Cory is a naturalist, writer, and podcaster. He's also certified in Permaculture Design from the Permaculture Institute of North America and a member of the Native Plant Society of Texas.
Newsletters
Hey y'all, Cory here. Welcome to your Thursday Guide to Living in San Antonio. Here's this week's list of timeless and timely recommendations to help you connect better with our city. October kicks off the holiday season in San Antonio–as our city excitedly
Editorial
Austin, Texas. A city that’s near and dear to my wife and I’s love story. It’s where we met. And in a short time after, it’s where together, we left (and moved South to San Antonio). I moved to Austin in the summer of 2016. It
Nonprofits
The announcement of the Arboretum San Antonio marked a major step toward creating a sanctuary for trees and green space on San Antonio’s South Side. At a press event in May 2024, local leaders, including Mayor Ron Nirenberg and former Mayor Henry Cisneros, unveiled plans for the 188-acre tree
Native Plants
Common Buttonbush, also known as Honeybells or Honeyballs, is a distinctive perennial Native Texas shrub that thrives in wetlands across the United States. Its unique, globe-like creamy white flowers bloom from June through September and attract many pollinators. Known for its adaptability, Buttonbush can flourish in diverse wet environments—from
Interviews
The San Antonio River is more than just a body of water. Its water has shaped the history, culture, and development of the city for centuries. The river is the reason San Antonio became San Antonio. It was the lifeblood for the city’s earliest residents and a refuge for
Native Plants
Inland Sea Oats, commonly known as Indian Wood Oats, River Oats, or Wild Oats, is a versatile and ornamental perennial Texas native grass. Native to Central Texas and found eastward to the Atlantic coast, this plant thrives in shaded slopes and along stream banks. With striking seedheads that turn warm
Native Plants
Rock Rose is a fast-growing evergreen Texas native shrub, typically found in the rocky woods and limestone outcrops of Central and Western Texas. It’s known for its showy, hibiscus-like pink blooms, drought resistance, and low maintenance requirements, making it an excellent choice for new or experienced Texas native gardeners
Native Plants
American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) is a remarkable plant native to the southeastern United States. It is best known for its display of vibrant purple berries that cluster along the branches. This deciduous Texas native shrub can reach an average height of 3 to 6 feet, adding a pop of color
Native Plants
Texas Frogfruit, or Phyla nodiflora, is a fantastic low-growing, semi-evergreen groundcover native to Texas and many parts of the US. Some think Frogfruit might be a weed since it has the potential to invade lawns. However, this Texas native groundcover can be a stellar addition, providing an abundant blanket of
Native Plants
The Flame Acanthus is a deciduous Texas native shrub best known for its red tubular flowers that are beloved by hummingbirds. This might be why it’s also known as the hummingbird bush. The Flame Acanthus naturally grows on the rocky slopes of Texas and in the proper conditions it
Native Plants
Turk's Cap is a beautiful flowering shrub native to Texas and the southeastern region of the United States. It’s mostly a low-growing perennial that’s famous for its little red, tubular flowers that are hummingbird magnets. Turk’s Cap can spread easily and blooms for almost six
Native Plants
The Agarita is an evergreen shrub, concentrated most densely in Texas but spreading through New Mexico, Arizona, and south to Mexico. It's also one of my favorite Texas native plants in my own landscape. Agarita is most known for its very prickly gray-green leaves, which in nature protect