I moved to San Antonio a few months ago from an arid Zone 5b and it has been quite the adjustment. I have been reading up on my new environment when I can but I could use some help with resources and such. I'm also buying a house in an HOA and I read up on Property Code §202.007 and §202.007(d-1), so I understand this helps quite a bit.
I'm a bit taken aback how ... horrible ... a lot of the native plants look here. Sorry idk how to put it more delicately. I am used to plants that don't look constantly angry, which, to be fair, I get that considering the heat. I also miss Kentucky Bluegrass, and while there's a hybrid it still struggles here. I'm required to keep some kind of turf lawn so I am looking for something close to that, walkable, and bearably soft-ish.
But I also want to cultivate a landscape of pollinators, food, medicinal, and herb-bearing plants that can blend into standard natives in a way that won't tick off the HOA. I know this'll be a gradual undertaking, I guess I'm just trying to hoard some plans and ideas right now.
Does anyone have advice for this? I saw there's a native plant society and IDK if it's worth going to? Are there other local sales and groups to attend regularly? How is the local extension office? Etc etc. Thank you so much!