Prairie Rose Chapter

April 2022

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APRIL 2022

Don’t you love this time of year?  To me, there’s nothing more energizing than to see the rebirth of our dormant plants in the spring.  Now that it’s April, every day brings more life back into our area, even with the severe drought.  It also brings back a lot more activities and fun events.  We have a packed April so I hope you can attend several of these events, including our spring plant sale and our special presentation on herbs by Mary Doebbeling.  Yes, we know most herbs are not native, but our very own chapter member has an incredible expertise in this area that we felt was too good to pass up.  In addition, there is a massive BioBlitz planned for the end of the month that you can participate in as much or as little as you wish.

 

APRIL MEETING

ALL ABOUT HERBS
By Mary Doebbeling
MONDAY, APRIL 25, 6 P.M.

4017 CR 424, Cleburne, TX

Even though we love our native plants, most of us like to cook as well (or at least eat!), so we like to grow herbs.  Come join an expert who will talk about herbs as we walk around her 2-acre garden.  She’ll discuss how to grow, how to use and anything else you would like to know.  This is a rare opportunity and we hope you’ll join us for this extraordinary evening.  After the program there will be ample time to walk around her gardens.

Mary is a member of The Herb Society of America, Pioneer Unit as well as the Prairie Rose Chapter of the Native Plant Society. She was the South Central District Delegate for 8 years and served on The Herb Society of America’s board.  She had her own business “Our Thyme Garden, Inc.” and was a charter member of the Greater Fort Worth Herb Society. She lives on a small farm near Cleburne, Texas and gardens in her certified “Greenbridges” garden with millions of butterflies, bee, birds and other creatures. 

Directions:  Go north on Hwy. 67 and take the business exit to downtown.  At the
courthouse square turn right on Main St. (one-way).  Go until you come to 2nd street; turn left.  This is FM 4.  Continue on FM 4 about 4 miles until you come to CR 424 (You’ll see a water tower on the left side of the road).  Turn right on to CR 424.  Travel about 1/2 mile to 4017 on your left.  Turn into drive and go down until you come to the house.

City Nature Challenge

April 29 – May 2

Don’t let the title confuse you – this Bioblitz challenge is not just for cities.  The state of Texas has been divided up into different areas to see which area can post the most pictures and observations.  This can be from everywhere you go – from your yard, pasture, roadside or park – just remember these should be natural plants, not from your planted flowerbeds.  Observations can be about insects, birds or any other creature you find as well as plants.  You can record the same species, for example Antelope Horn, in different locations around the county or counties rather than just recording it one time.  They request you do not record the same species that are located closely together.  The 6 counties that encompass our chapter members are not in the same Bioblitz area.  Somervell, Hamilton and Bosque are in the same area, but Hood, Johnson and Erath are in another one.  This doesn’t really matter as the main purpose of a Bioblitz is to create a better database of nature in our area and expand our knowledge of what is around us.  So, I hope you’ll take a little time over this four-day period to enjoy the outdoors and post lots of photographs on iNaturalist.

High Hope Ranch
3353 County Road 2009, Glen Rose, TX
April 29, 9 a.m. –

Sandra Skrei is opening up High Hope Ranch for us to explore and take pictures starting at 9 a.m.  Aaron Lincoln, the Bioblitz coordinator, will be on hand to help people with the iNaturalist program.  Come join us for a fun morning (?), then go explore for the next couple of days.

https://vimeo.com/689504304/593c6ad380

iNaturalist Web Tutorial

iNaturalist Web Tutorial

 

Please remember the migrating birds need your help! Click for more information. 

https://texanbynature.org/projects/lights-out-texas/

 

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**ARCHIVED POST AUTHOR: prairierose

About the Region

Fall Symposium 2025 Logo - Teach for the Future

Salado, the location of our Fall 2025 Symposium, lies at the intersection of two ecoregions: the Edwards Plateau (Limestone Cut Plain) and Blackland Prairie (Northern Blackland Prairie).

The Edwards Plateau area is also called the Hill Country; however, this general term covers a much larger area extending farther north. Spring-fed creeks are found throughout the region; deep limestone canyons, rivers, and lakes (reservoirs) are common. Ashe juniper is perhaps the most common woody species found throughout the region. Additional woody species include various species of oak, with live oak (Quercus fusiformis) being the most common. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) border waterways. This area is well known for its spring wildflower displays, though they may be viewed in spring, late summer, and fall, as well. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, average annual rainfall in the Edwards Plateau ranges from 15 to 34 inches.

The Blackland Prairie extends from the Red River south to San Antonio, bordered on the west by the Edwards Plateau and the Cross Timbers, and on the east by the Post Oak Savannah. Annual rainfall averages 30 to 40 inches, with higher averages to the east. This region is dominated by prairie species. The most common grass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the uplands and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the riparian areas and drainages. Common herbaceous flowering plants include salvias, penstemons, and silphiums. This area has suffered greatly from overgrazing and agricultural use. Few intact areas remain, though many of the plants can be found along county roadsides throughout the region.

Our fall Symposium host chapter, the Tonkawa Chapter, includes both of these ecoregions.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason