Texas Land Conservancy

Only in Texas: Explore the Texas barberry (Berberis swaseyi), an endemic treasure of the Edwards Plateau. This rare species of barberry resembles the more familiar Agarita (Mahonia trifoliata) but boasts larger, longer leaves. In early spring, its yellow flowers add a sweet fragrance to the air. From May to July, this evergreen shrub produces white or red berries, providing food to wildlife.

Donate $100+ to TLC during the month of July and receive a FREE "Only in Texas" t-shirt!

🌻 Valeria Bridgewater, Communications and Outreach Coordinator
📸 Photos by Hillary Xu

Looking for an opportunity to own a bird sanctuary in the heart of the Hill Country? TLC's Black Cap Heaven conservation easement property is for sale!

Link for more information: https://republicranches.com/properties/texas/hill-country/black-cap-heaven/

We like big (tree) butts and we cannot lie! Check out the swelling on this huge tupelo tree found deep in the sloughs on one of our protected properties. This butt isn’t just for show though, it also helps the tree stabilize itself in extremely wet soil conditions!

🐊 Jamie Ho**er, East Texas Program Director

Only in Texas: Discover the Glen Rose Yucca (Yucca necopina), a rare endemic species to a small region west of Dallas and Fort Worth. This perennial shrub grows about 2 feet tall, adorned with long, sharp spines. It thrives in sandy soils of the Western Cross Timbers and stands out with flower stalks that can reach heights of up to 9 feet.

Donate $100+ to TLC during the month of July and receive a FREE "Only in Texas" t-shirt!

🌻 Valeria Bridgewater, Communications and Outreach Coordinator
📸 Photo by Adam Kranz on iNaturalist

Only in Texas: Meet the Terlingua Creek Cat's-Eye (Oreocarya crassipes), a rare plant endemic to southern Brewster County in West Texas. This federally and state-endangered perennial from the Borage family grows exclusively on the Fizzle Flat lentil, a geological feature characterized by creamy yellow limestone rich in high concentrations of gypsum. Its silvery-gray foliage, adorned with clusters of white flowers and vibrant yellow centers, paints a striking contrast against the arid landscape.

Donate $100+ to TLC during the month of July and receive a FREE "Only in Texas" t-shirt!

🌻 Valeria Bridgewater, Communications and Outreach Coordinator
📸 Photos by Matt Berger on iNaturalist

While out visiting one of our conservation properties I saw this fantastic patch of partridge pea. Also known as sensitive plant, their leaves will close up when touched. They are a native legume and their seed pods are a food source for many birds. They are great for pollinators and will also get browsed by deer. They typically bloom June - October.

🦬 Jack Cearley, North Texas Program Director

Only in Texas: Engelmann’s sage (Salvia engelmannii) is a captivating herbaceous perennial endemic to the limestone hills of central Texas. Also known as Engelmann’s salvia, these plants grow into mounds of velvety leaves and delicate pale lavender flowers, reaching heights of 1 to 1.5 feet.

Donate $100+ to TLC during the month of July and receive a FREE "Only in Texas" t-shirt!

🌻 Valeria Bridgewater, Communications and Outreach Coordinator
📸 Photo taken by Michelle Lay

A beautiful setting from one of our conservation properties in the Llano river watershed.

🦨 Stephen Ramirez, Conservation Director

Only in Texas: Discover the unique beauty of the Edwards Plateau Thimbleweed (Anemone edwardsiana)! Also known as the Edwards Plateau Anemone, this perennial wildflower from the buttercup family Ranunculaceae thrives in the rugged terrain of moist bluffs, ledges, and rocky limestone-derived soils on the Edwards Plateau.

Donate $100+ to TLC during the month of July and receive a FREE "Only in Texas" t-shirt!

🌻 Valeria Bridgewater, Communications and Outreach Coordinator

📸Photo taken by Stephen Ramirez, Conservation Director

Explore TLC’s exclusive "Only in Texas" shirt showcasing five plants found only in the Lone Star State: white rosinweed, Traub’s rain lily, Neches river rose-mallow, scarlet leather flower, and Lindheimer’s paintbrush (pictured in order). Discover the stories behind these unique botanical treasures in our blog and join our summer campaign! ☀

Click the link below:

https://www.texaslandconservancy.org/tlc-stories/only-in-texas-featured-plants

white rosinweed photo by Suzanne Tuttle
Traub's rain lily photo by Terry Woodward on iNaturalist
Lindheimer’s paintbrush photo by on iNaturalist

Happy 4th of July! Enjoy the celebrations and remember to leave no trace—let's keep our natural areas beautiful!

