If you need plants for your own project, this is the perfect opportunity—join us on Thursday, September 18th at 8:00 – 11:00 AM! There’s an excellent supply of green milkweed, along with several other native species.
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McKinney Last Saturday Workday Update
Volunteers accomplished so much in just a few hours: mulching under the wax myrtles, clearing weeds from the decomposed granite paths and garden beds, creating native seed packets for distribution, and helping prep the site for our upcoming Make a Difference Day Planting in October.
BPTMN Grant Program Update September 2025
The Blackland Prairie Texas Master Naturalists (BPTMN) are dedicated to various conservation efforts. Their “Eco Explorers” program educates Girl Scouts, while their “Texas Bat Acoustics” project monitors bat populations. They assist the Blackland Prairie Raptor Center with equipment and invasive species removal. Habitat restoration projects at Collin College and Prosper United Methodist Church show successful native plant growth. The Green Gardens of McKinney project is creating a learning garden, and community outreach efforts are bolstered by grant funds.
Finding Happiness Through Sharing Nature
John W. Garbutt – Class of 2019- Over time, I learned to find happiness alone through nature. A majority of the learning has been from behind the camera’s viewfinder, the eye piece on my binoculars; and through contributing to the chapter’s monthly newsletter, Shaking the Trees.
🌿 Eco Explorers Needs You!
Texas Master Naturalists—help inspire girls K–12 to explore and love nature. Through nature walks, iNaturalist, and Girl Scout badge programs, we share our chapter’s deep knowledge of the natural world. Volunteers bring this learning to life. Your experience and enthusiasm make all the difference—join us in growing the next generation of nature stewards.
In Every Tree, a Trillion Tiny Lives article shared by Fran Woodfin
Thought you might be interested in this, in case you haven’t seen it. Fran Link to New York Times article – In Every Tree, a Trillion Tiny Lives By… Read More →
Blackland Prairie Chapter Book Club Details – Fall of 2025
Blackland Prairie Chapter Book Club Details – Fall meetings are scheduled for Wednesday, October 15 and Wednesday, December 17, from 6-7 p.m. Attendees should arrive a few minutes early and bring their own drinks, as no food or virtual attendance option will be provided.
August Deep Dive – Plant Lists now available!
Thanks to everyone who joined our recent program on native plants in home landscapes. Your enthusiasm for sustainable gardening and commitment to supporting local ecosystems is inspiring! We explored how native plants not only thrive in Texas conditions but also attract pollinators, conserve water, and reduce maintenance.
Time To Restore Project
The Time To Restore project (TTR), led by the USA National Phenology Network and covering the states of Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Louisiana, is gathering long‐term data on the timing of flowering and fruiting of plants on their native plant priority species list. The project seeks to generate better information about native plant nectar availability and seed production timings to help those working on pollinator restoration to better know what to plant and when to best harvest seeds.
Colmena Ranch Native Prairie Plants Rescue
Over the past seven months, the group has salvaged approximately 550 plants from 59 different species, along with collecting seeds from several others. This crucial effort will help restore local habitats, preserve regional biodiversity, and support native wildlife. The chapter is grateful for the landowner’s support and hopes this project serves as a model for future conservation opportunities.