NEWS
Events Volunteer Opportunities Education & Training
Alamo Area Chapter www.txmn.org/alamo Volume 15 No. 3
P 5(6,'(17路6 M E SS A G E
March, 2011
W elcome to the 35 new members in C lass #28.
By L iz Robbins AAMN CLASS #28: Thursday, February 24th, turned out to be an exciting evening, filling up the AgriLife classroom with 35 new Master Naturalist trainees! There were plenty of AAMN volunteers there to help with the potluck snack and the welcoming of the new students. All the students arrived before the scheduled time, so we started about 10 minutes early. Great work, Class #28! Sonny Arnold, Assistant Coordinator from the TMN state office, opened the program with a background and history presentation about the Texas Master Naturalist program, explaining that this movement started here in San Antonio, back in 1997. Anton Hajek did the usual ice breaker with the students and managed to get 'er done well within the time limits he was under. Thank you Sonny and especially Anton for taking the time out from your busy travels to Spain to come join us! :)
Board Meeting March 8th 5:15 p.m. Agrilife Extension Classroom #208 General Meeting 7:008:00 p.m. Agrilife Extension Classroom #208 3355 Cherry Ridge San Antonio, TX 78232
President Liz Robbins srobbins@gvtc.com 830-336-2778 V ice-President Linda Gindler ljgindler@earthlink.net
Sonny Arnold speaks to the class
Class 28 trainees ready to begin.
WEBSITE ADDRESS CHANGES: The AAMN website has moved. The current URL is http://txmn.org/ala mo/. The old URL - http://ala momasternaturalist.org - currently autoforwards to the new site, but this feature will be dropped in the near future. The new site is now hosted by Agrilife Extension at Texas A&M University and is free. The TMN state office maintains tight control of the site and uses the Word Press editing tools. AAMN ON FACEBOOK: For more photos and information on upcoming events, check out AAMN Facebook page. A more long term, detailed calendar can still be found on the website. Thanks go out to Frank Ballard and Ernie Laurel for keeping us updated on all the AAMN events! COMMUNITY OUTREACH: Saturday, March 5, the AAMN will have an outreach booth at Mission San Jose celebrating the SARA 3rd Annual Get Outdoors Festival, co-sponsored by the National Park Service. Festival runs from 10:A till 2:P. Hope you all come out and support our SARA partners and stop by the AAMN booth. If you are interested in helping, contact Liz at: srobbins@gvtc.com. We need help with set-up at 9:A and again at 2:P for tear down.
T reasurer Jamie Daily jdaily8289@wildblue.net Secretary Barbara Harder dbjharder@sbcglobal.net Immediate Past President Anton Hajek tonyhajek@yahoo.com
N E WS FRO M T H E BO A RD C O M MIT T E ES Projects to be reviewed for approval as a Master Naturalist activity must be submitted on the Submission for Activity Approval form. Forms can be obtained by contacting Pamela Ball, pball12@satx.rr.com, or from the AAMN website at www.txmn.org/alamo.
P L E ASE R E P O R T Y O U R H O U RS ! Reporting hours is easy with the new EXCEL spreadsheet that was developed for e-mail submission or for mailing in your hours. It is available online at: www.txmn.org/alamo
W here to report your hours: L ast names A-M : Wilt Shaw 104 Dove Meadow Boerne, TX 78006-4222 WShawjr888@aol.com
L ast names N- Z Ling Yin Liu 4946 Dare Lane San Antonio, TX 78217 ling.liu@sanantonio.gov
A C T I V A T E Y O U R 2011G O O G L E D O CS A C C O U N T T O D A Y John Wolcott jwolcott@satx.rr.com & Roy Yarnold royyarnold@sbcglobal.net have not only volunteered to assist you with this effort but also serve as the clearing-house for information regarding reported hours, hours that have vanished and those that have gone unreported. Âľ2QH RI D NLQGÂś FHUWLILFDWLRQ SLQV DUH DZDUGHG HDFK \HDU WR WKRVH ZKR DFKLHYH HLJKW KRXUV RI advanced training and 40 hours of volunteer service. This year that pin is a Horned Lizard. Milestone dragonfly pins are also awarded for 250 hours, 500 hours and 1,000, 2,500, and 5,000 hours of volunteer service.
