Members

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Annual Sunflower

Sally Evans, 2006; Founder & Emeritus
The annual sunflower plant (Helianthus annuus) was one of the most plentiful and versatile plants the Indians had available.  It was convertible into a dye, a liniment, a medicine, a coffee, and a delectable food.  By boiling the crushed seeds, an oil could be skimmed off and used for cooking or as a hair dressing, whatever the need at the time.  Nature provides many teas, but few coffees.  Delicious coffee was made by roasting and boiling the seeds as we roast and boil the coffee bean.  Black and purple dyes were also derived from the seeds. 

Chapter Meetings

2021 September – Dr. Megan O’Connell | Climate Change and Plant Phenology

Dr. O’Connell will be discussing how climate change is altering plant phenology and impacting plant-pollinator interactions. She’ll be sharing findings from her dissertation work in tropical forests and how she is building off this work to explore phenology in Texas prairie ecosystems while at BRIT. For these projects she’ll be introducing some novel tech and community-driven research methods and share some opportunities for the Blackland Prairie Master Naturalist Chapter to help participate in local phenological data collection efforts.

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August in Cicadia

Greg Tonian, 2017
The neighborhood is abuzz.
A hot, sultry breeze,
Envelops the trees.
Brown, papier mache creatures climb out of the loam,
Clinging to brick and branch with tiny hooks,
Soon to cleave asunder,
Extruding,
winged phantasms.
I find these abandoned climbing nymph husks,
And the fanciful flying creatures that they set free
Scattered on the concrete byways of Cicadia.
“Sweet dreams and” Flying “machines in pieces on the ground” (James Taylor),
I think to myself.

Chapter MeetingsGeneral

2021 August – Dr. Carly Aulicky | Insights of a Dancing Bird: Lessons Learned from Tropical Forests to Prairies

Charlise Hill-Larson, 2019 We are so pleased to welcome Dr. Carly Aulicky for our August Chapter Meeting. Carly is the North Texas Director of Outreach and Stewardship for the Native Prairies Association of Texas (NPAT). In her position, Carly acts as a resource and spokesperson for management and conservation of native prairies. Carly monitors NPAT properties and conservation easements, collects biodiversity data, holds educational workshops and talks, and coordinates volunteer efforts in programs and projects.