|
Hays County Master Naturalists NEWSLETTER
|
Right here at home - in the Hill Country! |
|
|
|
May, 2005 |
|
|
|
HAYS COUNTY MASTER NATURALISTS President Randy Moss Vice President Tom Watson Secretary Nancy Turner Treasurer Winifred Simon Training Committee Joe Piazza Records Committee Judy Telford State Advisory Board Walt Krudop Editor Richard Barnett Richb6986@aol.com Webmaster Dave Schwarz Extension Agent Bryan Davis | ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Statewide Annual Meeting & Advanced Training |
|
This year's meeting will be held October 21 to 23 at MO Ranch in Hunt, Texas. Please watch this space for more information about the Advanced Training schedule. |
|
Horned Lizard Conservation and Management in Texas |
|
Workshop on Horned Lizard Conservation and Management in Texas
|
|
|
Honey Creek SNA Field Trip |
|
The morning looked as if we were going to be rained out, but the rain materialized as only a light drizzle for a short period. We were met by our tour leader Holly Camaro, president of the Alamo MN Chapter, who described the history, geology, fauna, and flora of the SNA while we walked the trail through the juniper and live oaks toward Honey Creek. Where the trail begins in the uplands, the ecosystem is an Ashe Juniper - Live Oak Savanna typical of the Hill Country. The area, like most of Texas, has problems with feral pigs rooting up the plants. Master Naturalist volunteers from nearby have been removing junipers at various locations to promote grass growth. The group took the opportunity to identify grasses, forbs, and trees along the trek to the creek. On the way, we observed deep lesions in the bark of a large Gum Bumelia tree that had been drilled (sliced) by a hungry Sapsucker. Honey Creek is a tributary emptying into the Guadalupe River on the SNA. The creek is lined with splendid, large bald cypress trees typical of Hill Country streams. -- report and photos by Tom Watson |
|
|
|
|
|
Wildscape Garden, San Marcos Nature CenterHCMN Project # 405 The bluebonnets have faded and gone to seed since their peak at the time of our Wildlife Photography Workshop on April 2. Poppies, Indian blankets, pink evening primrose, and coreopsis have followed them, but they too will fade. Their successors are sunflowers, horsemint, Mexican Hat, and lizard-tailed gaura, which are fine in their place but tend to sprawl and grow rank, and ruellia, which tends to smother small annuals. We have a few empty patches too, especially at the west end. We would like to fill them with annuals and perennials that will add color and interest through the year. If you have seeds, bulbs, hardy seedlings, or extra specimens of native plants that need a home, we invite you to share them with the Wildscape Garden. Native plants that attract butterflies and hummingbirds are doubly welcome. Gayfeathers, Indian paintbrush, standing cypress, Texas verbena, plains agalinis, zexmenia, blackfoot daisy, scarlet pea, palafoxia, dalea, slender vervain, phlox, blue-eyed grass, Herbertia, celestials, rain lily, copper lily, skeleton flower, Barbara buttons, prairie larkspur, skullcap, penstemon, ageratum, mistflower, or tansy, for example, please test them in the Wildscape Garden. The soil is a mixture of black clay and assorted stony scrapings from road shoulders. It's not what you would want for a rose garden, but the bluebonnets don't mind and other attractive native plants may flourish too. A prickly poppy or two would not be out of place, but we will have to think twice about bull nettles. We have enough trees, shrubs and sage, and more than enough lantana. |
|
|
|
Trail Building and Maintenance HCMN Project # 424 DATE: On-going projects ACTIVITY: Volunteers will selectively remove brush, trees, and rocks in new trail corridors, create new trails, and maintain existing trails They will be instructed on site by a crew manager. SPONSORS: Corps of Engineers Canyon Lake Park; Camino Real Cycling Club (CRCC); Austin Ridge Riders Mountain Bike Club; San Marcos Greenbelt Alliance (SMGA); Hays County Parks Depts . SPONSOR CONTACTS: James Buratti (CRCC), 512-245-3641, jb63@txstate.edu ; Todd Derkacz (SMGA), 512-754-9321, tobe@austin.rr.com ; Jerry Pinnix (Hays Co), 512-393-2212, jlp2002@earthlink.net HCMN CONTACT: Judy Telford, 512-353-8143, 2303 E McCarty Lane, San Marcos, TX 78666, jt01@txstate.edu. PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Volunteers can expect to cut and remove trees, brush and rocks in new trail corridors, create new trails, and groom existing trails. They are welcome to work as much or as little as they feel up to. We just want everyone to enjoy the process of creating new hiking and biking trails. Some are narrow, natural surface trails that are built by hand without motorized equipment. There are opportunities for volunteers of all ages and experience. A crew manager will instruct volunteers in methods and safety on site. Safety is the first priority. Careful attention is paid to erosion prevention, proper pruning techniques, natural aesthetics and preservation of valuable natural elements. Every SMGA session begins with a safety briefing. People who volunteer and who have zero experience with natural surface trails may be required to read a short text or receive a briefing on some basic trail techniques before they touch a tool. Tools will be provided. Volunteers should bring work gloves, sturdy shoes, eye protection, and water. All trail building is on public land such as Canyon Lake Park, Lake Georgetown Park, Hughson Park, Schulle Canyon, and other city and county parks as they are identified. Volunteers are usually required to sign a volunteer release from liability. Volunteers who really enjoy the experience can attend a trail building school, usually held once a year.