M O N T H LY M E E T I N G S
M E M B E RSH IP DIRE C T ORY
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o you sometimes wish you could contact another AAMN, or a staff member of SAPAR,, or SARA, TPWD, Texas AgriLife, MLAC, COSA, or CNC? Then CLICK HERE and become part of a growing AAMN membership directory. Thanks to Arless Lenz for coordinating and to Judith Shockley for developing the easy application format for you. Click now and sign up! Over 60 people have signed up and we will be making the data available to members that signed up in the near future² either as a Google Doc or on the web.
P H O T OS P H O T OS P H O T OS
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ancy Phillips is working on a project that will display all the wonderful things our members are doing out in the community. Send your photos, with captions when possible, to anrjp1@aol.com. Photos are also needed for the web & facebook. 2
AAMN meetings are held the second Tuesday of every month. The next meeting will be the:
M arch 8th A A M N M eeting
For our March 8 meeting, Master Naturalist Jamie Daily will present a session on composting by layering and mixing green and brown materials. She will describe how to construct a container for composting and how to care for it. Jamie will talk about trouble-shooting problems that may arise and how to avoid those problems in the future. As our landfills become overloaded, come find out how we can UHGXFH RXU VKDUH RI WUDVK DQG UHXVH LW WR WKH HDUWKÂśV benefit.
Approved for Advanced Training
A pril 12th Meeting $W RXU $SULO PHHWLQJ ZH ZLOO EH ³JRLQœ ILVKLQœ ³ with John Prentice. A former school teacher and fishery manager with Texas Parks and Wildlife, -RKQ ZLOO JLYH KLV WDON ³)LVKHV RI WKH 7H[DV +LOO &RXQWU\´ 8VLQJ OLYLQJ DQG GHDG VSHFLPHQV KH ZLOO help us identify different fish families and member species within each family. Come hear about diversity of fishes, some amazing physiology facts, humorous common naming, general ID techniques, and ways to group by body shape. It will be a very informative and entertaining class.
A ctivities Information Chair Pam Ball pball12@satx.rr.com Community O utreach Lissa Martinez lisa@satx.rr.com H istorian Nancy Phillips anrjp1@aol.com Hospitality Chair Nancy Brown nan.bro@att.net Hours Submission Wilt Shaw wshawjr888@aol.com Ling Yin Liu Ling.liu@sanantonio.gov M embership & Pin A wards Chair John Wolcott jwolcott@satx.rr.com M edia & T echnology Chair David Reichert reichert@satx.rr.com C alendar Frank Ballard fm4459@sbcglobal.net W eb Pages Evelyn Penrod epenrod@gvtc.com M ar keting Info & M aterials Milly Alejos mildred.alejos@sbcgloball.net Programs Chair Jessica Leslie jleslie01@hotmail.com E ducation & T raining Chair Pam Ball pball12@saxt.rr.com A lamo Forest Partnership Kathleen Blankenship & Lissa Martinez SA R A Partnership Ron Tullius SE P-H C P Susan Oualline
Vol. 15, No. 3²March, 2011
Plant Trees A lamo Tree Buds March 5: 8:00 -11:00 a.m. Olmos Park contact AAMN Lissa martinez at olmosbasin@satx.rr.com or call 210/824-1485. March 12th, Pearsall, 4700 Old Pearsall Rd, 78242 8-11 a.m. March 19th, Oak Hills, 200 Edgevale, 78229 8-11 a.m. Contact Meredith Ruiz at 210-207-8603 or Meredith.Ruiz@sanantonio.gov for more information or to volunteer. Approved for volunteer service hours.
F riedrich Par k, 21495 Milsa March 12, 2011, 10:00am-12:00noon Second Saturday Program Neighborhood Birds, Call 210.372-9124 or email peggy.spring@sanantonio.gov for reservations and information. Approved for Volunteer Service Hours C rownridge C anyon , 7222 Luskey March 5, 2011 Âą 10:00amÂą12:00noon Nature Walk: Âľ/HDYH 1R 7UDFHÂś IDFLOLWDWRU will lead this spring walk. Call: 210-372-9124 or email peggy.spring@sanantonio.gov , Participants limited to 15 per hike. Just for fun M edina River Natural A rea Second Saturday Program March 12, 2011, 9am-11am Mother Earth/Father Sky Join us for an exciting morning of Native American drumming, dancing and storytelling.. Native American craft included. Bring your own chair and enjoy the program. Just for fun.
