17 Dec Plant Rescue Success!

Over the course of the summer and the months before, many people of Austin have been affected by the severe droughts. Water is a pressing issue and a vital resource to us all. Many have also been voicing their opinions in favor of increased water conservation plans instead of the proposed development of an additional water treatment plant. Since the summer, City Council approved the development of Water Treatment Plant #4 (WTP4).

In preparation for clearing the land for development, the city organized three days for volunteers to go out to the site location to rescue some plants! Volunteers contributed some saved plants to the city, which will be put in parks and other public beautification projects. After that contribution, volunteers were able to rescue and take home any plants from the site they wanted.

The location for WTP4 is a beautiful and peaceful place, with the great hill country feel. I’m glad to have been able to visit it before the land is cleared and the plant is built. Truly wonderful to also be able to share the experience with others; there were hard workers from the E-Corps at American Youthworks / AmeriCorps, residents of College Houses Co-operative living, Native Plant Society of Texas experts, citizens, and a number of the Austin EcoNetwork community.

Some types of plants collected and rescued were:

(1) elbow bush
(2) red oaks
(3) yucca
(4) twisted leaf yucca
(5) persimmon
(6) mullein
(7) tall grasses
(8) bunch grass, sedge
(9) cacti
(10) escarpment black cherry
(11) mexican silk tassel
(12) evergreen sumac
(13) marble seed
(14) carolina buckthorn
(15) Nolina Lindheimer, bear grass or basket grass
(16) Nolina Texana. devils shoestring
(17) Lindheimer’s Crown Beard
(18) white mistflower
(19) live oak seedlings
(20) rusty blackhaw vibernum
(21) agarita
(22) frostweed
(23) heart-leaf scull cap

Thanks to all who participated! The plants thank you, too 🙂