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Our July meeting was extremely well attended with a number of you signing up to receive our mailings. We hope you enjoyed the program and will continue to attend our future meetings and tours. You can check us out on Facebook and on our web site for additional information.
We have two types of meetings: inside presentations like our “Fifty Shades of Green” in July and walking tours to look at and identify plants. These tours are a great way to learn more about the native plants in our area. Our inside programs are on the fourth Monday of the month at 6 p.m., and our tours are typically on Saturdays. We have a series of great programs lined up, including one on how to prune trees and shrubs in October. Check out our September newsletter to learn more about our upcoming activities.
A big thank you goes out to Karen Richardson, RiverGlen Studio for supplying the plants we raffled off last month.
AUGUST MEETING
Overview of the Texas Native Seeds Project and Native Seed Development for Release in Central Texas
By J. Randall (Randy) Bow
AUGUST 26, 6 p.m., Glen Rose Citizen’s Center
There has been a history of land disturbance for years now as a result of urbanization, highway development, energy production and other land use activities. As a result we have lost many native plants and introduced many non-native plants, some of which have proven invasive. But land use has changed over the last two decades from livestock production to an economy based on recreation, conservation and multiple uses. This change is complimented by native plants. There is a desire by private landowners and government agencies to restore ecological systems and bring back native plants. Texas Native Seed is a research and development program of The Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. They are the leading wildlife research organization in Texas and one of the finest in the nation. Texas Native Seeds is looking to promote cost-effective, commercially available native seed sources.
Randy Bow is Assistant Director – Central Texas, based out of Stephenville, and will discuss their programs.
SEPTEMBER PROGRAM
TOUR OF ACTON NATURE CENTER
SEPTEMBER 28, 9:00 a. m.
Come join us as Dr. Billy Teels, Rio Brazos Master Naturalist, leads us on a tour on the Nature Center on September 28th. The Acton Nature Center is located at 6900 Smoky Hill Ct., Granbury, Texas.
The Acton Nature Center is a 73.96 acre tract of land developed by the Friends of the Acton Nature Center, along with the Rio Brazos chapter of the Texas Master Naturalists, the Lake Granbury Master Gardeners and many others. Volunteers at the Center have removed non-native plants and returned much of the area to native prairie. There is a butterfly and hummingbird garden, a restored farmhouse, an operational windmill, a bird observation area and over five miles of trails.
WORK DAY
We have a work day in our Native Plant Demonstration Garden (Glen Rose courthouse square next to the Museum) the first Saturday of each month, with an additional third Saturday work day on the busiest growing seasons of the year.
If you can help out, even for just an hour it’s welcomed and very helpful. Come join us on September 7 from 8:30 – 10:30 a.m.. We’ll weed, water and clean up plants.
Please remember to bring a hat, gloves, your favorite tools (if you have them), and water.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
TEXAS WORKING LANDSCAPES
Texas Working Landscapes is a new effort aimed at conducting surveys of native biodiversity and soil health on private ranches and conservation centers that are already involved in exotic species conservation efforts. This is a phase two on this project which includes three facilities in our area, Fossil Rim Wildlife, High Hope Ranch and Ten XXX. This event is scheduled for September 14-18 from 7:00 a.m. to noon each day. They are in need of knowledgeable birders and plant specialists, but also need volunteers to help scribe while these people are working. You can work one day or all five.
This should not only be fun but a great learning experience for any who are interested. If you want additional information or are interested in helping, please contact Caitlin Pyle, Natural Resources Manager, Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, 254-898-4212, www.fossilrim.org.
NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY STATE SYMPOSIUM
The Native Plant Society of Texas will hold its fall symposium October 3-6 in League City (between Houston & Galveston) at the South Shore Harbour Resort and Conference Center. The event will schedule field trips on Thursday afternoon for those arriving early, speakers on Friday morning with field trips in the afternoon, speakers and breakout sessions on Saturday with an awards banquet on Saturday night, and more field trips on Sunday to visit on the drive home. For more information please go the state web site www.www.npsot.org.
Centaurea americana
Eustoma russellianum.
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**ARCHIVED POST AUTHOR: jerin