Phil H ardberger Par k, 13203 Blanco Monthly E ducation Programs Program Inquiries: 210-207-3111 or 210207-3284, M arch 5 ¹T ails on T rails, 9-11am See Search and Rescue dogs in action, take a walk with the San Antonio Big Dawgs, adopt a dog from Animal Care Services or show off your dog in their latest spring outfit in the Pooch Parade at 10:30am. Just for fun . Vol. 15, No. 3²March, 2011
3 rd A nnual Get Outdoors! Festival The San Antonio River Authority (SARA) and the National Park Service San Antonio Missions National Historical Park invite you to participate in the 3 r d A nnual Get Outdoors! F estival Sat., M arch 5, 2011, 10:00 a.m.Âą2:00 p.m. San A ntonio M issions National H istorical Par k, M ission San Jose MN Volunteers needed for this Community Outreach event. Contact Liz Robbins srobbins@gvtc.com for more information. Get Outdoors! educates families about outdoor recreation opportunities in our area, and the importance of living a healthy, active and environmentally sustainable lifestyle.
A A M N Documents Online At: AAMN Documents Access important chapter documents including bylaws and minutes online.
H ummer House Rescheduled for May, 14th
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articipation is limited so get your reservation in now. This trip will be open to all AAMN members, their friends and families and to other members of the environmental community.
E-mail Arless at arlessann@yahoo.com for more information. Three hours of advanced training for those attending. ²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²
Tuesday, March 1st, Boerne NPSOT Meeting Monarchs ask: Where Is My Milkweed Presented by Kip Kiphart. In 2010, the monarch was added to the World :LOGOLIH )XQGÂśV 0RVW 7KUHDWHQHG 6SHFLHV list due to loss of habitat in Mexico, the USA, and Canada. Learn about the amazing monarch butterfly and how you can help it by creating a Monarch Waystation, a butterfly garGHQ ZLWK PLONZHHG WKH PRQDUFKÂśV KRVW SODQW
Approved for Advanced Training.
C lass 17 Julie Fisherzoezappa@hughes.net C lass 18 Prem Nored premnored@gmail.com C lass 19 Cal Eichler 210-828-0833 C lass 20 Suzanne Benavides & Palani Whiting C lass 21 Nancy Brown nan.bro@att.net & Wendy Thornton C lass 22 Linda Painter Darst donlindadarst@msn.com & Jamie Daily jdaily8289@wildblue.net C lass 23 Steve Guerrant & Gary Trede gtrede@earthlink.net C lass 24 John Wolcott jwolcott@satx.rr.com & Susan Hunnicutt schunnicut@aol.com C lass 25 & State Representative Ron Tullius 210-739-2566 rvtullius@sbcglobal.net C lass 26 Dwight Henderson 210-496-5934 dwight10@hotmail.com C lass 27 David Reichert reichert@satx.rr.com & Evelyn Penrod epenrod@gvtc.com
3
Government Canyon State Natural Area +LNHV 3URJUDPV (YHQWV DW *RYÂśW &DQ\RQ 6WDWH 1DWXUDO $UHD M A R C H 2011
T he San A ntonio River A uthority, an AAMN partner, is looking for six (6) Alamo Area Master Naturalists to assist with public wildflower hikes at Jackson Nature Par k on April 2, 2011 from 9-11 a.m. Jackson Nature Park is located just southwest of Stockdale on CR 401 at Cibolo Creek. Expecting significant public interest, SARA would like to have several wildflower tour guides available to lead and to co-lead small group tours. O n-site training at JNP will be held on M arch 30 th. The training will be conducted by Lee Marlowe, SARA Natural Resource Management Specialist. Participants may carpool from SARA to Jackson Nature Park both on the training day and on the day of the wildflower hike. If you are interested in both the training session and a hike leader or co-leader position, please contact: Maura Nowalk, SARA Education Coordinator: mnowalk@sara-tx.org OR Ron Tullius, AAMN liaison to SARA: rvtullius@sbcglobal.net
Training hours and volunteer service hours are approved for credit. _______________________ In cooperation with SARA, Master Naturalists lead tours of the San Antonio River Mission Reach Phase I. These tours are held the 3rd Saturday of each month at 10 a.m. and at 11 a.m. The next Saturday tour is on March 19th
