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Wild About Houston Short Film Screening Wednesday, 6:30 pm - HNPAT Monthly Meeting Co-presenters for this event are: Houston - NPAT,…Read more of this >>
Conservation Easement Workshop FRIDAY, 2pm to 5pm Co-Hosts: Cibolo Conservancy and the Hill Country Alliance Hill Country…Read more of this >>
Saturday, beginning at 7:30 am! Deer Park Prairie - Monthly Bird Survey Come join Damien Carey for the survey and learn about the…Read more of this >>
Discounted rate of $50 (or $20 Student Rate)
Co-hosts are: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, & Texas Wildlife Association. See Full Agenda/Registration Info for this Statewide Quail Symposium!
PRE-SYMPOSIUM FIELD DAY, Wednesday, August 16, Hailey Ranch, Abilene, TX
• Subject: "Habitat Management and Monitoring Techniques for Quail"
• Our graduating QuailMasters* class of 2017 will also be available to answer questions and assist with plant identification.
Thursday & Friday, August 17 & 18, MCM Elegante Hotel
Featuring a variety of speakers:
• From agency personnel to land managers and researchers, answering frequently asked questions regarding quail management in Texas!
• From quail research organizations!
• From experts, who will debate controversial topics, such as the "role of introduced plants in quail habitat" and "the viability of translocation for restoring wild populations".
*QuailMasters is a series of intensive, hands-on training sessions about quail habitat and the science of quail management in Texas. Landowners, hunters, quail enthusiasts, wildlife biologists, and others are invited to participate. The program is provided by the Texas Wildlife Association and the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.
The goal of this short film screening will be to "spotlight short (10 minutes or less) films" that focus on local conservation efforts or local wildlife/ecosystems.
We see this as a local complement to the Wild & Scenic Festivals that Citizens Environmental Coalition Houston and Bayou Land Conservancy are hosting.
We would love for you or your group to submit a film and make the screening! click here and fill out a short form.
This workshop was designed to provide farmers, ranchers and other landowners with effective tools and resources to help them deal with the issues inherent in passing family land on to future generations. Many landowners are concerned about conserving those special natural features on their family-owned property and maintaining the productivity of their land. Landowners face the challenge of increasing tax burdens associated with land ownership, including the potential impact of estate taxes on their heirs.
A CONSERVATION EASEMENT ("CE") is a tool available to help landowners steward and protect their land investment in the long term:
• One of the most flexible and effective means to protect private property.
• A voluntary legal agreement ensures a property will forever be conserved according to the landowner's wishes. (No public access is required.)
• Negotiated between the landowner and the land trust organization, (the responsible party for monitoring and enforcing the terms of the conservation easement agreement).
PRESENTATIONS: My Dream for My Land video, narrated by Bob Webster, Conservation Easement Basics and Income and Estate Tax Benefits of Donating a Conservation Easement, The Land Trust Role in the Conservation Easement Process, and Discussion with Conservation Easement Donors.
Pre-register/Ensure your seat & Preview the Program Agenda
- $20 per person (includes refreshments and a social following the workshop).
- DOORS OPEN at 1:30 pm; walk-ins are welcome!
Come join Damien Carey for the survey and learn about the bird life we have at DPP!
• These 1-day classes are part of the Native Landscaping Certification Program, the series teaches best practices for native plant landscaping – including wildlife habitat gardening.
• Classes are open to the public and intended to be useful both to homeowners and professionals:
• Three levels are offered; anyone may register for a Level 1 class! Level 1 is a prerequisite for the Level 2 and Level 3 classes; only participants who have completed Level 1 may attend Level 2 or Level 3: Level 1: Introduction to Native Landscapes; Level 2: Design & Development with Native Plants; Level 3: Installation and Maintenance of Native Landscapes.
• This link: includes a complete class list with locations, and online registration.
• Here are the scheduled Dates, Cities and Class Levels: 9/2 - Georgetown, Level 1; 9/16 - San Antonio, Level 1 ; 9/23- Georgetown, Level 1; 9/30 - Boerne, Level 3; 9/30 - Fredericksburg, Level 3; 10/7 - Canyon Lake, Level 1; 10/7 - Denton, Level 2; >10/14 - Southlake, Level 1; 10/14 - Houston Area, Level 1; 10/21 - San Antonio, Level 2; 10/28 - Southlake, Level 3; 11/4 - Houston Area, Level 3; 11/11 - Georgetown, Level 3; 11/12 - Dallas, Level 3.
Saturday from 9am-12pm Ready to enjoy a fall morning in Central Texas doing some serious birding!?? Be better prepared and more inspired - grab some binoculars and hit the trails! You'll learn birding skills that you'll use - even when you're not 'BIRDING'! Register Online
Tom and Patsy Inglet are two of the best birders in the region and present techniques that have helped them progress from amateurs to expert birders. They've trained thousands of birders of all ages to identify birds by sight, sound and flight. Cost: CNC Members: $20; Non-members: $25
Bring your own copy for the authors to sign!
More will be available to purchase after the presentation!
Our Chapter meetings are in Downtown San Antonio at 2809 Broadway Street, San Antonio, TX 78209: the San Antonio Parks & Recreation, Lions Field Adult & Senior Center's Community Room.
The annual event is sponsored by our Native Plant Society of Texas, Houston Chapter and by Texas Parks and Wildlife: REGISTER ONLINE via NPSOT link above: $40/non-NPSOT members; $35 for NPSOT members includes: Entry to native plant sale, Exhibits & Box lunch!
You will definitely want to meet our speakers and listen to their presentations:
Dan Worrall, Member of Harris County Historical Commission, "A Historical Perspective of the Native Landscape of West Houston: Its Settlement and Use by Early Area Pioneers, Disappearance, and Future";
Dr. John Abbott, Director of Museum Research and Collections for the University of Alabama, "Building a Pond to Attract a Diverse Array of Insects and Other Wildlife";
Ben Pfeiffer, founder of Firefly.org, "Fireflies of Texas: Glowing, Glowing, Gone";
Diana Foss, Biologist at Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, "Great Natives for Wildscapes Gardens".
Would you like some locally-collected native seed that is not available in the marketplace; or do you have some you'd like to share?
Bring your seed, other folks will bring there's, we'll bring ours & we'll mix & match seed.
We'll even have a limited supply of milkweed seed to share!
Join us as we learn about native grass & wildflower seed identification, swap seeds & mix-about!!
Brett Johnson, Urban Biologist for Dallas Parks & Recreation, will be our guest speaker.
He will speak about the progress and setbacks about the Blackland Prairie parcels at White Rock Lake, including Johnson grass and Queen Anne's lace control, privet clearing, mowing practices, Flag Pole Hill plans, and more.
Do you have an enthusiasm for or curiosity about insects? If so, we hope you will apply! Applications are being accepted! OPEN THIS LINK to apply for the 2017 Class.
Dear Master Volunteers:
• The purpose of the Entomology Specialist program is to provide advanced insect-related training.
• The goal of the Entomology Specialist program is not so much to produce entomology "experts", but to identify Master Volunteers who have received special training and are willing to support specific entomology-related programs or projects of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.
• To learn more about the Insect Specialist program, check out our website and Flickr Photostream showing prior years' training classes. All volunteers who complete the course and a minimum of 15 hours of volunteer time devoted to approved entomology projects will receive a pin (see above) and be designated as Entomology Specialists.
This year's training is hosted by two specialists stationed at the Dallas A&M AgriLife Center:
• Dr. Mike Merchant urban entomology specialist, and
• Dr. Allen Knutson, agricultural entomology specialist.
The program is a very packed three full days of training, from 1:00 pm Monday September 18, to noon on Thursday, September 21.
-Cost for the program is only $200 and will include some meals, snacks, and entomology supplies (Bugkit) for collecting and observing insects.
-Although we hope to accommodate everyone who applies, we want to keep the class size limited so everyone can get the most personal attention from our instructors. For this reason, there will be an application process this year. All applicants should know by mid-August whether you have been accepted for this year's class.) -If you are interested in applying, please go to the MVES 2017 announcement for agenda and application form.
-Audit an individual class day? Any volunteer who has previously completed the MVES training and would like to audit an individual class day this year is welcome. You will be charged a $20 fee per day which only applies to Tuesday and Wednesday classes ($40 for two days) to cover costs of meals, snacks and drinks (no collecting supplies). There are only 5 auditor slots available and they will be filled on a first-come first-served basis.
Michael E. Merchant, PhD, BCE
Professor and Extension Urban Entomologist
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
Follow me on Twitter: @mikemerchant
• Observe and identify pollinators.
• Share observations by posting to Instagram or iNaturalist.
• Participate in daily observation challenges.
• Pollinators - butterflies, bees & moths, bats, hummingbirds, wasps, flies, & beetles sustain native plant species, human food crops, and even crops for livestock.
It will be a great opportunity to come out and see the prairie in bloom!
Note: Bird survey starts at 7:30 am
We will have a bioblitz (monitoring of plants and animals) all morning or all day. Lunch, and various stations explaining DPP will be offered. Sign up sheets will be online shortly. (Learn about the history of the prairie and the flora and fauna that can be found there, see what our volunteers do every month, take a walk, visit our prairie booths, have lunch - enjoy!!)
For Deer Park Prairie Workday Participants,
For Prairie Visitors,
Bring your own copy for the authors to sign!
More will be available to purchase after the presentation!
• We are anxious to fill our vendor/exhibitor hall with your information and products! Our attendees are passionate about anything involving Texas nativeS, making this the venue for you to inform them about your organization, and sell them your products and services!
• COMPLETE AND RETURN NPSOT_2017_Symposium_Vendor_Form.pdf by 10-15-17.
Make plans to attend a gathering packed with diverse topics to explore and great colleagues and friends to learn and share with. Rally has all of the resources you want to take your conservation skills further.
Sam Houston Memorial Museum across street from campus of Sam Houston State University Our 2017 Symposium was moved from the traditional "3rd weekend in October" in order to avoid conflicts with other events.
OPPORTUNITIES to can assist us PRIOR TO SYMPOSIUM:
• with some aspect of symposium planning; organizing a photo contest, recruiting vendors and exhibitors, making catering arrangements, planning workshops and activities, coordinating volunteers, logistics/signs, planning the Friday night off-site dinner, assisting with field trips and tech advice/equipment set-up, and many other details.
• OCTOBER 15, 2017 - DEADLINE - CALL FOR EXHIBITORS AND VENDORS (COMPLETE AND RETURN NPSOT_2017_Symposium_Vendor_Form.pdf )
• Check NPSOT's website for Hotel info; there are a number of suitable hotels within a short distance of the University.)
