Valerie Bugh, a local naturalist specializing in the arthropods of the Austin area and interests in taxonomy and photography, is the speaker for Highland Lakes Native Plant Society of Texas’s Chapter Meeting on Saturday, 15 November, 1:00-3:00 p.m. at the Marble Falls Library, 101 Main Street.
Val runs the Fauna Project at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, leads insect/wildflower discovery walks, teaches entomology and plant classes, provides insect/spider identifications, gives talks to local organizations, and is the author of pocket guides to “Butterflies of Central Texas,” “Spiders of Texas,” and “Unusual Insects of Texas.” Her website may be found at http://www.austinbug.com/index.html
Val’s Presentation, “Galls, Leaf Mines and Other Anomalies” will address:
• The odd “things” on an attentive gardener’s plants that aren’t easily identified and don’t have an obvious explanation.
• Many of these phenomena are the result of organisms from kingdoms other than plants, often animals and fungi.
• The relationships between these disparate groups are frequently complex, sometimes surprising, and always intriguing.
• To better understand the ecology of any thriving habitat, we’ll look at growths, attachments and damage on plants with a focus on what caused them and why.
This meeting will count as one hour of Advanced Training credit for Master Gardeners, and one hour of Advanced Training Credit for Master Naturalists.
The business portion of the meeting is during the first 30 minutes, followed by the presentation.
Upcoming Highland Lakes-NPSOT Chapter Meetings:
17 January: Bob Rose, Chief Meteorologist, Lower Colorado River Authority will discuss spring and early summer weather.
21 March: Mena Rueffer, Highland Lakes Master Gardener, will share tips and techniques for the propagation of native Texas plants.
16 May: Jacey Stewart, Lower Colorado River Authority, Water Conservation Coordinator II, will present “Water Conservations Practices and Programs”
19 September: Travis Rhames, Drainage Operations Manager, Marble Falls Parks and Recreation Department, will discuss the importance of using native Texas plants in the built environment.