Approved for Volunteer Service Hours if Assisting
4
M arch 5, 2011 ¹ Geocaching at Government C anyon SN A Find out how to participate in this new and exciting modern day treasure hunt with experienced geocachers Angie Gruber and Jim Peredo. They will introduce you to geocaching and the use of GPS to locate objects hidden in the Natural Area. There will be instruction followed by a field exercise. 1:00 to 4:30 PM. Some GPS units will be available for use if you do not have one. Participants must be 12 years or older; no pets please. Bring at least 1 liter of water per person, and a snack if you like. Reservations required and will be accepted from noon on February 4, 2011 until noon March 4, 2011. For reservations and more information email reservations@friendsofgc.org. Please include names of each participant, age if under 18, and email address and telephone #. Natural Areas fees apply. (210) 688-9055. Ext 291. Approved for Advanced Training. M arch 5, 2011 ¹ O ur A quifer, O ur W ater Join geologist John Hoyt, Assistant General Manager for the Edwards Aquifer Authority, in an informative one-hour discussion about the Edwards AqXLIHU 6DQ $QWRQLRœV VROH VRXUFH RI IUHVK ZDWHU /HDUQ ZK\ LWœV VR LPSRUWDQW to us and what we can all do to keep it (and us) healthy and clean. A twoKRXU ³ZDON DERXW´ ZLOO IROORZ WKH WDON DP ¹ Noon so come prepared for a short hike. Group size limited; participants must be 12 years or older; no pets please. Reservations required and will be accepted from noon on February 5 th until noon March 4, 2011. For reservations and more information email reservations@friendsofgc.org. Include name, e-mail address and telephone number for each reservation. Natural Area entrance fees apply. Program is subject to cancellation due to weather conditions so check the web site if you are in doubt. (210) 688-9055; ext 291. Approved for Advanced Training. Saturday, M arch 12th: H ike the C anyon Join the Friends of Government Canyon and the Sierra Club for a jointly-led guided hike on one of the many trails at Government Canyon State Natural Area. Length of the hike will range from 4 to 7 miles depending on the group. Open to ages 13 and over; minors must be accompanied by an adult; group size limited to the first 12 people; no pets please. Dress appropriately and wear sturdy shoes for hiking over rough terrain; bring two liters of water and a snack. GCSNA is located at 12861 Galm Rd (Take FM 1560 west from Helotes to Galm Rd). There is a $6 entrance fee ($3 seniors). Meet at the Visitors Center by the rainwater harvesting tower by 8:15 am for an 8:30 am departure with finish by noon.; subject to cancellation. Difficulty: Moderate (some steep/rocky sections). Call Sierra Club co-leader Chris Anderson (210-838-1952) if you require additional information Approved for Volunteer Service Hours if Assisting M arch 19, 2011 ² E xplore the C anyon Knowledgeable guides discuss the flora, fauna, natural and cultural history of this awesome natural area on this hike. Length of walk and interpretive topic will vary, depending on the group. Open to all ages; minors must be accompanied by an adult; group size limited to the first 12 people. Dress appropriately, sunscreen and hat recommended, and wear sturdy footwear appropriate for rough trails; bring a liter of water and a snack. Meet at the Visitors Center by the rainwater harvesting tower. Start time 8:30 a.m. No pets please. Subject to cancellation. For more information call (210) 688-9055. Approved for Volunteer Service Hours if Assisting
Vol. 15, No. 3²March, 2011
Patsy Inglet, Class 9, reached 2500 hours. Patsy and husband Tom are two of our premier bird specialists and great folks to teach young MNs. Wendy Thornton was the first to qualify IRU WKLV \HDUÂśV SLQ WKH +RUQHG 7RDG 7KH IROORZLQJ $$01 members have reached milestones this month. If you need DQ\ DVVLVWDQFH ZLWK GDWD HQWU\ RU KDYH TXHVWLRQV GRQÂśW KHVL tate to email or call me. If I have failed to recognize an award, let me know at jwolcott@satx,.rr.com or (210) 4974365.