Native Plant Society of Texas:
Office hours: Tuesday thru Friday 10:00am – 3:00 pm; or we can make an appointment.
320 W. San Antonio Street, Fredericksburg, TX
(Mail to: P.O. Box 3017, Fredericksburg, TX 78624-1929)
Telephone: 830.997.9272; Fax: 866.527.4918
NPAT will be a part of the next America's Grasslands Conference! It brings together researchers, natural resource professionals, farmers and ranchers, policy experts, and conservationists to discuss relevant issues related to the conservation of North America's grasslands.
We are very excited to announce a new partnership for this year with the Southern Plains and Prairies conference. While maintaining a national scope, this year's conference will also include some regionally focused sessions. The conference is co-hosted by the National Wildlife Federation, Coastal Prairie Partnership, Native Prairies Association of Texas, and Texas A&M University.
Come join other 'prairie enthusiasts' and meet our Presenter, Beth Clark.
Beth Clark and Sheila Condon co-founded Clark Condon, a Houston-based Landscape Architecture firm, in 1985. Clark Condon is an award-winning design firm specializing in commercial, corporate and municipal architecture project design. They focus on bringing clients creative and meaningful outdoor environments.
Beth has an extensive knowledge of plant materials and a special interest in design with native and perennial plants. She has worked with developers and corporations to include native plants and prairies as a part of the site development. Local project include Tesoro Corporate Headquarters, La Cantera Resort & Spa, and San Antonio River Walk Museum Reach. Beth will present the design and establishment of a prairie on the north side of Houston for the Springwoods Development that included over 20 acres of native and prairie planting. The presentation will also cover plant selection, installation methods, and an analysis of maintenance costs and water usage. The Springwoods Development project received a state ASLA award.
Beth is a graduate of Texas A&M University where she received her Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture. She is a registered landscape architect, ASLA member, and LEED-AP certified.
Beth serves as vice-president of NPAT's Houston Chapter.
NPAT's San Antonio Chapter meets Downtown - in the Community Room of San Antonio's Parks & Recreation, Lions Field Adult & Senior Center, (2809 Broadway Street, San Antonio, TX 78209).
[DIRECTIONS to Center: ENTER parking lot near Broadway & Mulberry: drive is one-way; ample parking in front with additional parking lot to the south. The Lions Field Adult & Senior Center Building is mostly stone with green fencing around the front patio.]
Meet us at the Georgetown Library Classroom (2nd Fl) 402 W. 8th Street, Georgetown, TX 78626
Lan Shen will be presenting on the concept of "9 Natives" developed by Jaime Gonzales of the Katy Prairie Conservancy & Coastal Prairie Partnership (CPP), to encourage the use of local native plants. She will be talking about all phases of promoting the 9-Natives concept in the Greater Houston area:
• from the initial 9-Natives design contest
• to developing practical 9-Natives landscape plans by Clark Condon Associates, a Houston architecture firm.
This project began as a contest, sponsored by CPP & Houston-NPAT, to design a garden landscape for homeowners using 9 native plants that (as either plants or seeds) could be purchased.
• The hope was this project would also be a means to encourage local nurseries to carry these native plants for sale.
• Lan was one of the two winners of the FIRST "9-Natives Contest" in Houston; she will discuss her award winning design and how this concept of using 9 natives can be applied to other cities to encourage the use of native plants in home and public gardens.
• Lan will provide information on the 9 native plants proposed for the greater Houston area and talk about growth requirements for some Central Texas native species currently available at local nurseries.
• It is hoped that this example of citizen participation in furthering the use of natives in urban gardens will inspire those in the Central Texas area to develop plans of their own design using the same guidelines developed in Houston and perhaps offer a similar contest to encourage native landscape designs for the Central Texas area.
Our Presenter, Lan Shen
• is the past 3-year President of the Houston NPAT Chapter;
• the Activity Coordinator for Lawther-Deer Park Prairie, Deer Park, TX; and
• a Master Naturalist in the Gulf Coast region of Texas.
Katy Prairie Conservancy is teaming up with co-hosts:
Citizens Environmental Coalition-Houston; Bayou Preservation; Texas Children in Nature - Houston; Galveston Bay Estuary Program, and Environmental Educators Exchange.
This will be a great opportunity for classroom teachers, volunteers, homeschoolers, Texas Master Naturalists, scout leaders, and others to get resources for teaching about local ecosystems, wildlife, gardening, environmental issues, air and water quality, climate, environmental justice, and more!
RSVP to either:
-Glenn Merkord @firstname.lastname@example.com or call him at 936-827-7978 or
-Lan Shen @firstname.lastname@example.com.
-Check our DPP Calendar for last minute changes.
-We DO NOTIFY RSVP recipients if scheduling changes are made.
DPP 'house on the prairie' is at 1222 E. Purdue Lane, Deer Park 77536.
YOU KNOW THE DRILL, WE'RE IN A NEIGHBORHOOD: Please do not park along the curb, directly in front of our neighbors' houses.
Fort Worth NPAT Chapter Monthly Meetup
Bob's presentaion will deal with
• the detailed history of restoration attempts at the 72-acre nature preserve.
• Removal of invasives, both chemically and via solarization, the use of a "no till drill",
• using a greenhouse to start seedlings,
• irrigation techniques,
• seed choices,
• mowing techniques and other aspects of native grass and wild flower restoration are discussed.
• Recent focus on restoring habitat for Monarch butterflies and bees is highlighted.
Meet us at the City of San Antonio's Lions Field Adult and Senior Center
Lan Shen will be presenting on the concept of "9 Natives" developed by Jaime Gonzales of the Katy Prairie Conservancy & Coastal Prairie Partnership (CPP), to encourage the use of local native plants. She will be talking about all phases of promoting the 9-Natives concept in the Greater Houston area:
• from the initial 9-Natives design contest
• to developing practical 9-Natives landscape plans by Clark Condon Associates, a Houston architecture firm.
This project began as a contest, sponsored by CPP & Houston-NPAT, to design a garden landscape for homeowners using 9 native plants that (as either plants or seeds) could be purchased.
• The hope was this project would also be a means to encourage local nurseries to carry these native plants for sale.
• Lan was one of the two winners of the FIRST "9-Natives Contest" in Houston; she will discuss her award winning design and how this concept of using 9 natives can be applied to other cities to encourage the use of native plants in home and public gardens.
• Lan will provide information on the 9 native plants proposed for the greater Houston area and talk about growth requirements for some Central Texas native species currently available at local nurseries.
• It is hoped that this example of citizen participation in furthering the use of natives in urban gardens will inspire those in the Central Texas area to develop plans of their own design using the same guidelines developed in Houston and perhaps offer a similar contest to encourage native landscape designs for the Central Texas area.
Our Presenter, Lan Shen
• is the past 3-year President of the Houston NPAT Chapter;
• the Activity Coordinator for Lawther-Deer Park Prairie, Deer Park, TX; and
• a Master Naturalist in the Gulf Coast region of Texas.
SA NPAT chapter meetings will RESUME the 1st TUESDAY, August 1, 2017, at 7 p.m. at this location.
Meet us at the Bayside Seafood Restaurant.
Their "Event Room" has been reserved for "NPAT".
Take a look at the Bayside Seafood Menu!
Location: 4202 N Navarro St, Victoria, TX 77901, at the corner of Fillmore Avenue and Navarro Street (Hwy 77).
• We invite you to join friends and neighbors, meet new ones, and enjoy a seafood dinner!
• Meet Barbara and learn the process of formally becoming an NPAT chapter!
• We also will discuss conservation efforts and opportunities for restoring and sustaining our valuable Texas Prairie lands!
• Everyone is welcome, landowner or not!
1222 E Purdue Ln, Deer Park, TX 77536, USA (map)
Discover the beauty and diversity of the native prairies across Texas and learn tips on how to create your own miniature wildscape at home.
FREE - PLEASE REGISTER HERE - Join us at North Haven Gardens!
Discover the beauty and diversity of the native prairies across Texas and learn tips on how to create your own miniature wildscape at home.
North Haven Gardens
National Pollinator Week:
• was founded and is led by the Pollinator Partnership dedicated exclusively to the protection and promotion of pollinators and their ecosystems.
• is a time to celebrate pollinators and spread the word about what you can do to protect them!
• is a critical event to draw major attention to the importance Native Pollinators—bees, butterflies, moths, bats and birds—play to the world, their status, and how essential they are to people, food, the economy and ecosystems!
Dozens of conservation organizations across the U.S. formed the National Pollinator Garden Network "NPGN" in 2014 and launched the Million Pollinator Garden Challenge, a call to action to preserve and create gardens and landscapes that help revive the health of bees, butterflies, birds, bats and other pollinators across America. It is a response to President Barack Obama's federal strategy to promote the health of pollinators by restoring or enhancing millions of acres of land for pollinators.
Native pollinators can be two to three times as effective at pollinating agricultural crops as non-native honeybees. They need native plants and natural landscapes to survive!
We've summarized how two well-known NPGN participants responsed to the 'call to action': The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and the National Wildlife Federation.
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center created:
• Support Monarchs Through Project Milkweed to increase abundance of native milkweeds, by collecting & distributing seeds of NATIVE TEXAS MILKWEEDS to local growers so they can grow and promote local milkweed availability.
• Become a Milkweed Grower - Growers participating in Project Milkweed are expected to grow a new generation of milkweeds from the seeds they receive from the Wildflower Center and then use these plants as a starter population to increase seed production.
• How Pollinators Help Cotton Farmers - According to a study of South Texas by The University of Texas at Austin: increasing the diversity of pollinator species, including bees, flies and butterflies, can dramatically increase cotton production. Increasing the diversity of pollinators could boost cotton production by up to 18 percent, yielding an increase in annual revenue of more than $1.1 million.
• Browse Pollinator-Friendly Plants by Region or Insect Special Collections section of the Native Plant Information Network. They post lists of native plants recommended for various purposes; researchers can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.
NWF created:
• Mayors Monarch Pledge –This map shows participating cities and their commitments across the U.S. and a tri-national agreement with Canada and Mexico, to increase habitat for the monarch butterfly and other native pollinators. We've captured a portion of the map identifying the Participating Texas Cities!
• Certified Habitat Program -owners/managers provide native plant habitat, food water, shelter and places to rear young for all types of wild creatures including pollinators.
• Butterfly Heroes Program provides seed packets and garden starter kits to youth groups, families and children to create monarch and pollinator gardens in communities across the U.S.
• Native Plant Finder helps gardeners and habitat managers identify plants and trees for their locale that have high pollinator and wildlife value.
