Rhonda Sanchez, 2019 Are you interested in volunteering for the BPTMN Booth at the upcoming Collin County Master Gardeners’ 2022 Garden Show?Here are the event details: The Garden Show 2022… Read More →
2022 February – Bill Holston | North Texas Trail Master
Bill has been hiking since he was an Eagle Scout in Alabama in the 1970’s. For over thirty years he’s hiked with his family in various National and State Parks, most often in Big Bend. He became a Master Naturalist in 2011. For the last ten years he’s spent almost every weekend exploring the Great Trinity Forest with a hiking group of friends.
Mental Wanderings
Sally Evans, 2006 – Founder & Emeritus –
A wide swath of trees and vines and junipers has grown up along the back by a creek. The front part was mowed several times a summer but often the grasses grew knee high and swayed in the breezes. That lot became the resting place or home for the wild life that moved up and down the creek. Birds roosted or nested in the trees and shrubs. In one far corner a cottonwood tree grew twice as high as the rest of the trees and became the site for hawks sunning or scanning for prey. Flocks of birds would stop in the top branches to rest and recoup. Families of crows would convene to pester the hawks or to just the surrounding territory and then move on to another perch. Squirrels ran up and down the trunk or leaped from branch to branch. One December night two great horned owls sat high in the tree and called and called to some unknown recipient. And one summer a pair of Swainsons hawks nested there. Birders said it was not probable but photos of the birds verified their site.
Shells to warm your hearts
Lauren Bendiksen, 2019 – I am excited that the Lightning Whelk is the Texas Master Naturalist Program 2022 Annual Re-Certification pin. I grew up in Dallas, and our family’s vacations to South Padre Island were definitely a jumping off point for my love of nature due to the excitement of searching for seashells. I became absolutely obsessed with seashells. My maternal grandparents also lived near the coast in Florida, so you can imagine my joy when we were able to visit them and go to the beach, allowing me additional options for collecting seashells.
Reflections on Sara Dykman’s Bicycling with Butterflies Book
Greg Tonian, 2017 –
Ideas are like Fireflies,
Brief flashes in the dark,
blinking.
Talk is cheap,
Life’s opportunities fleeting.
Dreams evaporate.
Yet Sara put mettle to pedal,
She set out on her quest,
Before it was too late.
Her goal was simple yet mad.
It would require lots of planning,
Lots of charts,
Though she wanted to be spontaneous,
A journey of this type,
Had many moving parts.
Courage and persistence she did not lack
She simply bicycled with the Monarchs,
From Mexico to Canada and back.
10,201 miles, 232 days,
Travelling countless byways.
Loggerhead Shrike
Meet the Loggerhead Shrike, photo by Blackland Prairie Master Naturalist Lorrie Mathers, captured at Hagerman National Wildlife Preserve.
These predatory songbirds are found here in all seasons, and their population is declining. Their winter diet focuses on vertebrate prey. These include lizards, snakes, frogs, turtles, sparrows, goldfinches, ground squirrels, voles, mice, and shrews, to name just a few.
2022 January – Virginia Rose | Birdability
Virginia fell off a horse at the age of 14 and a wheelchair user ever since, she began birding 17 years ago and discovered her best self in nature.
Member Emeritus – Deborah Canterbury
Deborah Canterbury was awarded the title Member Emeritus at the December 14 meeting and gifted a beautiful stain glass dragonfly Tiffany style lamp. MEMBER EMERITUS. On June 18th of this year… Read More →
Honorary Membership – Bill Woodfin
Longtime friend and supporter of the Blackland Prairie Master Naturalist Chapter, Bill Woodfin received his Honorary Membership Badge at the December, 14th 2021 meeting for his volunteer efforts within our chapter and the community.
Thank you, Mike Roome
At the end of 2021 Immediate Past President Mike Roome will be leaving the board. He served as President in 2018-2019 and as IPP through this year. During this time, he was severely ill, but as soon as he could he returned to his board duties. His leadership, positive outlook and grateful heart will be missed at the monthly board meetings.