Yaupon Holly, Ilex vomitoria, is the only Native American plant that contains caffeine, and drinking the tea is a lost art that is recently making a comeback. Yaupon tea is a tisane, or herbal infusion. It is not a true tea like that of the Chinese black tea, Camelia sinensis. Yaupon grows … [Read more...] about Making A Tea/Coffee Substitute From Yaupon Leaves
2nd Saturday Birding at MDJSP
Our expert birders, Fred Lyons and Philip Hight, lead a birding group every 2nd Saturday of the month at Martin Dies Jr. State Park. The bird species vary depending on the time of year. I went birding with them on October 9th, and we had a pretty good show! I set out at 8:00am with my … [Read more...] about 2nd Saturday Birding at MDJSP
Birding Field Trip – High Island
Our birding experts organized a trip on April 28, 2021 that gave our members a great adventure into the world of coastal bird wildlife viewing! Fred Lyons and Phillip Hight guided a group through the Houston Audubon Society - High Island Sanctuaries that serve as a landing for birds traveling across … [Read more...] about Birding Field Trip – High Island
Spring 2021 Community Events
The Longleaf Ridge Master Naturalists have a great relationship with other like-minded organizations in the Jasper County, TX community. For example, beautification efforts of Sandy Creek Park have included a wide range of entities (environmental, multiple levels of government, businesses, … [Read more...] about Spring 2021 Community Events
Adopt-A-Highway Trash Pickup with the Master Gardeners/Master Naturalists
March 13, 2021 The Jasper Master Gardeners and Longleaf Ridge Master Naturalists jointly care for a 2-mile stretch along Hwy 2799/W. Houston St. The last trash pickup was Feb. 8, 2020. So what you see here is a little over a year's worth of accumulated trash. Thanks to all the volunteers who … [Read more...] about Adopt-A-Highway Trash Pickup with the Master Gardeners/Master Naturalists
How to Stay Informed of Events
Due to the pandemic, Texas Master Naturalists (TMN) require that we try to the best of our ability to provide remote access to our meetings. We have tried our best to provide virtual meetings during the COVID-19 crisis and met with issues. Our Zoom volunteer did more than we can expect from her, and … [Read more...] about How to Stay Informed of Events
Groundhog Day – When Will It Warm Up Outside?
Traditionally, if the Groundhog sees his shadow when he comes out of his burrow on February 2nd, it means that the day is sunny and warm, and the opposite will be true for the remaining weeks of winter. However, if he does not see his shadow due to a cloudy, dreary day, then spring weather is just … [Read more...] about Groundhog Day – When Will It Warm Up Outside?
Neches Wilderness Race
By Penny Lanham My husband tried this challenging competition for the first time in 2020, and I just had to do a write-up about it! Even as a spectator, I had a blast cheering on the racers, talking with paddlecraft lovers, and seeing a new part of the untamed East Texas woodlands. This … [Read more...] about Neches Wilderness Race
My Experience Tending to Passionfruit Vine: Inadvertently Raising Gulf Fritillary Caterpillars
During my time at Stephen F. Austin State University, beginning in 2006, I learned how to identify plants, including edible plants. Among my mentors was Greg Grant, who was in charge of the SFASU Pineywoods Native Plant Center at the time and is now a well-known East Texas horticulturalist and … [Read more...] about My Experience Tending to Passionfruit Vine: Inadvertently Raising Gulf Fritillary Caterpillars
50th Anniversary of Earth Day 1970-2020
by Penny Lanham Every year on April 22nd, environmentalists gather to teach the public about environmental awareness. We set up tables and chairs inside school gymnasiums or outdoors in a community garden. We put up posters of sea turtles, globes with smiling faces, and Smokey the Bear. We set up … [Read more...] about 50th Anniversary of Earth Day 1970-2020