• Garden for Wildlife Program offers tools and a strategy that reduces reliance on insecticides and herbicides across the nation.
Create pollinator gardens and manage existing gardens for pollinators; follow the Pollinator Partnership's lead and learn from them!
• Andy Newman, Mitigation Banking Program Manager from Harris County Flood Control District will be speaking about the challenges of restoring our Texas rice fields to viable prairie ecosystems.
• HNPAT's June Meeting will be at: Cherie Flores Garden Pavilion at Hermann Park Directions and Parking.
The primary mission of restoration projects is the reestablishment of native plant communities utilizing historic literature and existing undisturbed habitats as species composition guidelines. Harris County Flood Control District is currently restoring two different coastal prairies. While the objective on both properties is the same, restoration of wet prairies, the methods vary. This talk will detail the differences and similarities of converting a loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) plantation and old rice/cattle allotment into functional coastal prairie.
Andy Newman's primary responsibility is the restoration of wetlands and streams to provide no-net loss of waters and wetlands in accordance with Section 404 of the Clean Water Act for all HCFCD projects. Properties managed include a variety of habitats including bottomland hardwood forests, prairies, emergent marshes, and pine savannahs. In addition to restoration, Mr. Newman has experience with wetland ecology, bird biology, identification of sedges and grasses, aquatic insects, and vegetation community classification.
Chisholm Trail Community Center, 4936 McPherson Blvd, Fort Worth, TX 76123
• Participants may bring their own bike or rent one of ours.
• Take advantage of our brand new trail, get fresh air, exercise and social opportunities with family, friends and neighbors!
For more info: Call 817/392-8070 or go to http://fortworthtexas.gov/chisholmtrailcc/
Native pollinators can be two to three times as effective at pollinating agricultural crops as non-native honeybees. They need native plants and natural landscapes to survive!
National Pollinator Week:
• was founded and is led by the Pollinator Partnership dedicated exclusively to the protection and promotion of pollinators and their ecosystems.
• is a time to celebrate pollinators and spread the word about what you can do to protect them!
• is a critical event to draw major attention to the importance Native Pollinators—bees, butterflies, moths, bats and birds—play to the world, their status, and how essential they are to people, food, the economy and ecosystems!
Dozens of conservation organizations across the U.S. formed the National Pollinator Garden Network "NPGN" in 2014 and launched the Million Pollinator Garden Challenge, a call to action to preserve and create gardens and landscapes that help revive the health of bees, butterflies, birds, bats and other pollinators across America. It is a response to President Barack Obama's federal strategy to promote the health of pollinators by restoring or enhancing millions of acres of land for pollinators.
We've highlighted two NPGN participants to illustrate nationwide responses to the 'call to action': The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and the National Wildlife Federation.
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center created:
• Support Monarchs Through Project Milkweed to increase abundance of native milkweeds, by collecting & distributing seeds of NATIVE TEXAS MILKWEEDS to local growers so they can grow and promote local milkweed availability.
• Become a Milkweed Grower - Growers participating in Project Milkweed are expected to grow a new generation of milkweeds from the seeds they receive from the Wildflower Center and then use these plants as a starter population to increase seed production.
• How Pollinators Help Cotton Farmers - According to a study of South Texas by The University of Texas at Austin: increasing the diversity of pollinator species, including bees, flies and butterflies, can dramatically increase cotton production. Increasing the diversity of pollinators could boost cotton production by up to 18 percent, yielding an increase in annual revenue of more than $1.1 million.
• Browse Pollinator-Friendly Plants by Region or Insect Special Collections section of the Native Plant Information Network. They post lists of native plants recommended for various purposes; researchers can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.
NWF created:
• Mayors Monarch Pledge –This map shows participating cities (Check out Texas!) and their commitments across the U.S. and a tri-national agreement with Canada and Mexico, to increase habitat for the monarch butterfly and other native pollinators.
• Certified Habitat Program -owners/managers provide native plant habitat, food water, shelter and places to rear young for all types of wild creatures including pollinators.
• Butterfly Heroes Program provides seed packets and garden starter kits to youth groups, families and children to create monarch and pollinator gardens in communities across the U.S.
• Native Plant Finder helps gardeners and habitat managers identify plants and trees for their locale that have high pollinator and wildlife value.
• Garden for Wildlife Program offers tools and a strategy that reduces reliance on insecticides and herbicides across the nation.
Create pollinator gardens and manage existing gardens for pollinators; follow the Pollinator Partnership's lead and learn from them!
Imagine you are a child visiting a prairie for the first time, and you are able to climb up onto a saddle beside a stand of big blue stem and other prairie grasses to experience how historic prairies grew as high as the horse's belly and went as far as the eye could see …with the help of virtual reality.
Students & visitors to the City of Meadows Place Prairie Pollinator Project will be able to do this & more!
Photo by: Colene Cabezas, Parks Director, City of Meadows Place
As a Monarch Host City, the City of Meadows Place's leadership selected approximately 13 acres of CenterPoint powerline ROW to restore to coastal prairie for their large acreage pollinator plot.
16 miles SW of Houston, the total area of Meadows Place is 0.9 square miles, and of that area they will create .02 square miles of pollinator habitat or 2.22% of their total city area.
• This project has significance to the entire Houston area as it is one of the first powerline (PL) right-of-ways (ROWs) in the area to be approved for pollinator habitat.
• This is one section of 7 contiguous miles of PL ROW which could be restored.
• This site will include significant PL ROW education as part of the project, which sets the tone for secondary use as pollinator habitat without compromising or forgetting the main purpose of PL ROWS.
The site runs through a city park, which will include an identification garden where residents can identify plants and insects without entering the ROW, as well as a wetland pollinator habitat.
It is next door to a city nature center which will include quail and pollinator education as part of their curriculum.
• Bob White Brigades will deliver quail education on-site.
• Students from nearby Meadows Elementary School will use the combination park, restored prairie and nature center to contribute to their science curriculum.
Partners donating time, money, grants, expertise, plants, seeds and supplies include:
Monarch Gateway, Native Prairies Association of Texas, Brazos River Prairie Chapter of Quail Forever, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Houston Wilderness, Wildlife Habitat Federation, Coastal Prairie Partnership, Meadows Home & Garden Club, Coastal Prairie Texas Master Naturalists; scouts, students and individuals.
We invite the continued participation of current and future partners.
Pat Merkord and I were joined by Tom Willard (Blackland Chapter) and Kelly Walker (Houston Chapter for our annual breeding bird survey on the weekend of May 20, 2017.
The area had just received about 8 inches of rain and there was water and mud everywhere! The creek was flowing and showed signs of having been up at least 15 feet. Because of the storm fronts and rain-cooled air, it turned out to be a much cooler weekend than I had expected.
Because of the cool temperatures, we didn't see any horned lizards or any other lizards (photo by Pat Merkord, Maddin Prairie, 2016).
However! the Couch's Spadefoot toad Scaphiopus couchii (left: photo Google.com)
and Great Plains Narrowmouth toads Gastrophryne olivacea (right: photo: Texas Parks and Wildlife) did put on quite a concert Friday and Saturday night in the ponds that were formed by all the rain. Amazing how fast they went into action!
This part of the state has been getting rain all spring, and it was apparent in the bird numbers. We had our usual summer residents in good numbers as well as the not-as-usual breeding birds like Dickcissels Spiza americana
and LeConte's Sparrows Ammodramus leconteii (photo: Cornell Labs).
Of course, Kelly was keeping track of our butterflies and other insects.
We made a couple of trips to a blooming lotebush Ziziphus obtusifolia
that was covered in insects of all kinds.
(photo of lotebush blooms by Louis R. Nugent, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center)
Kelly and Pat took lots of photos (to be posted soon).
Thanks to our great volunteers, we're getting a very nice collection.
Perhaps someday we can start a photo gallery for Maddin Prairie.
It is on my to-do list! -Kirsti Harms
FREE TO PUBLIC - MUST REGISTER BY June 20
Speakers and Topics:
• Charriss York, Green Stormwater Infrastructure Program Specialist:
"Collecting and cleansing stormwater runoff at home, the neighborhood, and schools"
• Mary Carol Edwards, Stormwater Wetland Program Specialist:
"Using wetlands in flood control basins for water quality and habitat"
• Marissa Llosa, Wetland Restoration Program Specialist:
"How large-scale wetland restoration benefits us all"
• Stephanie Hendrickson, WaterSmart Program Coordinator:
"Water-efficient landscapes to provide function and beauty"
Mr. Gomez is the Gardener at Fort Worth Botanic Garden's Tinsley/Rock Springs Garden section, located on one of the oldest city park lands and is designed as a North Central Texas Native Plant Garden using primarily plants native to the Western Cross Timbers.
Zach's presentation Monday evening will include:
1. Brief History of Rock Springs Woods;
2. Transformation to the Tinsley Garden;
3. The Garden Design, Renovation v. Restoration, Use of Native Plants;
4. The Future of the Tinsley Garden; and
5. The current Native Forest Ecological Restoration of South Woods and Lagoons.
Our presenter, Zach Gomez:
• has 20 years of experience working in virtually all aspects of landscape horticulture, from retail nursery, golf course operations, organic vegetable production, and landscape design and installation;
• has been instrumental in the final design, installation, and maintenance of Rock Springs since June 2015;
• his favorite hobby is to spend time with his two daughters hiking and hunting for plants around the area to propagate and introduce to the Garden.
• Join us as we welcome Barbara Keller-Willy!
• She continues to devote her time and share her knowledge of all things pollinator!
Our Northeast Texas Prairies Tour was so much fun last year, we're doing it again,
but this time we're taking a tour bus from Dallas south to Central Texas!
ENJOY short excursions in beautiful grasslands; most of which are not generally open to the public!
A chance to STAND IN AWE in a native prairie as it was before westward expansion.
We'll also LEARN about native prairie restorations and management.
BECOME INSPIRED on how to keep native prairies thriving for generations to come!
• We'll zip southward to near Temple (between Waco and Austin);
• Enjoy lunch in Salado (included in tour fee)
• We'll drive south to near Taylor (east of Round Rock).
• We'll then head north to Marlin (SE of Waco), where we'll visit a series of small Blackland Prairies.
• We'll travel west of Waco to tour an example of a Grand prairie.
• Heading toward home we'll enjoy dinner in West, TX (on your own dime).
• Many NPAT members living in Central Texas (closer to these prairies than the Dallas departure site) have expressed great interest in this opportunity to visit prairies!
• We've created a 3rd registration option enabling you to do just that! Please open the link above and register online by selecting the option to follow the tour bus in your private vehicle.