Person Wendy Thornton Annabelle McGee
Class 21 10
Awards Horned Toad Wood Duck
The following AAMN members earned longevity awards: Patsy Inglet 8 2500 hours Jane Henry 19 1000 hours
Pins and Hours A ward Summary for 2010 Wood Duck (77) D ragon F ly (29)
250 Hours (22)
. Name Class David Adams 22 Mary Frances Anderson 2 Frank Ballard 20 Maureen Ballard 20 Kathleen Blankenship 22 Kimber Briggs 25 Rafael Brista 22 Nancy Brown 21 Kay Cage 25 Bob Cobb 16 Pete Cowger 22 Jamie Daily 22 Mary Doran 21 Maxine Dudley 23 Terry Dudley 23 Lucas Duncan 21 Carolyn Estes 24 Diane Fey 23 Eva Fromme 21 Davis Gaskins 25 Patty Gaskins 18 Linda Gindler 23 Josie Gonzales 13 Ann Gulley 20 Anton Hajek 1 Cheryl Hamilton 21 Davis Harris 27 Jean Hays 20 Dwight Henderson 26 Jane Henry 19 Sara Holland Adams 22 Howard Homan 26 Mary Homan 26 Susan Hunnicutt 24 Patsy Inglet 8 Tom Inglet 8 Melba Jacobson 3 Rebecca Johnson Trans Judy Kellogg 25
Name Nancy Klepper Kathy Krnavek Arless Lenz Jessica Leslie Roy Leslie Ling Yin Liu Jessica Manley Ron Manning Lissa Martinez Annabelle McGee Nalga Mebane Paul Mebane Chris Menzel Myfe Moore Lee Morris Billie Murrell Pam Ball Cherry Pedrick Jim Pedrick Nancy Philips J. W. Pieper John Prentice Rick Pulis David Reichert Camilla Ritchey Liz Robbins Judith Rodriquez Catherine Rose Wilt Shaw Lonnie Shockley Judith Shockley Wendy Thornton Ron Tullius John Wolcott Judy Wolcott Pam Yarnold Roy Yarnold Peggy York
Class 23 24 21 20 24 20 25 24 25 10 21 21 23 26 20 26 18 26 26 20 13 23 21 27 12 17 17 22 13 23 25 21 25 24 24 24 24 26
Name Class Richard Adams Frank Binetti Kathy Binetti Kimber Briggs Pat Butler Kay Cage Susan Eiteljorg Robert Garza Barbara Harder Davis Harris Dwight Henderson Vincent Henderson Brenda Holland Mary Homan Homan, Howard Alan Kuentz Ernis Laurel Bruce Martin Myfe Moore Billie Murrel Frank Novak Cherry Pedrick Jim Pedrick Evelyn Penrod David Reichert Lynn Richards Mary Saunders Ileen Sloan Peggie York
27 27 27 25 24 25 25 26 25 27 26 26 26 26 26 27 27 26 26 26 25 26 26 27 27 27 27 26 26
1000 Hours (7) Cheryl Hamiliton Judith Hein Fisher Cindy Sims Ron Tullius Bill Woller Pam Yarnold Larry Loop
21 7 9 25 1 24 6
2500 Hours (2) Vol. 15, No. 3²March, 2011
Anton Hajek JW Pieper
1 13
Name Class Sara Holland-Adams 22 Maureen Ballard 20 Pete Cowger 22 Lan Eng 5 Diane Fey 23 Linda Gindler 23 Jean Hays 20 Judith Hein Fisher 7 Melba Jacobson 3 Roy Leslie 24 Ling Liu 20 Jessica Manley 25 Lissa Martinez 25 Annabelle McGee 10 Nalga Mebane 21 Chris Menzel 23 Lee Morris 20 Nancy Philips 20 John Prentice 23 Judith Shockley 25 Lonnie Shockley 23 John Wolcott 24
500 Hours (15) Nancy Brown Jamie Daily Diane Fey Ann Gulley Judith Hein Fisher Larry Loop Paul Mebane Judith Rodriguez Catherine Rose Lonnie Shockley Wendy Thornton Ron Tullius John Wolcott Pam Yarnold Roy Yarnold
21 22 23 20 7 6 21 17 22 23 21 25 24 24 24 5
Hot Tub Naturalist F ebruary 2011 February was a weather month. We had cold, we had hot, we had humid, and we had snow! The courthouse closed so I had a fun, no money day. Took a 97 year old Ford Model T out for snow pictures. When would be the next chance? Twenty degree weather is not conducive for nice hot tub nights. It is really the wind and not the cold. No pipes broke to the tub, which is good, and a bit surprising. The pipes are covered by only 2X4s. I don't run the pumps so the tub infrastructure is on it own, and has been so for in the tub 22 years. But the nights out were cold ± still ± crisp. Saturn has a new storm, a big white one. Check it out on a NASA feed. That place must be a nasty place to live. With out advanced technology we know more about it than ever before. I still brought a few carcasses for the coyotes, buzzards and what ever. Apparently they prefer to drag the carcass into the brush a bit. And breasted turkeys leave a feathery mess for weeks. Soon the mountain laurels bloom with their honeyed scent!
