Plant Rescue

12/12/09

The City of Austin has scheduled a series of three plant rescue dates for a property that will be developed soon.  Native plants will be used around town to restore public spaces, and “rescuers” are also welcome to bring their own pots to take some plants home to plant in their own gardens.  The dates are December 10, 12 and 16 with a rain date of December 18th in case one of the days is rained out.  The rescue times are approximately from 10 AM to 2 PM. 

The whole property is fairly large (maybe sixty + acres, although a large section is in a conservation easement which can't be disturbed).  Rescuers will not be allowed in certain areas since the city is preserving several "buffer" zones of trees, etc.  

There are large, relatively flat areas as well as slopes and drainage areas.  The property contains heavy ashe juniper/oak areas as well as a mixture of cedar elms, Spanish red oaks, live oaks (even some fairly large ones), escarpment black cherries (a few), evergreen sumacs, yaupon holly, flame leaf sumacs, Mexican Buckeye, redbud trees and Texas persimmons; there are various sized seedlings of most of these, appropriate for hand digging. In addition there are grassy areas.  A sample of other plants might include agarita, twisted leaf yucca, rusty blackhaw vibernum, cedar sedge  (and maybe other sedges), American beauty berry (a few), two-leaf senna, Lindheimer senna, Lindheimer crown beard, a few lantana (horrida), little bluestem, silver bluestem, Indian grass, tall gramma and even a few mountain laurels and lots more including prickly pear cactus. 

Date: Saturday, Dec 12

Time:  10am-2pm

Location:  After passing the "four points" intersection of 620 and 2222, go west on 620 a very short distance.  The site is on the right after you pass the commercial buildings.  There is a rock driveway, chain link fence and gate.  Drive into the site and park in the cleared area near the registration table. You MUST see the city representatives, sign in, and sign a release form BEFORE proceeding onto the rescue site.   

Contact:  dale-bulla@pobox.com