milkweed – photo by author