Invasive Plants A dvanced T raining O pportunity Become a Citizen Scientist with the Texas Invaders and learn how to identify, eradicate, control, and manage invasive species that threaten many of our most precious native flora and IDXQD « Date: Saturday, April 2 T ime: 8:15 am ± 4:00 pm Place: Mabee Library Auditorium, University of the Incarnate Word, SAT More about the program: Training includes classroom instruction and field experience in the Headwaters Sanctuary along the San Antonio River. At the completion of the session participants will be certified as Texas Invaders Citizen Scientists. Ongoing identification and eradication opportunities are available in Bexar and surrounding counties, including at the Headwaters! To register (or for more information): contact Lonnie Shockley at lonnieshockley@satx.rr.com for registration materials. Space is limited. Advance registration required. .Sponsors: Balcones Invaders S atellite of the Texas Invaders & Headwaters Coalition, Inc., Approved for advanced training/volunteer service hours. . for further details.
Wor k days: T uesdays, M arch 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd & 29th. Volunteers meet outside the gate at Rancho Diana at 7:30am and conclude at 9:30 or 10:00. Contact Lonnie Shockley at lonnieshockley@satx.rr.com by 6:00pm the day before. Approved forVolunteer Service Hours 6
How W ell Do You K now Your T exas Native T rails? The San Antonio Botanical Garden, which showcases Texas Native Trails with an abundance of plant species, is currently sponsoring a promotional activity to increase interest in and knowledge about the Texas Native Trails. ALL master naturalists are invited to participate. Each month (February, March, April) five questions about one of the Texas Native Trails will be found in the AAMN newsletter. The answers to the questions can be found by reading the interpretive signs along the appropriate trail. The deadline for submission of answers is the 21st of each month. Send your answers (just the answers--in numerical sequence) to Sasha Kodet, SABG Education Director, <sasha.kodet@sanantonio.gov>. OR drop off your answers in the red box behind the front desk at the Carriage House entrance. Be sure to include your name and contact information with your answers. You may also pick up answer sheets (with questions) at the front desk of the Carriage House. From all entries with all correct answers, one name will be drawn to receive one of the following: a gift certificate for the SABG Gift Shop (February), free passes to the SABG (March), an annual membership to the San Antonio Botanical Garden (April). [SA B G staff members and cur rent M N guides for the Native T rails are N O T eligible to participate.] Sample question: What birch tree, the only birch species native to Texas, is growing in the East Texas Pineywoods area? A nswer: River Birch ( Betula nigra) The M arch contest questions for the H ill Country T rail: 1. What spicy plant contains cancer cell-killing capsaicin? 2. The tight wood from this tree is useful in making barrels because it does not leak. 3. Which species of hackberry has grayish-green leaves from a covering of tiny hairs on the undersurface? 4. Which endangered shrub has heart-shaped leaves with delicate white flowers hanging upside down? 5. Name the ash, closely related to American White Ash, with usually only 5 leaflets on its pinnate leaf. F ebruary Contest W inner : The Texas Native Trails Master Naturalist of the Month for February is Nancy Phillips. Her name was drawn from all contestants who had the following correct answers to the East Texas Pineywoods Trail contest questions: 1) Bald Cypress, 2) Red-cockaded Woodpecker, 3) Eastern Red Cedar, 4) Overcup Oak, 5) Anaqua Tree
