Native Pollinator Habitat Grant Program

Native Pollinator Habitat Grant Program is sponsored by Native Plant Society of Texas, Clear Lake Chapter. This program awards grants to nature centers, schools, educational groups, and others to help fund development and maintenance of pollinator habitats using native plants on public sites in Brazoria, Galveston, and southeast Harris Counties, Texas.

Native Pollinator Habitat Grant Program - Native Plant Society of Texas Native Pollinator Habitat Grant Program Application Deadline: September 1 and March 1 The Clear Lake Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas awards grants to nature centers, schools, educational groups, and others to help fund development and maintenance of pollinator habitats using native plants on public sites located in Brazoria County, Galveston County, and the southeast quadrant of Harris County.

The goals of this program are to: Educate members of the Society and the public about pollinator conservation, Build or restore pollinator habitats in order to support and increase pollinator populations and diversity, Promote the research, conservation, and utilization of native plants and plant habitats of Texas through education, outreach, and example.

The Education Committee of the Clear Lake Chapter serves as the grant administration committee. The committee’s duties include evaluating grant applications and awarding grants.

Evaluations will be based on each plan’s Completeness – has every question been answered, including a garden design plan, Feasibility – better to start smaller with future expansion planned, Benefit to the community – which part of the community will benefit, and How well the proposed project meets the program’s goals. The Education Committee will oversee the project’s progress through periodic site visits and status reports.

A final project evaluation report is required. Awardees may be asked to prepare a presentation for the chapter. Questions for the education committee can be sent at any time during the process to clear-lake-chapter@npsot.

org .

Pollinator Habitat Qualities Use native plants — forbs, shrubs or trees — that provide nectar and pollen sources and larval host plants Are located in a sunny area or partly sunny area Create large pollinator targets with clusters of native or non-invasive plants Establish continuous blooms throughout the growing season Plan for at least two years maintenance Provide signage describing the garden project Note : A habitat may also contain non-native nectar and pollen plants, but no invasive plants, and grant funds cannot be used to purchase non-native plants .

Amount and Source of Funds This program is funded by the Clear Lake Chapter. The total amount to be budgeted for this program varies from year to year. Individual grants of up to $500 may be awarded and the grantee is not required to match the amount of the grant awarded.

Approved Types of Expenditures Funds must be used to purchase only native plants for our ecoregion or seeds for these plants. Applications will be accepted for new habitats or for improvement and maintenance of established pollinator habitats. Plants can be replaced, or native plants can be added.

Grant funds cannot be used for signage, hardscape features, barriers, soil, pesticides, amendments or any other non-plant items. Under no circumstance can NPSOT grant funds be used for Tropical Milkweed ( Asclepias curassavica ). Native Pollinator Habitat Grant Program – Fall Cycle Application opens July 15 and closes September 1.

Native Pollinator Habitat Grant Program – Spring Cycle Application opens February 1 and closes March 1. Plant Lists by Ecoregion – See Houston ecoregion plant list The Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Report Pollinator Gardens: 8 Easy Steps to Design a Landscape with Native Plants Schoolyard Habitat Project Guide Eierman, Kim.

The Pollinator Victory Garden : Win the War on Pollinator Decline with Ecological Gardening : How to Attract and Support Bees , Beetles , Butterflies , Bats , and Other Pollinators . Beverly, MA: Quarry Books, 2020. Lee-Mäder Eric.

Attracting Native Pollinators: Protecting North America’s Bees and Butterflies : the Xerces Society Guide . North Adams, MA: Storey Pub. , 2011.

Tallamy, Douglas W. Bringing Nature Home : How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants . Portland, OR: Timber Press, 2016.

Native Pollinator Habitat Grant Program Applications due September 1 The Clear Lake Chapter’s Native Pollinator Habitat Grant Program is accepting applications through September 1, 2026. Six Projects Awarded a Native Pollinator Habitat Grant Clear Lake—We are thrilled to announce the six grant winners for our chapter’s Native Pollinator Habitat Grant Program.

Planning a Pollinator Garden & Grant Application Walk Through Learn about the Clear Lake Chapter’s Native Pollinator Habitat Grant program, how to plan a pollinator garden for public spaces, and what the committee is looking for in an application.

Chapter Meeting: Pollinator Road Trip 2: A Habitat Grant Update Clear Lake Chapter — Take a virtual road trip to visit pollinator habitats funded by the chapter’s Native Pollinator Habitat Grant Program. This low-elevations region of Texas extends inland from the barrier islands, about 60 or so miles, and stretches from Brownsville to Louisiana. In total, it covers about 9.

5 million acres, with a high point of 150 feet in elevation. More than 1000 species of plants can be found in this region. On the southern end, species more common in Mexico (such as Sabal mexicana ) and Central America occur.

The barrier islands provide us with dune systems, and clay flats to the inland side, which have species found in these areas alone. Many plants here, such as Ipomoea pes-caprae (beach morning glory), can be found throughout tropical regions of the globe. I’ve encountered the same species on the beaches of Guam.

Once inland, vast marshes and wet prairies occur. Occasionally, oak ( Quercus fusiformis ) groves can be found. Common grasses include species of Bothriochloa, Paspalum, and Sporobolus; eastern gamagrass ( Tripsacum dactyloides ); and switchgrass ( Panicum species ).

Many rivers and creeks cut through the Gulf Prairies, and along these riparian areas various species of trees, Sabal minor , and other plants adapted to clay soils can be found.

Due to overgrazing, farming, and fire suppression, woody species such as mesquite ( Prosopis glandulosa ) and huisache ( Acacia farnesiana ), and invasive species such as chinaberry ( Melia azedarach ), Brazilian pepper ( Schinus terebinthifolius ), and Chinese tallow ( Sapium sebiferum ) have increased and displaced our native flora. Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason