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Native Wildflowers of Attwater Prairie Chicken NWR
As part of its mission to save the Attwater’s Prairie-Chicken from extinction, APCNWR protects over 9,000 contiguous acres of Upper Coastal Prairie, second only to the core area of the Coastal Prairie Conservancy. Some of the best-quality prairie is accessible daily to the public, with 2.3 miles of hiking trails and a 3.4-mile auto loop, all within 2 hours of the Houston metropolitan region and about 20 minutes from the Sealy exit on I-10. APCNWR possesses a distinctive native flora adapted to dry, sandy soils, plus a variety of wetland species. A recently updated phenological plant list, based on iNaturalist observations and herbarium records, shows nearly 400 verified (research grade or herbarium) species of native forbs and vines and around 100 species of native grasses, sedges, and rushes. This presentation will feature about 40 species of native wildflowers characteristic of APCNWR, all seen within the last 5 years in the publicly accessible portion of the refuge.
About the Speaker
Charles Winker is a retired geologist residing on the Fayette Prairie near Brenham with his wife Susie and their blue heeler Elsa. A Chicago native, he has lived in Texas for 43 years, plus five years each in Georgia and Arizona. Upon retirement in 2016 he became interested in prairie conservation and field botany, joined Texas Master Naturalists and the Native Prairie Association of Texas, embraced iNaturalist, and began volunteering at the Coastal Prairie Conservancy, Winedale Historical Complex, and APCNWR. He is particularly interested in native Texas grasses, which he cultivates on their property.
Online – Zoom
Register in advance for this meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.