Cypress Creek Walking Tour
Erin York
Girl Scout Troop 23235
Gold Award Project
Welcome to
the Mercer Botanic Gardens
Cypress Creek Walking Tour
Map of Cypress Creek Trail
Hello! During the Cypress Creek Walking tour you will be walking through 3 areas of Mercer Botanic Gardens:
The Creek, The Ramble, and The Primitive Loop.
In each location, you will learn about the native flora and fauna species of this Texas region.
Mercer Botanic Gardens Mission Statement
In pursuit of an enhanced quality of life through a greater appreciation of the essential value and beauty of the plant world, Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Gardens seeks to establish and maintain a versatile botanic facility for Houston and the greater Gulf Coast region, serving the general public, the horticulture industry, and the scientific community.
Mercer has taken on the responsibility of preserving endangered plant species. They work together with the Center for Plant Conservation (CPC) in caring for threatened or endangered species. Over 866 plant species are endangered or threatened to become extinct with 200 species already becoming extinct.
Texas Ecosystems
The 12 Texas ecoregions are:
1). Pineywoods: located in the east, characterized by forests of pine and hardwood trees; 2). Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes: extends along the Gulf of Mexico, characterized by grasslands, wetlands, and marshes; 3). Post Oak Savannah: located in central Texas, characterized by woodlands and savannahs; 4). Blackland Prairies: located in central Texas, characterized by grasslands and woodlands, 5). Cross Timbers: located in north-central Texas, characterized by woodlands and savannahs, 6). Rolling Plains: located in the north, characterized by grasslands and scrublands, 7). Edwards Plateau: located in central Texas, characterized by rolling hills and woodlands, 8). High Plains: located in the northwestern part of Texas and is characterized by grasslands and scrublands. 9). Trans-Pecos: located in the western part of Texas, characterized by deserts, mountains, and canyons, 10). South Texas Plains: located in the southern part of Texas, characterized by scrublands, grasslands, and woodlands, 11). Western Gulf Coastal Plain: located in the southeast, characterized by woodlands, grasslands, and wetlands, and 12). Big Bend: located in the southwestern part of Texas, characterized by desert, mountains, and canyons.
Houston Ecoregions
The Western Gulf Coast Plain ecoregions runs along the southeastern part of Texas, bordering the Gulf of Mexico. It is a relatively flat region with elevations from sea level to around 200 feet. The climate is humid subtropical, with hot humid summers, and mild winters. The vegetation is mixed pine and hardwood forest, grassland, and wetlands. It is also an important migration corridor for birds and serves as a critical breeding ground for a number of fish and shellfish species. This ecoregion is threatened by several factors, including habitat destruction, invasive species, and climate change. Mercer Botanic Gardens and other organizations have established protected areas and conservation programs to protect and restore the unique ecosystems of the Western Gulf Coast Plain ecoregion and the Piney Woods Ecoregion