News you can use!
(Note: to open or enlarge photos: click on underlined item, or on photo to get a really good look!)
Coming Soon – Look for the new look! The website is getting a facelift. We will be going live within the next week or two.
Advanced Training and an interesting program will be at our Chapter Meeting May 17, 2012 – 7pm. The “LANDS“ Program by Kay Coffer, from the TMN Hill Country Chapter, presenting their youth program, which is Learning Across New Dimensions in Science. LANDS works with students K – 12 and teaches subjects such as land ethics, conservation, wildlife and land management, ecosystems, soils, plants, and how to be good land stewards on private lands. This promises to be an educational evening!
We need pictures of Earthday 2012! Your webmistress was working the NPSOT Plant Sale, and would like to obtain some photos to put right here!! Please e-mail me!!!
Can’t wait to see what new and wonderful exhibits Lindheimer Master Naturalists demonstarted at Tye Preston Library!!!
Concerning the Inspiration Tour–What a fun day! Thanks to all those who participated in the 1st (hopefully) annual Inspiration tour. Special thanks go out to the owners who graciously opened their property to us, and gave such inspired talks on the hard work that has gone into their little piece of Texas. To see what you missed, go to the member’s section.
2011-2012 Lindheimer Master Naturalist Class
The new class is over half way through classes. Way to go newbies! There have been some really interesting speakers, and the trend continues for the next 5 months.
This might be a website you may be interested in. Comal, Guadalupe and Bexar Counties have dropped out of high drought level, thanks to the rain we have had, but to check just where we are, or on other parts of Texas, go to: http://www.tceq.texas.gov/response/drought
Continue to pray for rain! With the weather heating up, we will continue to need rain to keep the rivers and streams flowing and the plants growing!
If you see any Monarch butterflies, remember Monarch Watch! There were little packs of monarchs flying over Hwy 281 just before the rains started. Don’t forget monarchwatch.org
If you are interested, Texas Parks and Wildlife has a half-hour show every Sunday (except during pledge time) on KLRN, PBS. Check your tv listings for the time, or go online to klrn.org for cable channels and times.
Red tide K. brevis algae update: K Brevis is no longer a risk at this time in the Coastal waters. Hopes are that we have adequate rain for the Summer and early Fall, so levels near land stay low. You can continue to monitor levels at: www.tpwd.state.tx.us/landwater/water/…/hab/redtide/status.phtml the updates usually start around July, but if we have lots of rain, it may be delayed- which is a good thing!
If you wonder where to find info about Texas, its parks, its wildlife and its native resources, Log on to the Texas Parks and Wildlife site. There is so much to learn!!! www.tpwd.state.tx.us/
Check out our State Parks!!! We need visitors at our State Parks, in order to keep them from closing!!! Read about it in the TPW newsletter online. Texas Parks and Wildlife Website has many happenings right now! If you are looking for a place to go for vacation or just a weekend jaunt, visit www.tpwd.state.tx.us/newmedia/calendar to see what’s happening in the great state of Texas. A State Park pass is a great way to spend quality time with nature. (Senior prices are available and a great deal) Comal County has several great state parks and state natural areas, and many more are within a few hours drive. Note: Go to the TPWD website and experience all that it has to offer. You can get weekly updates on State Park events, and even Fishing Reports for Freshwater and Saltwater areas.
Have you seen the Alien “Bastard Cabbage” or the” Malta Star Thistle”??? Chances are – they may be living just down your street, or even near your driveway. These foreign invaders are really taking control of our Texas landscapes this year, and with the seeds they are putting down, there is little hope for the wildflowers next Spring. Click on the pdfs below for info on these troublemakers!!!
Bastard Cabbage Info Malta Starthistle managing_starthistle
Don’t forget to vist texasinvasives.org This website empowers us to help thwart flora and fauna invasions. The invasive species Website features new interactive features, where citizens can report sightings and help take action to stop the spread of exotic plants and animals, protecting the habitat of our native species!
Check out the Heritage Museum of the Texas Hill Country at: www.theheritagemuseum.com
Learning Opportunities BE SURE TO CHECK OUT AND ABOUT FOR THE MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO ATTEND A SEMINAR, OR CLASS. MOST ARE NOTATED IF THEY QUALIFY FOR ATHs.
Consider a trip to the A. E. Woods Hatchery, located off of Staples Road in beautiful San Marcos, and the water for the hatchery is obtained from the spring-fed San Marcos River.