• Later in the month of May, we will send you information so you can make your plans, notify us where you'll join us, and we can define 'meet up' places & times!
• Wear loose hiking clothes and sturdy shoes for prairie walking.
• Bring a hat, bug repellant, and sunscreen.
• Binoculars might be a good idea and a 'back-up power' for your phone (a good idea for such a long day).
• Your favorite 'road snacks/beverages' and books/etc., will help pass the time while traveling;
DEPARTURE TIME: 7:00am our BUS LEAVES parking lot of Bath House Cultural Center, Dallas.
NPAT will provide maps and notes on each prairie.
Prairie #1: Burleson Prairie (pictured in photo above), Oenaville (east of Temple). Prairie Guide: Mickey Burleson, Owner of Burleson Prairie. This native prairie was restored by Mickey and her late husband, Bob Burleson. They spent decades recording prairie data, restoring hundreds of acres of native prairie, and focusing on state wide conservation efforts.
Lunch in Salado with Dolly Kunz Wilson. (Included in tour fee.)
Prairie #2: Granger Lake Prairie, Granger Lake Park, Taylor. Prairie Guide: Pat Merkord, Executive Director, NPAT. Pat will explain restoration procedures taken on this native tall grass prairie site, planted in 1994 in a cooperative effort between NPAT, Texas Parks and Wildlife, and the Army Corps of Engineers.
Prairie #3: Lehmann Prairie and Prairie #4: Riesel Prairie (Both prairies are near each other in the Marlin area.) Prairie Guide: Pat Merkord, Executive Director, NPAT.
• The Lehmann Prairie and the Riesel Prairie are about 10 miles apart.
• The Lehmann Prairie is an 11-acre remnant prairie protected by a conservation easement.
• The Riesel Prairie is a 5-acre remnant prairie owned by NPAT.
• Both are excellent examples of the native tall grass lands that were extremely prevalent in Central Texas area prior to European settlement.
Prairie #5: Simpson Prairie, near Crawford Prairie Guides: Marliss and Mike Williams.
• Mike was instrumental with the prairie restoration work with President George W. and First Lady Laura Bush's Crawford ranch.
• The Simpson Prairie is a remnant of the Grand Prairie (Lampasas Cut Plains of the Cross Timbers and Prairies) on a gently sloping hillside.
• The Williams have allowed the prairie to return to what it was like prior to overgrazing.
• This prairie is a 100 acre tract with 75 acres protected by a conservation easement with NPAT.
Dinner in downtown West - (on your own dime). Each of these restaurants is within a block of other two on North Main Street, West, TX:
1. Pichas Czech-American Restaurant
2. Two Amigos Mexican Restaurant
3. West Station Roadhouse Restaurant
RETURN: 10:30 to 11pm: to the parking lot of Bath House Cultural Center, Dallas.
Questions or need more information?
If you need additional TOUR INFORMATION plese call: Leigh Ann Ellis of the Blackland NPAT Chapter in Dallas: 214.321.7159.
FULL DETAILS on each Prairie, our Guides, and the Itinerary follow 'Events' in date order......
• We have reserved a bus & will DEPART parking lot of Dallas' Bath House Cultural Center for Central TX.
• We'll visit amazing prairies, some have never been opened to the public!
Prairie #1: Burleson Prairie, E. of Temple; Prairie #2: Granger Lake Prairie, Taylor; Prairie #3: Lehmann Prairie & Prairie #4: Riesel Prairie, both are near Marlin; and Prairie #5: Simpson Prairie, near Crawford.
• NPAT will provide everyone with maps and detailed notes on each prairie.
• Residents of Central TX, much closer to the prairies than Dallas, may register and meet up /follow the bus tour in private vehicles. Those registered to do so will receive "meet-up" and "timeline" info so you can make your plans, and notify us where you'll join the tour!
YOU STILL HAVE TIME TO PLANT NATIVE PLANTS in your yard or garden or prairie!
Visit native plant sales at botanical gardens, nature centers, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, local nurseries specializing in plants native to your area, and the local chapter of Native Plant Society of Texas.
UPCOMING EVENTS (scroll thru News & Events chronological postings)
05/24, Houston, Houston NPAT, "Dragonflies of the Texas Prairie", Bob Honig, Katy Prairie Conservancy & WALK thru Hermann Pk!
05/26, Rio Vista, (S of Ft Worth) TX Conservation Partnership Landowner Workshop: "Pollinators", Phillip Quast, NPAT Program Director.
05/27, Pilot Point, Ray Roberts Lake St Pk, Isle du Bois Unit FIELD TRIP led by Jeff Quayle (9aM-1pM).
05/30, Dallas Blackland NPAT, "Prairies of North Central Texas", Jason Singhurst, NPAT Board Member.
06/03, Central Texas Blackland NPAT's 2nd Annual Texas Prairies Tour.
06/07, Georgetown, Cen-Tex NPAT, "Tall Grasses", Pat and Glenn Merkord (Pat is NPAT's Exec. Dir.).
06/12, Fort Worth Botanic Garden, Fort Worth NPAT, "Native Installation". Zach Gomez, Head Gardener, FW Botanic Garden.
06/13, San Antonio, San Antonio NPAT, "Mycorrhizae & Milkweed - Symbiotic Relationship Drives Pollinator Habitat Success", Barbara Keller-Willy, NPAT Board President.
06/28, Fort Worth, Chisholm Trail Park PEDALING THE PRAIRIE – BIKE RIDE (6pm-7pm).
07/20, Fort Worth, Chisholm Trail Park PRAIRIE DAZE - GUIDED SCAVENGER HUNT (7-8:30pm).
Pat Merkord, Executive Director of NPAT, will address the Dallas Audubon Group at Half Price Books, 5803 NW Hwy, Dallas, 75231
Please reserve this evening for "meeting and learning" as the Dallas Audubon Group welcomes Pat Merkord!
Pat's presentation is an adaptation of her "Prairies of the Great Northern Plains," which she presented to the Blackland NPAT Chapter and will present to the CenTex NPAT Chapter.
• Participants should arrive at 8:30 am - Tour begins at 9 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m.
• Clymer Meadow Preserve 6210 CR 1140, Celeste, Texas 75423 is one of North Texas' most RARE remnants that has avoided the plow of agriculture and concrete of urban development. You'll get a look back in time to the natural rolling grasslands of North Texas on this rich, colorful prairielands of Clymer Meadow Preserve!!
• PLEASE COME PREPARED!! Cameras, sunscreen, hat, long pants, hiking boots, bottled water, sack lunch, and insect repellent are recommended.
This 200-acre conservation easement, southeast of San Antonio, is owned by Don Kirchoff and his siblings Scott, Susan, and Brenda. (Don also serves on NPAT's Board of Directors.) The Kirchoff Family has put a great deal of effort into restoring their prairie, and they often welcome area botanists, ecologists, and interns to conduct their individual surveys and research projects on 'Kirchoff Prairie'. On Saturday, May 13, the Kirchoff Family will welcome all who wish to participate.
We will be on-site from 9am to 5pm; so join us for all or a portion of the day (whatever your schedule allows)! All are welcome; you'll have a chance to select activities from a number of choices, each led by an expert!
This information should enable your successful/timely arrival at the 'Kirchoff Prairie':
PHYSICAL ADDRESS: 1444 C.R. 210, Floresville, TX 77814
Open & print: Mr. Kirchoff's Map to Kirchoff Family Farm
This event has been designed as a Volunteer "Hands-On" Training Event. You may choose to learn how to control brush, identify invasive species, identify native grasses & forbs, grow native plants, create habitat for wildlife, transplant native plants, observe a living firebreak, and much more!
Some may work to remove excess grasses from the 'green firebreak', cut semi-woodies, dig up clumps of 'tall grasses' (to be transplanted in a different area of the prairie), maintain the Burrowing Owls' (Athene cuniculariaroost) roost sites, lay down plant barrier for future milkweed transplanting, load trays with wildflower seeds. (Check out Our Blog to see Chris Best at work in April, 2017!)
We will be sure each of us TOURS THE PRAIRIE!!
Prepare to be in the Prairie:
-Bring insect repellant!!!
-Bring your lunch, snacks, drinks; we will have water available.
-Bring your lawn chair. (Great for enjoying the prairie from a different perspective.)
-Be sure you wear a hat, long pants, long-sleeved shirt and sturdy shoes or boots (sunglasses are optional).
-Bring work gloves, hand saws, pruners, or other small hand tools (label with your name).
-You can expect to encounter some uneven terrain, biting insects and plants with thorns!
Master Naturalist Program 'Volunteer trainees' (participating or interested in participating) Please refer to this site PRIOR TO THE EVENT: Alamo Area Master Naturalist Program.
The Grassfed Sustainability Group's (GSG) holistic goal is to create a financially viable organization that teaches Holistic Management practices to landowners, managers and producers throughout the Southwest United States.
-Over 1100 acres featuring remnant and restored mixed-grass prairie, mesquite savanna, and riparian areas. A tributary of Champion Creek passes through the property and features a diverse riparian area.
-LODGING: "It might be wise to rent a state park cabin (with A/C) Lake Colorado City State Park; it may be pretty hot by then. Looks like summer may hit early this year. Y'all are all welcome to come out!"
WHAT WILL WE SEE? Here are a few bird photos taken on Maddin Prairie Preserve by NPAT's Executive Director, Pat Merkord, during recent seasons!
Juvenile Great Horned Owls hunting near their nest Adult Great Horned Owl
Pyrrhuloxia (Cardinalis sinuatus) White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)
Image courtesy of Sophienburg Museum and Archives, New Braunfels, TX
(Ferdinand Lindheimer: Born 05/21/1801, Frankfurt, Germany; Died 12/02/1879, New Braunfels, TX.)
Program Presented by Susan James, Microbiologist
• This program will focus on the years that Lindheimer devoted to collecting botanical specimens in Texas, his challenges, and the historical context of his work.
• Susan has a life-long interest in natural history, particularly botany, and a degree in microbiology with graduate studies in electron microscopy and cryo-ultramicrotomy. ("Which means that I looked at very cold, very thin slices of very small things!")
• She has done research and has patents in polymer chemistry.
• How does she put this to good use here in Central Texas? She is a Texas Master Naturalist, past president of local NPSOT chapter, a guide at Canyon Lake Gorge ; board member and gardener at Heritage Museum of the Texas Hill Country.
Location: 29.721194, -95.386778
Cherie Flores Garden Pavilion at Hermann Park
HNPAT, welcomes Bob Honig from Katy Prairie Conservancy. He will be speaking about the beautiful dragonflies we see around us. After Bob's talk attendees will go out into Hermann Park and identify dragonflies hovering just outside the pavilion!
