Native and Naturalized Plant Identification for Flour Bluff and the Barrier Islands by South Texas Master Naturalist
Would you like to know the names of plants in your yard or neighborhood? Are you interested in plants that require minimal upkeep and are freeze tolerant? These classes may interest you.
Last Spring South Texas Master Naturalist Chapter began a program began that is a relatively easy and successful way to learn plant identification and characteristics of common plant families. Participants are successful because class limit is no more than four at a time . Each participant is expected to learn 25 plants and some characteristics of 5 plant families during each class. Approximately monthly, a new set of plants will be available to learn. Sets of monthly plants are labeled A,B,C…in order to keep track of who has learned what.
These plant ID courses do not need to be taken in order, and you can take as many as you would like. They are available beginning May 7th and will extend through October. Classes will be held on either Friday afternoons 5:30 to 7:30 (likely a bit later during long days of Summer) or Saturday mornings (8:30 to 10:30). We encourage participants to have a partner, but it is not necessary. May 7th Class is currently filled.
Each class will have one or two trainers. All trainers are chapter members. From the Intermediate Campus Ada Anderson, Janice Ainbinder, Janice Knezek, and from the HS Jennifer Pshigoda will be teaching the classes. These individuals, along with Kim Ogden and Chad Huckabee are Members of the South Texas Master Naturalist Chapter and took classes during 2020. They learned over 100 plants and are continue learning.
All classes will be held at the Flour Bluff Intermediate School Nature Garden. Seasonally, the garden has about 200 species of native or naturalized plants. Reminder and materials list will be sent to you the week of your class. Most of the plants you learn, you will find throughout the Coastal Bend. The classes reflect seasonal changes in the garden. The following list includes the May, June, July, and Aug class sessions:
Registration: Send email to Chad Huckabee chadhuckabee@outlook.com stating the date you want to take a class or classes.
A Plants: C Plants:
May 7 from 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm (Filled) June 25 from 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
May 8 from 8:30 am – 10:30 am June 26 from 8:30 am to 10:30 am
May 14 from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm July 9 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
May 15 from 8:30 am to 10:30 am July 10 from 8:30 am o 10:00 am
B Plants: D Plants:
May 28 from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm July 23 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
May 29 from 8:30 am to 10:30 am July 24 from 8:30 am to 10:30 am
June 11 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Aug 13 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
June 12 from 8;30 am to 10:30 am Aug 14 from 8:30 am to 10:30 am
September and October classes will be set up at the end of August
If you have a friend or neighbor who might like to participate in these classes, please pass this information on to them. If you have questions, email Chad, or talk to any of the Master Naturalists listed above.