📸 Photo by Ashley Burke-Muraida, Stewardship Specialist

🌻 Sunny days and sunflowers mean summer has arrived in Texas! 🌞 Embrace the beauty of our state and remember to stay hydrated.

🐊 Jamie Ho**er, East Texas Program Director

Enjoy this beautifully crafted nest hanging in a redbud at one of our conservation easement properties in Kendall County. Do you know who made this?

🦨 Stephen Ramirez, Conservation Director

☀️EXCITING NEWS☀️: TLC’s “Only in Texas” campaign has officially launched!

For the month of July, when you donate $100+ to TLC, you’ll receive an exclusive “Only in Texas” t-shirt (17 color options!), featuring five plants found only in Texas. This shirt is more than just a piece of clothing—it’s a symbol of your commitment to protecting the natural heritage of our state. Every dollar you donate helps conserve the habitats and water sources that the “Only in Texas” plants rely on.

STAY TUNED! As part of TLC’s summer campaign, our page will showcase various plants exclusively found in Texas. Keep following us on our socials to discover the endemic flora of the Lone Star State. ⭐️

Link to donate today: https://www.texaslandconservancy.org/donate-summer-2024

Texas Land Conservancy We are a statewide, accredited, land trust protecting over 154,000 acres of the land in Texas.

A stark difference!

The ranch on the left implements a rotational grazing program and the ranch on the right is overgrazed. Something I keep hearing as I visit ranches like this is that they don’t see themselves as in the livestock business, but rather that they’re in the business of growing grass. They have worked to balance impact, biodiversity, and livestock on their ranches. While these programs at the different ranches may not look exactly alike, they all have a focus on the land and the future.

🦬 Jack Cearley, North Texas Program Director

A blanket of blanketflowers! These colorful Indian blankets, one of Texas’ longer blooming wildflowers, put on a great show for us while visiting a protected property in Cherokee County earlier this week.

🐊 Jamie Ho**er, East Texas Program Director

Some days on the land are more epic than others. This Zone-tailed Hawk in Kendall County couldn't have been more accommodating!!
What a thrill to admire such stunning wildlife and to be reminded of the importance of land conservation.

🦨 Stephen Ramirez, Conservation Director

It is officially summertime! Dive into the season with our blog post featuring TLC's recommendations for Texas hikes and swimming holes. Whether you're seeking scenic trails or refreshing waters, these spots are perfect for exploring our beautiful Lone Star State. Check out the blog below.

🌻Valeria Bridgewater, Communications and Outreach
Coordinator

Texas Hikes and Swimming Holes — Texas Land Conservancy In celebration of the Texas State Park system, the TLC board and staff share some of their favorite spots!

While visiting this protected property here in North Texas I was able to take in views like this while listening to coveys of bobwhite quail call back and forth. It was fantastic to see them across this ranch as their numbers are not as strong as last year’s in the region.

🦬 Jack Cearley, North Texas Program Director

Join us outside to commemorate Juneteenth 2024 (June 19) with Outdoor Afro as we reflect on the 2.5 years freedom delayed for enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas, after the Emancipation Proclamation. We're helping Outdoor Afro inspire people to go outdoors and reconnect with local waterways as the national not-for-profit also launches its annual Making Waves swim program this summer. Visit the link (bit.ly/OutdoorAfroJuneteenth2024) to learn more.

Illustration created and provided by Outdoor Afro illustrator Dajah Callen ()

Texas Land Conservancy loves the Blanco River! Three of our conservation lands are located along this scenic river, including the popular paddling trail between Fischer Store Rd and FM 1492.

🦨 Stephen Ramirez, Conservation Director

From bees and butterflies to beetles and bats, these amazing creatures contribute to thriving ecosystems and economies. Join us in celebrating National Pollinator Week by supporting habitat conservation—become a TLC Member today! (texaslandconservancy.org/donate)

Our brown tarantulas (Aphonopelma hentzi) are on the move here in North Texas. Though their venom is toxic to small critters, it’s not known to be life threatening to us. They’re not web weavers but instead live in burrows that they line with their silk. Tarantulas can live for many years. They mostly feed on insects but have been know to prey on small lizards, frogs, even mice! When they feel threatened they will rear up their front legs a defense display.

🦬 Jack Cearley, North Texas Program Director

Look closely in the trees and you’ll see a very lively rookery of egrets and ibises on this mitigation bank in Chambers County. But this wasn’t always the case… our friends at Wildwood Environmental informed us that years ago this was an active rice farm maintained by chemical herbicides that damaged the trees in this area so badly it forced the birds to move elsewhere for several nesting seasons. Thanks to the removal of aerial herbicide applications and the input of land conservation practices, the trees have recovered and the birds have returned to reclaim their nest! We call that a conservation success story!

🐊 Jamie Ho**er, East Texas Program Director