Photo by John Abbott.
• Texas Conservation Partnership is a collaborative effort of several public and private natural resource organizations.
• This workshop is OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
• NPAT's Program Director, Phillip Quast, will present a talk on "Pollinators"!
• Admission $25; • Lunch is provided; • CEUs are available for TDA Licenses.
(This meeting was rescheduled from our usual 2nd Tuesday of each month.) Location: The Point and Pavilion at CC Young Senior Living Center
Blackland NPAT is honored to welcome Jason Singhurst to our chapter meeting!
-Mr. Singhurst has been a Botanist/Plant Ecologist at Texas Parks & Wildlife Department for over 20 years.
-He coordinated a 95-county tallgrass prairie mapping project in Texas with a partnership with NPAT. As a result of this mapping project partnership, Jason joined the NPAT board and has assisted with the Property, Acquisition, and Management ('PAM') Team.
-He has described five plant species new to science that are endemic (restricted) to Texas and co-authored the book Rare Plants of Texas.
-He has an extensive knowledge of the flora of Tallgrass Prairies.
-Recently, he developed an Identification of Milkweeds Field Guide in support of the Texas Milkweeds and Monarchs iNaturalist mapping project.
We hope will be able to join us Tuesday evening and meet and learn from Jason!
Social & Refreshments begin at 6:30,
Announcements will follow at 6:45;
Presentation will begin at 7:00.
We welcome Biologist, Robert Reeves, who will present "Indiangrass Prairie Preserve" (The Indiangrass Wildlife Sanctuary is adjacent to Lake Walter E. Long, 10203 Lindell Ln, Austin, TX 78724.)
Robert Reeves has lived in the Austin area for 25 years. He has worked at the Texas Department of State Health Services for 39 years. Robert attended Stephen F. Austin State University, where he earned a Bachelor's Degree in biology.
Robert has been a birder for over 40 years, and became interested in native prairies while conducting Project Prairie Birds, a survey of wintering grassland bird species, at Indiangrass from 2001-2003. Robert also led a Travis Audubon Society field trip to Indiangrass in 2014.
His presentation will cover the history of the property, how it's been managed in recent years, and the possibilities for restoring it to a more natural state.
Indiangrass, Yellow indiangrass; (Sorghastrum nutans) is a tall, bunching sod-former, 3 to 8 feet in height, with broad blue-green blades and a large, plume-like, soft, golden-brown seed head.
The showy perennial's fall color is deep orange to purple.
This is a beautiful grass with a somewhat metallic golden sheen to its flowering parts.
It is an important associate in the tallgrass prairies and is relished by livestock.
It appears to be favored by occasional flooding and repeated burning and sometimes forms nearly pure stands in the lowlands.
A warm-season grass with rich gold-and-purple sprays of flowers and seeds in the fall.
A pollinator conservation conference for Texas and beyond!
NPAT IS PROUD TO BE AMONG MANY EVENT PARTNERS co-sponsors presenting some of the best and brightest of minds and committed professionals in pollination conservation today! We encourage you to attend and absorbe the valuable information offered over this weekend! Check out the RESOURCES for this conference. (Complete lists of experts and evening outings: texaspollinatorpowwow.org.)
Program for this 2-day Conference + Night Time and Sunday Outings:
• Friday and Saturday: Includes dozens of highly-respected and qualified horticulturists, biologists, photographers, ornithologists, entomologists, anthropologists, agroecologists, and ecologists will be at the Cole Art Center, Clay Bolt Social Reception and Pollinators of the World Art Exhibit, Stephen F Austin State University.
• After Friday's speakers, enjoy BAT NIGHT 7:00 – 11:00 pm: USFS Experimental Forest: acoustic hikes and mist-netting; Co-leaders: Dr. Chris Comer, Dr. Merlin Tuttle.
• End the day Saturday at the MOTH NIGHT/CAT WALK 7:00 - 11:00 pm: SFASU Native Plant Center: moth traps, identification, specimen-gathering, photography, UV night hikes; Co-leaders: Dr. Dan Bennett, Dr. Doug Tallamy.)
• SUNDAY will be BOGGY SLOUGH FIELD DAY 9:00am – 3:00pm: Teams will be led by ento/biologist/botanists. Make your observations, take notes, collect, sample, etc. You may leave as you please.
• Bath House Cultural Center at White Rock Creek
• Host: North Texas Master Naturalist
• FREE family-oriented community event focused on Texas flora and fauna and the use of native plants in home landscapes as disease and drought-resistant alternatives to non-native species. Native plants and grasses have been an important part of Texas history. Birds, animals and insects all depend on these native plants to survive. We will have lots of animals, birds, bugs, snakes, and plants.
• You will enjoy joining guided 30-minute "wildflower and prairie walks" with experts and informative speakers!
• Over 30 demonstration and information booths.
• First time: artists of nature-themed works will be there!
• We'll once again have our popular raffle with gifts provided by event sponsors.. (RAFFLE Tickets are $1 each or 7 for $5. You could win an exciting gift!)
Join Susan Conaty and Kirsti Harms (Past President of NPAT) for a walk to see what's blooming and buzzing around this 400-acre remnant of coastal prairie.
(Amon G. Carter, Jr. - Downtown YMCA, 512 Lamar St., 76102)
For thousands of years Monarchs and other butterflies have been a symbol of spiritual transformation.
In more recent times they have become the icon for physical transformation of the landscape.
The Monarch decline amplified a host of much larger issues and has become a symbol of multinational cooperation in restoring and conserving native plant habitat for all pollinators.
We'll follow the history of the Monarch populations and how this enigmatic insect was able to capture the hope and great efforts of three nations.
Our Presenter, Cathy Downs:
• Cathy has worked with butterfly conservation and habitat since she became a Hill Country Chapter Master Naturalist in 2005. She partnered with Monarch Watch as a Monarch Conservation Specialist in 2012 and loves to travel through Texas providing outreach and education.
• Her favorite passion is working with children in the field, and she encourages everyone she trains to bring children into the garden with them…"they have better eyes, smaller hands and they are closer to the ground" for monitoring larva and using nets! Cathy proudly claims to have provided over 65,000 children with natural science or outdoor education.
• Cathy also currently chairs the "Bring Back the Monarchs to Texas" (BBMT) program for Native Plant Society of Texas and is a certified Monarch Larval Monitoring Project Educator.
She was born and raised in New England and retired to Comfort, TX in 2004 from a 30 year career owning and operating her own retail businesses.
Come early, order your dinner, and enjoy meeting up with friends and neighbors at: Longhorn Cafe, 17625 Blanco Road, San Antonio, 78232.
Hello, San Antonio Prairie Enthuiasts and Congratulations!!
We celebrate our achievement in formally creating this new NPAT chapter!! We can sustain our momentum by providing learning opportunities at our monthly meetings and sponsoring 'extracurricular' events; i.e., workshops, prairie walks, etc. As conscientious landowners we value our land, share our 'love of the land', and seek to enhance our own knowledge and share it with others.
6:15-6:30-Come to the 'Meeting Room' and order your meal when you arrive; average dinners are between $10 and $12. We'll dine during the meeting.
6:30-6:40-Report on April 4 Meeting: Pat Merkord, Executive Director of NPAT.
6:40-7:00-Announcements and Discussion: Pat Merkord, Executive Director of NPAT. (Our next meeting is June 6; location to be determined.)
7:00-8:00-Presentation: "A Prairie Restoration Toolbox", Mr. Chris Best.
8:00-8:30-Discussion and Q & A: Led by Chris Best, Pat Merkord & Don Kirchoff.
8:30-Adjournment (Cafe' closes at 9pm).
NOTE: Our $50 Meeting Room deposit will be refunded if 20 meals are ordered!
Admire the transitions to dispilays of orange, gold, yellow, green, fusha, and white! The varieties of species, shapes and sizes are "awe-inspiring"—- Milkweed, Indian Blanket, Sunflowers, Daisies, Winecup, and more…!!
See amazing photos of what's in season in Central Texas by accessing Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center weekly chronicle for wildflower updates!
Seasonal blooms are on display, as shown in this semi-landscape from the demonstration garden at the Williamson County Landfill in Hutto. You can barely see the Bluebonnets gone to seed below the Monarda citriodora (horsemint, lemon bee balm) and other wildflowers. (Photo by Marilyn Perz.)
What an expanse! You would have to stop to appreciate this mix of warm colors! You can still see some Bluebonnets with a few 'reds' and 'fushias' thrown in for good measure. (Near New Berlin, TX , S.E. of San Antonio)! Rob Greebon Photography
This topic generated a great deal of interest throughout organizations in Tarrant County during previous months! FWNPAT created the platform to offer open discussion among public and private property owners and managers. The panel was to explore these questions and facilitate networking: 1. What motivates people to learn about and save their local natural heritage? 2. How can folks connect to other like-minded conservationists?
FWNPAT selected these individuals to serve on the panel:
• Mr. Nathan Loftice – Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Sustainability & Environmental Div.
• Mr. Don Young – Founder and President, Friends of Tandy Hills Natural Area;
• Dr. Greta Bowling – Faculty Member, Tarrant County College Northwest Campus;
• Dr. Jeanmarie Stiles - Faculty Member, Tarrant County College Northeast Campus;
• Dr. Jeanmarie Stiles, Faculty Member, , Tarrant County College South Campus;
• Mr. Marc Villanueva – Lead Groundskeeper, Tarrant County College Southeast Campus;
• Ms. Pat Merkord – Executive Director, Native Prairies Association of Texas.
Our thanks to our Moderator, Ms. Suzanne Tuttle, Treasurer of FW-NPAT and recently retired Manager of the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge. She made so many of the connections with the members of the panel. We appreciate you, Suzanne, for performing the duties so well, keeping discussions on track, and ensuring we followed the platform.
• The discussion centered upon opportunities for panel members and their organizations to join together and share "best practices". As everyone agreed, there are many independent efforts in some phase of development; however, all felt that joining forces and looking for economies of scale could be beneficial.
• It was exciting to hear and see the interaction of the panel members and the audience. It was obvious there were lots of wonderful ideas being generated that could be turned into conceptual plans and all involved wanted the interaction to continue!
• Pat Merkord will meet with Linda Beranek, Ft. Worth Chapter V.P., in May, 2017, and begin discussions regarding planning a 'collaboration conference'. (Pat has been involved with such a gathering with the NPAT group in Houston.) We hope to bring together researchers and practitioners and other interested parties to continue our efforts to collaborate, conserve, observe and appreciate our native prairies!
