Blackland Prairie Newsletter

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BPTMN Newsletter – May 16, 2025

Happy Friday, lovely Texas Master Naturalists! 

This month’s newsletter, “Shaking the Trees,” is packed with exciting updates and opportunities! We’re celebrating the Blackland Prairie Chapter’s Class of 2025 graduates, calling for volunteers to help transform Monarch View Park into a pollinator paradise on May 17th & 18th, and offering advanced training in Entomology. Plus, the North Texas Chapter is hosting an Accessibility in Nature talk and workshop on June 4th & 5th. You can also delve into personal reflections in Deborah Canterbury‘s piece on the Shaking of the Trees newsletter’s 60th edition, learn about Monarch training with Carol Clark, enjoy a serene poem with her own images from Linda Barnes, and read John Garbutt’s “My Spring Amongst the Night-Herons.” Check your Member VHAT Calendar for more upcoming events and don’t forget – Laura needs your help at Monarch View Park!

You can access our latest newsletter from our Chapter’s Home Page at bptmn.org, click on the “Blackland Prairie Newsletter” image, OR by direct link – https://txmn.org/bptmn/newsletters/

This newsletter will provide:

If chapter members need to share information in the monthly newsletters or provide feedback.
Please send your emails to communications@bptmn.org.


Michelle Connally
Communications Director
Blackland Prairie Chapter

Chapter Business

TMN State Program Updates

2025 Annual Meeting Video Contest

We are now accepting Video Contest submissions for the 2025 Annual Meeting! Release the director in YOU! Each year, the Texas Master Naturalist Program hosts a video contest to showcase…

May 6, 2025

Annual MeetingAwardsNewsProject Highlight

2025 Annual Meeting Chapter Project Fair

We are now accepting Chapter Project Fair submissions for the 2025 Annual Meeting! The Texas Master Naturalist Program holds this competition during our Annual Meeting each year to share and…

May 6, 2025

Annual MeetingAwardsNews

2025 Annual Meeting Chapter Advisor Award

The Texas Master Naturalist Program presents the Chapter Advisor Award to outstanding advisors and/or teams of advisors each year. The goal of the awards program is to encourage and recognize…

May 6, 2025

Meeting Notes

Chapter Presidents and Advisors Meeting – April 29, 2025

Please see below the slides and recording of the Chapter Presidents and Advisors Meeting held on Tuesday April 29th, 2025.

April 29, 2025

An image carousel with a combination of Landscape photos and Master Naturalists in the field

News

Texas Master Naturalist 2024 Annual Report

Meeting Information and Recordings

Next month’s Chapter Meeting information

2025 June Chapter Meeting with Lorelei Stierlen | Pocket Prairies

Get ready to grow wild! 🌿 Join the Blackland Prairie Chapter in June for a deep dive into the delightful world of Pocket Prairies with the amazing Lorelei Stierlen! We’ll be exploring how to pack a powerful punch of native plant beauty into even the tiniest of spaces. Whether you’re a seasoned prairie pro or just starting to sprout your interest, this meeting is for you!

Mark your calendars for Tuesday, June 10th at 7 PM CST. Choose your own adventure: join us in person for some face-to-face fun, or zoom in with us online!

When: Tuesday, June 10, 2025 – 7:00 PM
Click here to view our Calendar.

  • SRC Doors will open at 6:30 PM
  • Zoom meeting waiting room will open at 6:45 PM
  • Business Meeting will begin at 7:00 PM
  • Naturalist Talk will start at 7:30 PM (approximately)

Topic: Pocket Prairies

Speaker: Lorelei Stierlen

Lorelei Stierlen is a retired Senior Principal Electrical Engineer, now a full-time environmental scientist. She holds an MS degree from Johns Hopkins University, where she minored in pedology (soil science). Lorelei has 20 years of experience with Blackland Prairie small- and large-scale restoration efforts and pocket prairie establishment. She was the Conservation and Restoration Manager at the Blackland Prairie Raptor Center. She has taught soil science to Plano Senior High School students and the Texas Master Naturalist training program for the over seven years.

Physical Meeting Location:  Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary, 
1Nature Place, McKinney, TX 75069, Science Resource Center (SRC) building.
Directions to SRC: Drive through Heard gates, past the parking lot and museum building, and continue until the road ends at the large white SRC building. 

Register in advance for this Zoom meeting:
Use the email address associated with your personal Zoom account.
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZElcOmsrTsrGtbd5HCAAws7J_qSSob6IxpQ
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Logging AT:  The monthly meeting presentation will allow members to earn 1-hour of AT. Log as AT: BPTMN Chapter Monthly Meeting Only (1 hour) with the speaker’s name and topic in the description box.

If you have any additional questions, please email.
Chapter Meeting Host: Vicki Sanders, vicepresident@bptmn.org

Deep Dive Information and Recordings

Latest Shaking the Trees Newsletter – Member Submissions

Submit your article here

Upcoming Opportunities on our VHAT Calendar

https://txmn.org/bptmn/calendar/

Chapter Advisor

Dr. Curtis Jones, County Extension Agent
825 North McDonald Street Suite 150
McKinney, TX 75069-2175
curtis.jones@ag.tamu.edu 
972-548-4233

Chapter Partners

Blackland Prairie Raptor Center
volunteer@bpraptorcenter.org
https://bpraptorcenter.org/

Connemara Meadow Nature Preserve
Bob Mione | info@connemaraconservancy.org
connermaraconservancy.org/wordpress/meadow-nature-preserve

Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary
Laura Ragan | volunteers@heardmuseum.org
www.heardmuseum.org/volunteer

LLELA Nature Preserve
Erin Piper | epiper@cityoflewisville.com
https://www.llela.org/research-restoration/volunteering

Send any questions or feedback about this page to support@bptmn.org