|
|
|
|
CCC Butterfly and Hummingbird Gardens HCMN Project 422 The Campus Christian Community at 604 N Guadalupe provides services to students, faculty, and staff at Texas State University and is the meeting site for the San Marcos Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship. The building has some landscaping in the front, but it is not well maintained. In the gaps between existing plantings, we will fill the area with plants that will attract butterflies and hummingbirds. The back area is covered with St. Augustine grass. Proposal: Design and construct a butterfly & hummingbird garden with a meandering path. Plant materials will be low-maintenance, natives. Gather as much free compost, mulch, rocks, and plants as possible. Maintain the garden. Improve and enlarge as time and money are available. The executive board of Hays County Master Naturalists has approved this new project. The HCMN contacts are Anne Allen, Barbara Jacobson, and Judy Telford. |
|
|
|
Onion Creek Volunteer Work DayRiparian Habitat Restoration When: Saturday, May 28, 2005. Arrive 8:30 am; lunch break at 11:30 am; those interested may continue on project after lunch. Location: WQPL - Onion Creek Management Unit Task: Remove encroaching Ashe juniper in riparian area The Details: The goal is to use hand tools to remove young Ashe juniper trees beginning to encroach into riparian area and crowd out native vegetation. Type of Activity: Hand tools such as bow saws, loppers and handsaws will be used to cut young and encroaching Ashe junipers out of the riparian area. The project location is outside of the Balcones Canyonlands Conservation Plan permit area but size of trees will still be limited to less than 4 inches at DBH (4 ½ feet above ground). Those trees at or just less than 4 inches at DBH may be too large to cut with hand tools and will be flagged for evaluation and possible cutting with a chainsaw by WCD staff at a later date. Safety and Considerations: Participants should be able to hike over small distances, bend, stoop, and use lopper or a handsaw or be willing to learn. Activity will occur in cloudy or drizzly conditions, but will be cancelled in the event of inclement weather. Sites are remote without indoor or portable bathroom facilities. Those with allergies to bee stings or fire ants should be prepared as necessary. Nearest medical facility is approximately 30 minutes away. A first aid kit will be available on site. Volunteers will potentially be walking through tall grass and along a creek bed (currently dry). Participants will be made aware of possible encounters with snakes, spiders, scorpions and other wildlife. Participants MUST wear long pants and closed-toe shoes, preferably hiking boots. Participants should wear work-appropriate clothes and dress appropriately for weather conditions including sun protection. WCD will provide leather work gloves and tools. Participants may bring their own work gloves if they prefer, but gloves must be sturdy enough to provide protection from handling juniper trees. Fabric-covered gardening gloves are not acceptable. Gatorade and water will be provided. Participants may want to bring their own water bottle that can be refilled and kept with them as they walk. Participants should bring hats for sun protection, sunscreen, water bottles, snacks, and lunches. A lunch location with bathrooms will be available. Directions & Map: The BCP staff lead, Gail McGlamery, will meet volunteers at the entrance gate to the property off of FM 150. For those that get lost or are running late, Gail's cell phone is 914-5743. Driving directions:
|
|
|
|
Extension Needs Volunteers for Wildlife Camps
|
|
Time to get ready for TPWD EXPO!
If you are able to volunteer, please contact Michelle Haggerty. Working 8 hours at Expo gets you a free T-shirt
|
|
Volunteers Needed for TMN Annual Meeting
Thank you to the dozens of you who have already responded. However, more volunteers are still needed. Volunteer help needed includes:
|
| |
|
|
|
State News |
|
TEXAS MASTER NATURALISTS They know their flora and fauna: 3,000 volunteers pay for training, donate to projects, and guide children
|
|
|
|
Local News |
|
NATURESCAPES PHOTO CONTEST
The San Marcos Naturescapes Photography Contest is officially underway. The San Marcos Greenbelt Alliance and the Hill Country Photography Club have set up a contest that we hope will inspire professional and amateur photographers alike to snap up some of the great visual experiences to be found in our parks and greenspaces. Herb Smith of the HCPC has been very helpful in setting the rules and formatting the event, and Linda Kelsey-Jones has arranged to give us exhibition space in July at the San Marcos Activity Center for selected images. There are three categories in which to submit: Scenery; Wildlife and plants; and People and pets, with a prize of $100 in each. A Best of Show award will be given with a $200 prize. Winning photos are frequently the work of photographers who may not rate themselves amateurs but who happen to be in the right spot at the right time. For contest rules and other information, please go to our website (still under construction) at www.smgreenbelt.org and click on "photo contest." Entries must be received by the San Marcos Parks and Recreation Department before 5 p.m. on June 6th. Standard 4"x6" prints, 35mm slides and jpeg or tiff files on CD may be submitted.
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Sponsors Texas Master Naturalist - State Website - masternaturalist.tamu.edu
Partners Bamberger Ranch -- http://www.bambergerranch.org/workshops.htm LBJ Wildflower Center -- www.wildflower.org Native Plant Society of Texas - www.npsot.org/
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
© 2005 Hays County Master Naturalists |