• All of us were thrilled to hear that the TCC representatives are working with the eco-community at their respective campuses to move forward on this collaborative effort. The Fort Worth NPAT Chapter has volunteered to serve in any way to assist the Tarrant County College campuses in their efforts.
Join the Central Texas Master Naturalists on the Burleson Prairie, Blackland Prairie near Temple, Texas, replicated by Mickey and Bob Burleson.
• Bring your Sack lunch & drinking water (and chair/blanket if you want to lunch on the prairie).
• Wear closed-toe shoes, comfortable/protective outdoor clothing (long pants/shirt),
• REMEMBER to bring your: HAT,SUNSCREEN, FIELD GUIDES, BUG REPELLANT.
Our speaker is Stan Graff of Northeast Texas Prescribed Burn Alliance and the Great Plains Fire Science Exchange. Mr. Graff will speak on the many ways fire can be used to restore health and manage prairies, including prescribed burns and patch burns.
Tuesday, April 4: Deadline to make hotel reservations
Wednesday, April 26: Online registration ENDS
Friday thru Sunday, May 4-7: Nacogdoches, Texas Pollinator PowWow
Join us at the Longhorn Cafe, 17625 Blanco Rd, 78232. Sit down with neighbors, celebrate the formation of NPAT's newest chapter, the San Antonio NPAT Chapter!
6:30 p.m. Please order your food when you arrive (average meal will cost you between $10 & $15). We will take advantage of every moment of these 2 hours, so we will will dine during reports, presentation and discussion.
7:00 p.m. Report on Meeting 03/07/17. Set up Steering Committee; Announce Next Meeting and Upcoming Events;
7:30 p.m. Presentation: NPAT's Prairie Preserves, Conservation Easements, and Volunteer Opportunities;
8:00 p.m. Discussion: Partnerships, Collaborations, and Future Opportunities for Projects;
8:30 p.m.- Adjournment. (The restaurant closes at 9:00 p.m.)
There is no need to preregister; we encourage you to join us if you can; even if you arrive at 7:00! The Longhorn Cafe has added an incentive: if at least 20 attendees order meals the prepaid "$50 meeting room reservation fee" will be refunded!
Everyone is welcome to join us for Social & Refreshments beginning at 6:30, Announcements will follow at 6:45, and our Presentation will begin at 7:00.
Pat Merkord, Executive Director of the Native Prairies Association of Texas, will present a photographic journey to little known prairies of Canada, North & South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa!
Future Meeting Topics include:
"Amphibians of Prairies & Savannahs";
"Quail Populations on Texas Prairies";
"Maddin Prairie Preserve: A Restoration Success Story";
"Plant Propagation & Creating Pollinator Gardens";
"Texas Prairies & How to Conserve Them";
"How to Restore Land for Small Landowners"; and
"Urban Green Space and How to Convert them to Pocket Prairies".
Future field trips to:
• Commons Ford Prairie Restoration Project, Austin,
• Indian Grass Prairie Preserve, Austin,
• Reisel Prairies, Falls County, near Marlin,
• Simpson Prairie, near Crawford, and
• Blackland Prairie Remnants in Milam, Burleson and Williamson Counties.
There is a groundswell developing among public/private property owners/managers in Tarrant County to identify, conserve, and restore native prairie remnants for a variety of reasons:
1. What motivates people to learn about and save their local natural heritage?
2. How can folks connect to other like-minded conservationists?
Our Panel of local prairie owners/managers will explore answers to these questions and facilitate networking:
• Mr. Nathan Loftice – Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Sustainability & Environmental Div.
• Mr. Don Young – Founder and President, Friends of Tandy Hills Natural Area;
• Dr. Greta Bowling – Faculty Member, Tarrant County College Northwest Campus;
• Dr. Jeanmarie Stiles - Faculty Member, Tarrant County College Northeast Campus;
• Ms. Floreen Henry - Faculty Member, Tarrant County College South Campus;
• Mr. Marc Villanueva – Lead Groundskeeper, Tarrant County College Southeast Campus;
• Ms. Pat Merkord – Executive Director, Native Prairies Association of Texas.
Our Moderator, Ms. Suzanne Tuttle: Treasurer of FW-NPAT and
recently retired Manager of the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge.
• Audience members are encouraged to actively engage in the discussion!
• Please join us – we expect a lively, informative evening!
This is an iNaturalist Challenge to see which city can document the most species! Join Texas Parks & Wildlife, Texas Master Naturalists, the Audubon Society, and other organizations (TPWD's link above provides more information and a complete list of Partners in each of the three Texas areas). Not only is this a competition between Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth, and the Greater Houston Area; cities across the nation are participating. Show them what we've got!
It is easy to participate: join an event or make observations on your own using the iNaturalist app.
Monitor each city's postings from April 14 to 18; monitor and compare Texas cities' posts: who has the most 'total observations' and the most 'individual species' on that city's City Nature Challenge project on iNaturalist?
JoAnn Collins is coordinating our representation:
• To SIGN UP for a time slot please select: JoAnn Collins.
• If you know of others who might like to take advantage of this opportunity, please share!
NPAT extends this request to: Cen-Tex NPAT, San Antonio NPAT, Houston NPAT, and Balcones NPAT Chapter Leaders, Please join fellow chapter leaders representing NPAT in our booth.
Proudly Reresent NPAT at EarthDay Texas!
• Some of our Fort Worth NPAT and Blackland (Dallas) NPAT chapter leaders have signed up. With enough volunteers, there will be plenty of time to experience EARTH DAY TX: visit other booths, do lots of networking, watch environmental movies and listen to very interesting talks! There are also several quality prairies to see if you decide to come help out!
• As chapter leaders and members we will benefit from sharing our experiences as well as learning more about other chapters.
• It's a prime opportunity to "extol the benefits of joining the oldest country club around", our "Prairie Country Club", and represent NPAT to an enormous crowd of like-minded individuals.
• It would be fun to go out Friday or Saturday night to network with each other as well.
Everything "Earth Day Texas" is on: earthdaytx.org:
• exciting opportunities, events, exhibits, instructions, networking and more.
• information on lodging; there is an official hotel, which may have rooms.
• this event is free, however parking is $10 (Dallas has several mass transit modes!)
We hope you will join fellow NPAT Chapter representatives at NPAT's booth for EARTH DAY TEXAS, an inspiring event attended by more than 150,000+ individuals!
Thank you,
Presention by Alice LeDuc, Ph.D. Botany, Adjunct Professor, Texas State University:
• Alice brings 16 years of teaching and research at 6 universities along with 24 years experience in public horticulture in gardens from Norfolk to Zilker.
• Discussing seed dormancy and non-dormancy she will tell us how you can artificially break dormancy to get the seed to germinate.
• We will also talk about how to put scarification and stratification to work for you; of special interest right now will be discussing Texas Milkweed propagation for Monarchs.
HNPAT welcomes Dr. Morgan Russell, Texas A&M Assistant Professor and Extension Range Specialist whose research has been focused on livestock grazing management and prescribed burning in semiarid environments.
In today's world, prairie maintenance and establishment seems a bit elusive:
• Fragmentation, fire suppression, woody species encroachment, and other factors constantly threaten our prairie systems.
• How do we maintain an system that was and is defined by change?
During "The Secret Life of Prairies" we will discuss belowground and aboveground vegetative dynamics that are the foundation of prairie diversity, productivity, and sustainability.
The mechanisms responsible for prairie function, integrity, and stability will be emphasized to create a meaningful understanding of our prairies processes and ecosystem function.
*LOCATION: We'll meet at a different venue this month: Community Meeting Room @ South Gessner Police Department, 8605 Westplace Drive, Houston, TX 77071.
Now is the time to plant native plants in your yard or garden or prairie!
Visit botanical gardens and nature centers; you'll be glad you came!
Support local projects:
April 29, Amarillo – Amarillo Botanical Gardenfest 9-2
April 29, Longview – Our Northeast Texas Chapter will have a sale at Jake's Feed Store at 8 am.
April 29, Atlanta – Caddo Wildflower Chapter Sale, Cass County Expo Building. Presentation 8:30, Sale 9:00-12:00
April 29-30, El Paso – Flora Fest at Chihuahuan Desert Gardens, University of Texas El Paso campus, 9-4 both days, featuring plants of the Chihuahua Desert
May 6, Dallas – Native Plant & Prairie Day. Dallas Chapter will sell plants at White Rock Lake Bath House & Cultural Center 10-3
May 6, Arlington – Spring Plant Sale at River Legacy Park 10-2
was introduced in 2016 by the Young Women's Leadership Academy of Fort Worth. That event had a very positive effect! We hope to continue the tradition!
• Signs will be posted along the route to publicize our event and draw attention to the problem.
• We will be pulling Rapistrum rugosum, savage cabbage; a.k.a. bastard cabbage.
• Rapistrum rugosum: is an invasive species growing to heights from 1' to 5'. Its basal leaves and size threaten native wildflowers by blocking sunlight to seedlings and mature plants. It is a very hearty annual plant; so pull it up by its robust taproot, and we'll be pretty successful in removing it.!!!
• SAFETY FIRST - COME PREPARED: WEAR SUNSCREEN, GLOVES, A PROTECTIVE HAT, LONG PANTS AND CLOSED-TOE SHOES. Bring your refillable water bottle, hand shovel, weeding stick, or long screwdriver.
• This outdoor event is open to volunteers of all ages! We want to ensure everyone's safety; so volunteers in Grades 1-8 should be accompanied by an adult or older sibling (HIGH SCHOOL OR OLDER).
• Certificates for 3 hours of COMMUNITY SERVICE are provided.
• Monitor this site as the event MAY BE CANCELED DUE TO WEATHER!
"Get your own bash going" - "Be a "Cabbage Spotter" Check our Fort Worth NPAT's link above.
-Take advantage of this opportunity to explore NPAT's western-most prairie.
-We hope there will be a spring wildflower show, and birds and insects should be active.
The 2016 Wimberley RETREET I was an exciting event; RETREETERS and volunteers planted 200+ trees at 37 home sites in Wimberley, reviving a sense of hope following the devasting 2015 Memorial Day flood. The 2017 Wimberley RETREET II promises that even more trees will be planted (thanks to dedicated RETREETERS and area volunteers), leaving Wimberley even stronger and more beautiful!
RETREET, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, engages communities (in which locals are rebuilding their lives in the midst of devastation) to plant trees. RETREET became a reality in 2011 after Dallas native, Grady McGahan, followed the stories of wildfires which devastated Bastrop State Park and Lost Pines Forest over Labor Day weekend, 2011. Tropical Storm Lee collided with the extremely high Texas heat, and more than 63 wildfires were ignited across Texas. Mr. McGahan learned no local, state or national organization was focusing on the replacement of trees that had been lost due to natural disasters.
