My sister in law is - I'll send her an email tonight and ask her if no one else comes up with your answer before then.

Thanks deb. For some reason the number of Eleagnus didn't show up, I have 6 of them.

I am certified Texas Wildscape, and I have all three of those shrubs. I have been certified for about 12 years now, and was not advised not to have any specific plant. Maybe the rules have changed. And the elaeagnus have provided a wonderful home for my cardinals and other birds to build their nests in. The red tips are quite a distance from my house and are used to provide a barrier between house and road.

I do believe they have a limit on non natives - is that right carrie? Seems I remember SIL telling me that. However, I am not aware that anybody comes out to inspect so, I guess you could just not mention those plants that might be an issue.

Thanks carrie. I love native plants & have just about worn my Wasowski book out, but I also love non-natives and it's hard to go "just native". Was it hard to get certified? I know I'm no where near ready since we're still pretty much bare ground here.

I think as long as you have a lot of native plants too, those few "invasives" won't hurt your chance of getting certified. I mean you're paying them the $15 fee, so why wouldn't they certify you unless you:
1. didn't have any native plants or not enough native plants, or
2. didn't supply the basic elements of habitat - food, water, place to raise young and shelter, or
3. your check bounced. (hee-hee!)

The natives have to be 50% of your plants & I think I've got that. But I don't have the habitat elements in place yet.

I am certified, it takes into account for some non natives in your yard. You just have to keep up with how many non natives you have in there.

I'm a Backyard Wildlife Habitat Steward for the National Wildlife Federation.

Don't worry about what you have now, just don't plant anymore (LOL!).

The folks about are right, it's the amount of natives you have that count.

If anyone needs help in creating a Habitat there are Stewards all over the state who will come out to help, especially in the Austin area. We are non-judgemental and go through lots of training and are just waiting to be asked!

PS I have eleagnus too, it's one of the few things the deer won't eat.

Here is a link that might be useful: Hill Country Gardens

As stated, it was some time ago that I was certified, but no one came to check on what I had. I sent a diagram of the watering places (most important thing), and where the other plants were placed on the property (7 acres). I have since put in MANY more plants, trees and shrubs that attract birds and have been greatly rewarded. I even have a "brush pile" in the donkey pen for many little critters that have lost their homes due to "progress". I think you will have no trouble getting certified because you are doing it for the right reason. Good luck !!!!

I obtained my certificate last month. The concern for me was lawn area vs. flowerbed area, but since I took out a good chunk of lawn last year and converted a large area to flowerbeds, I was accepted. I am also NWF certified.

Carla in Rowlett

Being certified as a Texas Wildscape is not difficult, and you do not have to eradicate all your non-native plants. You must have a preponderance (over 50%) of natives, provide shelter, food and water for wildlife. That is as simple as a bird feeder and a pan of water placed under a tree. Please contact either Mark Klym mark.klym@tpwd.state.tx.us or Kelly Bender kelly.bender@tpwd.state.tx.us at Texas Parks and Wildlife to get full information. There is a "Best of Texas" program which included the Nat'l Wildlife Fed. Habitat with the Wildscape certification--a twofer! Good luck in establishing your Wildscape, which will repay you many times over with the birds and butterflies you will attract.

hmmm
I have lots of birds and butterflies, several sources of water and food, but I don't think I have anywhere near 50% natives. My fear, if I used that many natives I would need a machette to go out for the newspaper.

Those of you who have done this, how difficult is it to keep the natives in reasonable check?

If a plant is a native of some area in TX does that count as a "native" or must it be a native of your area? Or, does it mean those plants that are not hybrids?

BTW We are totally bonkers, have any of you ever planted heirloom squash? They are huge, and the vines alone will cover much of my garden by mid summer....does that count????

great grins
cynthia

I love the natives not being in check... I love the way I help them spread the joy in big drifts. . . that said when I did mine all the Iris I had counted for one nonnative, the one pecan I have counted for one native... so getting higher then 50% is easy if you try.

I never thought I had many natives because I didn't plant them. But the 2 previous owners of this house had never done more than plant a few flowers around the front of the house, and some grass in the backyard. The rest of the acre still looked like it did when it was pasture. If I don't mow I have a pretty wildflower garden in the back. Then there's the native grass, grapevine, some shrubs, and those mountain cedar everyone hates.

I'm thinking of becoming certified myself. I want to bring more wildlife to the city and natives are much easier to grow and maintain, plus they belong here.
Check out the Texas Wildlife Dept's website. They have all the rules and guidelines plus some links to help you get started. They even list the wildlife values for particular plants, ones that will attract birds, butterflies, bees, etc, so you can plan your garden. They do allow a certain percentage of invasives or non-natives. Sorry I can't post teh exact link. Do a google search, you should find it.

Good Luck,
pete

I think someone posted it yesterday.

Here is a link that might be useful: Texas Wildscape

thanks all I'll check. Already my horse herb and pecan trees certainly have the terrain covered! I guess I have more than I thought. Yes, it's kinda wild here for the city...grins.
cynthia