• A RETREET is a weekend-long event when volunteers visit an impacted area and work with locals planting trees. The 1st RETREET was in Bastrop, TX, January, 2012, when more than 50 volunteers helped plant 220 trees in more than 35 residents' yards.
• Since then RETREET has worked with communities following natural disasters in Texas, Colorado, Oklahoma City, New York, and Ontario, Canada.
• Jeff Quayle, of Fort Worth NPAT Chapter, has organized and will lead this Blackland Prairie Nature Preserve Field Trip.
• Explore this 10-acre Blackland Prairie Remnant, acquired and preserved by the City of Arlington!
(A remnant prairie is an original, native, natural community that has survived on a site to the present day, has never been plowed, and was once part of a larger, original landscape.)
• You can expect to see flora that include: Prairie Bishop (Bifora americana), Two Flower Milkvine (Matelea biflora), Indian Plantain (Arnoglossum plantagineum), Old Plainsman (Hymenopappus scabiosaeus var. corymbosus), Yellow Star (Lindheimera texana), Prairie Groundsel (Packera plattensis), Sleepy Catchfly (Silene antirrhina), Common St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum), Sensitive Briar (Mimosa roemeriana), Prairie Celestial (Nemastylis geminiflora), Trailing Ratany (Krameria lanceolata), White Prairie Larkspur (Delphinium carolinianum ssp. virescens), Purple Paintbrush (Castilleja purpurea) and Prairie Bluets (Stenaria nigricans).
• We are very proud of the City of Fort Worth for preserving their 'first' remnant prairie, and it's in the middle of the walking path!
Host/Sponsor: "LLELA"the Lake Lewisville Environmental Learning Area (Check day's schedule)
LLELA is 2600 acres comprised of 4 ecosystems: 1) Cross Timbers on the west side, 2) Bottomland hardwood forest, 3) Riparian corridor with associated wetlands; 4) Blackland prairie.
BIOBLITZ ('bahy-oh –blits') Is a 1-day survey to identify every living thing in a chosen place. LLELA's BioBlitz will be an informal event.
-Local experts will guide 'groups' surveying the different plants and critters found in each ecosystem.
-Each group will include folks with eyes open and curiosity in top gear.
-Everyone is welcome, it'll be a good time! SHARE your passion and pass on knowledge to others!
LLELA is operating under the strategic plan developed in 2014 by the City of Lewisville, University of North Texas, and Lewisville ISD (with approval from and in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: USACE).
Prairie Seekers are those who want to help NPAT find remaining remnant prairies and begin a process to document and hopefully save them!
• Experienced Prairie Seekers desired!
• Novices are welcome to observe the process and get trained in finding prairies.
• The results of our quest will be recorded on data forms developed jointly by NPAT and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and will be entered into TPWD's "Natural Systems" database.
8:30 a.m. MEET @ NPAT's Deer Park Prairie
We will carpool from DPP to Chambers County (and visit pre-selected prairie sites and maybe find a few new ones)!
We will stop for lunch @ a restaurant in Winnie, TX.
This promises to be a fun day that will include a visit to the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge.
REMEMBER BRING your:
insect repellant, and
wading boots!!!
(Photo part of series DearTexas.com)
• This meeting is co-sponsored by the American Society of Landscape Architects.
• Please join us at 6:30 p.m. for refreshments; the meeting begins at 7:00 p.m.
• You will want to hear the award winning naturalist, photographer, and author, Brian Loflin, speak about his book Grasses of the Texas Hill Country: A Field Guide.
• Grasses of the Texas Hill Country: A Field Guide, "a photographic guide to grasses, gives all who have been frustrated trying to identify these difficult plants, an easy-to-use, visually precise, and information-packed field guide to seventy-seven native and introduced species that grow in the Texas Hill Country and beyond."
"With a blade of grass in hand, open this book and find:
• Handy thumb guides to seedhead type, the most visible distinguishing characteristic to begin identification.
• Color photographs of stands of grasses and detailed close-ups.
• Concise information about economic uses, habitat, range, and flowering season.
• Quick-reference icons for native status, toxicity, growing season, and grazing response."
Barnes & Noble.
RENOUNED HOSTS are
Barbra Willy of Monarch Gateway and
Mark Morgenstern of Morningstar Prairie Plants.
In 2016 more than 70 people registered to learn more about helping native prairies and prairie species, such as Monarchs, by growing native seeds in their own backyards!
Amaon G. Carter, Jr., Downtown YMCA
Presenter: Martin Underwood, USACE Biologist at Benbrook Lake.
Mr. Underwood will provide an overview of the project lands, pertinent policies, history/status of tallgrass prairie in North Texas, and management practices USACE uses with limited staffing, budget, & policies to protect and improve our valued resources.
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE link) is probably the largest public land owner in the DFW metroplex.
• There are a variety of management issues including managing lands for native vegetation including remnant & restorable prairies.
• Valuable lessons for landowners of remnant and restorable prairies!
Presenter: Kenneth Steigman, Ph.D., Director of Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area, will speak on prairie restoration efforts conducted there, including their relationship with University of North Texas whose students assist with efforts.
Dr. Steigman was formerly sanctuary manager at Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary.
Details and Directions are available at the Chapter's website.
• MARK YOUR CALENDER - PLEASE RESERVE THESE DATES - March 7 and April 5, 2017
• Attend an NPAT meeting NEAR YOU!!
• Join us, meet your neighbors, learn more about NPAT and what your local chapter can do!
TONIGHT - TUESDAY, March 7, 6:30-8:30pm, SAN ANTONIO, TX
Details appear on the flyer below.
Join local citizens at the Longhorn Café, 17625 Blanco Rd., San Antonio, TX 78232
Enjoy the opportunity to formalize NPAT's newest chapter: The San Antonio Chapter!
Presenters: Pat Merkord, NPAT Executive Director; Don Kirchoff, NPAT Board member & NPAT Conservation Easement Landowner, Wilson County, TX.
There is immeasurable potential for you to learn about land conservancy; you can volunteer your time and skills assisting land owners like Mr. Kirchoff, achieve goals that will help him make progress in the task of restoring the prairie, all while you are "experiencing a Texas Prairie"!
MEETING of the CEN-TEX CHAPTER
Location: Georgetown Public Library 402 W 8th St, Georgetown, TX 78626
Presenter: Pat Merkord, NPAT Executive Director, "Prairies of the Northern Great Plains"
Cen-Tex Chapter is comprised of an Saba, Llano, Lampasas, Burnet, Coryell, Bell, Williamson, Travis, McLennan, Falls, Milam, and Lee Counties (listed from west to east).]
"Burrowing Owls near Dell City, TX" Photo by Randy Rakes
The Prairie will be OPEN to Visitors during Workday.
(PLEASE include your cell phone number in case we need to contact you due to inclement weather).
Deer Park Prairie IS OPEN TO VISITORS during workday hours.
• If you plan on staying in the house, great, no 'prairie-ready attire' is required!
• REQUIRED PRAIRIE-READY ATTIRE: closed-toed shoes and long pants; in addition, we RECOMMEND: a hat, long-sleeved shirt, sun screen, and insect repellent.
• DPP Location: 1222 E Purdue Ln, Deer Park, TX 77536: MAP.
• Please do not park along the curb directly in front of our neighbors' houses.
• The Prairie Seekers Program is a prairie assessment & mapping program developed by Native Prairies Association of Texas (NPAT).
• Prairie Seekers Workshop hours are approved for Cross Timbers Master Naturalist Advanced Training.
• Certified Prairie Seekers will subsequently conduct surveys; their data will be contributed to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department's state biodiversity database, a source for TPWD to identify future prairie conservation opportunities across the state.
NPAT offers these educational opportunities a few times each year; classes are limited in size. Email inquiries
NPSOT Hill Country Chapter invites the public to: "Humble Grasses Providing Critical Ecosystem Services" Presented By Shannon Brown, Reforestation Assistant for the Blanco River Reforestation Program, TreeFolks and Co-Founder of Ecosystem Services Landscaping by Wiseman and Oakleigh. "Native bunch grasses often go unnoticed among more charismatic and easier-to-recognize plants of the Texas Hill Country, but they provide essential soil and water conservation functions to the ecosystem."
Learn how their eradication by grazing and mowing threatens the health of our aquifers, rivers, and hillsides, as well as how to identify common and crucial species which could be growing in your backyard: LOCATION: VFW Post #6441, 401 Jacobs Well Road (CR 182), Wimberley Texas 78676.
NPAT is a member of the Texas Land Trust Council, which builds and supports a strong, active coalition to serve as a powerful voice for conservation in Texas: help protect drinking water, Texas' iconic wildlife, and our rich natural and cultural heritage.
NPAT will be represented at the 2017 TLC's Conference to listen to the TLC's lineup of speakers addressing topics including real estate, land stewardship, conservation easements and various funding programs, advocacy, historic preservation, conservation banking, coastal conservation, and more.
Attending this conference will offer more visibility for NPAT as well as opportunities for face-to-face conversations with fellow land conservancies, exchange ideas, and build solid coalitions.
Conducted by award-winning professional nature photographer, author, and teacher, Brian Loflin!
Links for additional 2017 events and 2017 Workshops flyer are HERE.
Brian and his wife, Shirley, have conducted nature photography, plant identification and herbarium-making workshops. They were featured on KLRU discussed their book, Prairie Grasses of Central Texas, with Tom Spencer on Central Texas Gardener.
Leaders of NPAT's Chapters will meet and define their plans for 2017: Houston Chapter - Fort Worth Chapter - Blackland (Dallas) Chapter - CenTex (Central Texas) Chapter - Balcones Chapter.
Our local chapters provide opportunities for local residents to learn and experience 'native prairies'. Each Chapter is unique in its location and needs; the leaders will be able to set individual goals that will collectively benefit all of NPAT. We are grateful for the hours devoted by the Chapter leaders and members and visitors!
Fort Parker State Park (Map & Directions) lies in the beautiful Texas Hill Country in Limestone County between Mexia and Groesbeck.
We are very grateful to Mr. B. F. Hicks (Daphne Prairie Landowner/2016 Prairie Preservationist Award winner) and a few of his friends, for hosting the 15 Volunteers for our FIRST Winter Bird Survey, January 28 & 29, 2017! Individuals from three of NPAT's local Chapters (are also members of Cross Timbers Chapter-Master Naturalist and North Texas Chapter Master Naturalist), participated in this VERY SUCCESSFUL WINTER BIRD COUNT!
We spotted approximately 60 bird species including:
• Short-eared Owls (Asio flammeus)
• Barn Owls (Tyto alba)
• Northern Harriers (Circus cyaneus)
• Hundreds of Eastern Meadowlarks (Sturnella magna)
• Harlan's Red Tailed Hawk (B. j. harlani)
We also saw indications of other wildlife as well, inclulding:
• Eastern Cottontails (Sylvilagus floridanus) • Badgers (Taxidea taxus)
• Bobcats (Lynx rufus) • Striped Skunks (Mephitis mephitis)
• Coyote (of course!) (Canis latrans)
You'll want to monitor our site and newsletter for future surveys we plan to organize!
PLEASE NOTE - A NEW LOCATION THIS TIME: at the corner of Tilley St. and Tom Miller St.
Drive as far East on Tom Miller Street as you can – it dead ends into Tilley Street (the new section of Mueller located East of Berkman Drive - close to the newly-constructed pond).
Co-Sponsors: Travis Audubon Society and Mueller P.O.A. Landscape Committee.
• This is a free public event we want to share with anyone wanting to see winter birds at Mueller. Once again, members of the Travis Audubon Society will bring spotting scopes and extra binoculars to share.
• Learn about the birds' habits and habitat and identify them by their calls.
• All ages are welcome.
Maddin Prairie Sunset
Visit NPAT's western-most preserve, Maddin Preserve.
We will work on trails, especially along the Champion Creek, to make it easier to explore!
• John Tandy: Friends of Tandy Hills Natural Area
• Bruce Benz: Texas Weselyn University
• FW-NPAT Fort Worth Chapter of NPAT
In 2016, the Friends of Tandy Hills Natural Area wrote a grant & received funding to organize & host the largest BioBlitz in Texas. The Tandy Hills BioBlitz focused on documenting all living species at the park over a continuous 36 hour time period. Scientists, Citizen Scientists including volunteers, students & children helped collect data on the flora & fauna of the park by using iNaturalist. The results formed a permanent & valuable snapshot of biological life at Tandy Hills.
John & Bruce will present the results of the Tandy Hills BioBlitz, show the professional video created about the event and talk about what comes next.
Information and Directions on FW NPAT's website.
Join Houston NPAT and Katy Prairie Conservancy at our seed cleaning party!
Cherie Flores Garden Pavilion, Hermann Park's McGovern Centennial Gardens, 1500 Hermann Drive, Houston TX 77004 Sponsored by Katy Prairie Conservancy, KPC. They are providing PIZZA!
We collected seeds in Fall, 2016; they will be cleaned and put in packets for distribution to people willing to grow them out for KPC's Great Grow Out Program.
Learn about prairie plants and seeds from KPC experts: come and see what these native seeds look like, how to clean them, and take some home.
• Rattlesnake Master (Eryngium yuccifolium) • Texas Coneflower (Rudbeckia texana)
• Yellow Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans) • Purple Lovegrass (Eragrostis spectabilis)
• American Basketflower (Centaurea americana) (To see summer blooms, seed this annual from fall through winter.)
(View all of Houston NPAT's upcoming activities on Houston NPAT!)
• Join the Citizens Enviromental Coalition, "CEC", for a night of environmental inspiration as we host the second Houston screening of the Wild & Scenic Film Festival on Tour. After a wildly successful event last year, we are hosting two nights of amazing short films in 2017!
• BUY TICKETS IN ADVANCE and review the detailed information on this link: Wild & Scenic Film Festival Tour 2017.
(View all of Houston NPAT's upcoming activities on Houston NPAT!)
• Looking for some outdoor volunteering in cooler weather?
• Come help plant 200 trees on the Spring Creek Greenway Trail in 2016 Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center, 20634 Kenswick Dr, Humble, TX 77338.
• Please help whenever you can between 9 a.m. and noon.
• Registration Required, must be at least 15 years of age
PRE-REGISTER- Go to the Bayou Land Conservancy's site; then click on the "Winter Tree Planting" flier image.
Come join Damien Carey for the survey and learn about the bird life we have at DPP!
(View all of Houston NPAT's upcoming activities on Houston NPAT!)
If you are an ExxonMobil employee, retiree or immediate family member (youth under 25) of an employee or retiree, the Houston Native Prairies Association of Texas "HNPAT" and Lawther-Deer Park Prairie need your help!
ExxonMobil will be awarding a $500 team grant for every TEAM OF 5: employees, retirees and /or family members who come out to help!!
• GRANT MONEY - will be used to purchase much needed equipment to help in the fight against invasive species in this gem of an urban prairie remnant! The more teams the better!
• LOCATION: 1222 E. Purdue Lane, Deer Park 77536.


text:
Definition Edit
Technorati is an Internet search engine specific to blogs.
Overview Edit
In June 2008, Technorati indexed 113 million blogs and over 250 million pieces of tagged social media. Its tools are useful and can be retained as a bookmark and source of research. It is a recommended product when determining "authority" of a blog site for proactive engagement.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
"Drum n Bass Society" is a jamband/jazz laced recording that features guest appearances by Adam Nitti, Jeff Sipe, Snake Oil Medicine Show, Temple Passmore and many other talented artists/musicians. Read a review from All About Jazz. For all personnel on this recording, view on AllMusic.com
Blue Canoe Records
Blue Canoe Records
© 2003-2017 Blue Canoe Records and Blue Canoe Digital LLC. All Rights Reserved


text:
Lenovo laptop model s10-e
XP SP3 Media Player 11
If you log in as administrator and access WMP, then log out, then log in as a user with a Mandatory profile WMP works. After a reboot it will not work under a login with a mandatory profile. The message says " To use Windows Media Player, log off from Windows, Log back on, and then start Windows media player"
This does not work; however if you logoff and logon as an administrator and open WMP then logoff and logon as a standard user with a mandatory profile WMP works fine.
I have tried uninstall and reinstall.
Out of 1000 devices this is only happening on this model of netbook.
Out of the 35 of these we have it is only happening on 10
Nothing shows up in the event viewer
If you make them a local administrator it works
2 Replies
Apr 19, 2012 at 2:32 UTC
That's strange. I found this forum:
He boots into safe mode and renames the Windows Media Player folder and on the next use it re-installs itself. Might be worth a shot.
Apr 19, 2012 at 3:40 UTC
I would suggest checking if a service is not starting because of permissions until you log in as an admin. Is it possible to take an image to one of the 25 of these it is working on and throw it on one that isn't?
I don't suppose what you are ultimately needing WMP for will run in VLC or something else?
This discussion has been inactive for over a year.
You may get a better answer to your question by starting a new discussion.


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Many individuals experience reducing bodyweight as a great task. Naturally, individuals can get disappointed or upset with themselves when they are not accomplishing their objectives as quickly as they would like. It is possible that you are sensation enticed to buy fat reduction tablets to provide you with a little bit of support. These tablets are not a remedy, but some of them do work and can help you in conference your objectives. There are a number of kinds of quick dietary supplements that you could try out to see which one works best for you, personally.
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text:
The Most Common Sportsbook Bonus Types
In the competitive world of sports betting, books will offer bonuses to help persuade players to sign up for their site and also to keep them playing. These bonuses will vary hugely across sites, both in terms of size and clearance requirements. In this article I have explained the types of Sportsbook bonuses available, how they work – so you can spot the best offers and steer clear of the duds.
Sign Up (Deposit) Bonuses
This is a bonus on offer for when you first create an account for a site and deposit money. The bonus amount is normally a percentage of your initial deposit – usually ranging from 15% to 50%. Although the bonus is credited to your account, it IS NOT quite your money yet – you have to earn it by betting. Each Sportsbook will specify a rollover amount in the terms and conditions of the bonus. This means that you'll have to wager the total amount of the deposit and bonus a specified number of times before the bonus amount is actually yours.As an example, if you were to deposit $100 into a site that has a 50% deposit bonus and a 5x rollover requirement, you would have to wager $750 before the bonus is free to withdraw. This means that the 5x play-through is for the total of your deposit and the bonus cash. After this you bonus is "earned/released" and you can withdraw it.
Reload Bonuses
A majority of sites will not offer this bonus at all, some will offer this on occasions (usually around a large sporting event) and others will offer this as standard. The size of a reload bonus will be much smaller than a deposit bonus – 25% is typically the top end. This bonus will also be subject to a rollover. The sites that offer a reload bonus do so in the hope of keeping customers on the site.
Leading offshore US Sportsbook BetOnline offer their customers a 25% reload bonus on every deposit for life.
Free Bet Bonuses
Some sites will offer a free bet for when you place your first bet – matching the amount of the first bet. For example, if you deposit $20 and place a $20 bet, you'll also receive a free bet for $20. The free bet will not normally have the stake included, so if you backed an even money winner for the $20, you would receive $20, and not the normal $40 back. Some sites will require a rollover to release the free bet winnings – this will be stated in the terms and conditions of the bonus.
Some sites will also offer additional free bets as part of a promotion. As an example, the bookmaker advertises that they'll offer money back if a certain player scores in a game of soccer – this money will on many occasions be paid back in the form of a free bet.
Percentage of Loss
A minority of sites will offer this type of bonus. The Sportsbook will give a percentage of the total losses back to the customer, which will both keep the customer happy, and encourage them to stay with the site. An example of this can be found in the racebook at Bovada, which returns between 3% and 5% to bettors every week.
No Deposit Bonus
This is a bonus offered where the customer of the site doesn't need to transfer funds before playing for real money. This is a very rare occurrence, but it does happen – the bonus however will be subject to a very high rollover requirement. This type of bonus is more common with online casinos rather than sportsbooks.
Bonuses for Other Gambling Verticals And Betting Types
Finally, you will find that many sportsbooks also offer casino and poker games. They will often offer bonuses to encourage you to try these games out. This also occurs for live betting and mobile betting games. The books offer free bets to try these new areas, in the hope that you will like what you find and increase your overall betting activity.


text: Sorting type: Most visited Most visited Alphabetical | Pages in category "Religion" Church of the Sacred Redeemer " The Brother Jerome Foundation is a charitable organization founded to honor the work of Brother... Brother Jerome Foundation Christian Tabernacle of Grace Subcategories Religious Fanatics Cults Clergy Retrieved from "http://lawandorder.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Religion?oldid=4921" Ad blocker interference detected! Wikia is a free-to-use site that makes money from advertising. We have a modified experience for viewers using ad blockers Wikia is not accessible if you've made further modifications. Remove the custom ad blocker rule(s) and the page will load as expected. Categories: Lists Add category Cancel Save