Spring plant walks along the Texas Native Trails Friday, March 11 ± South Texas Plains Trail Friday, March 25 ± Hill Country Trail Saturday, April 9 ± East Texas Pineywoods Trail All tours begin at 10 a.m. and last approx. 1.25 hours. Participants should meet at the Carriage House. Free. Approved for Advanced Training Vol. 15, No. 3²March, 2011
C ity of San A ntonio Par ks and Recreation Department Natural A reas February Stewardship A ctivities By Jayne Neal Spring Equinox, the first day of spring, the arrival of goldencheeked warblers ( Dendroica chyrsoparia ) on their breeding grounds in central Texas--- events all associated with March. Another prominent March happening is the shedding of leaves by live oaks ( Quercus fusifor mis). Over the course of no more than weeks, live oaks not only drop old leaves, but they also put on new ones and flower! I wondered what adaptive advantage live oaks might gain from keeping their leaves, and so contacted Texas Forestry Service Forester Mark Duff. Mark explained that live oak leaves are thick and typically will not freeze in cold weather. Since their leaves remain green almost year round, live oaks keep photosynthesizing through the fall and winter, and thus continue PDQXIDFWXULQJ FDUERK\GUDWHV ,WœV QR VXUSULVH WKHQ WKDW WKH common name for Quercus fusiformis is live oak. To keep the spirit alive, so to speak, consider leaving live oak leaves on your lawn. According to Calvin Finch (http:// www.plantanswers.com/not_so_evergreen.htm), live oak leaves release nitrogen and other nutrients as they decompose. If you want to speed the process, you can mow the leaves into small pieces. Live oak leaves can also be added to compost piles and XVHG IRU PXOFK 'U )LQFK VD\V WKDW SXWWLQJ OHDYHV ³WKUHH LQFKHV deep around the tomato plants helps reduce the likelihood of blossom end rot. In the rows between flowers or vegetables they make a good walking path and reduce weed growth plus FRQVHUYH ZDWHU ´ 0RUHRYHU SLOLQJ WKH OHDYHV ³WKUHH WR IRXU inches deep over the root system on newly planted trees and VKUXEV ZLOO FRQWULEXWH WR LQFUHDVHG JURZWK UDWH ´ So, honor the live oak by letting its leaves contribute to life in your yard or garden, or by offering them to your neighborhood gardeners. Do all you can to keep them out of the landfill! Speaking of gardening, this month we are doing a variety of activities, including maintaining newly planted trees (adding mulch, removing/adjusting support lines, watering, and removing vegetation that is too close to the trunk). We also want to remove as many invasive species as possible; however, wet weather can interfere with our methods. So on drizzly days we will fix wildlife exclosures (reposition logs, add supports, etc.) or re-mark passageways (locate and then add flagging tape to make it easier to navigate the property). We hope you will join us on our work days. Please note that there are no bathrooms or water at Scenic Canyon. If you have any questions, please contact Jayne Neal (210-372-9124, jayne.neal@sanantonio.gov) or Wendy Leonard (210-372-9124, wendy.leonard@sanantonio.gov). T hurs. M arch 3, 10, 24, 31 8:30am-12:30pm: Invasive species removal and/or tree tending and/or passageway marking. Meet at Rancho Diana White House, 9860 Menchaca Rd. We will provide tools, but please bring your own gloves if you have them. T hurs. M arch 17 8:30am-12:30pm: Invasive species removal. Meet at Grey Moss Inn and work across the street at Scenic Canyon Natural Area. Approved for volunteer service hours. Vol. 15, No. 3²March, 2011
River Walk G arden Wor kday Second F riday of every month: 9 a.m.²1 p.m. Volunteers are needed to cut, trim, and plant at the San Antonio Riverwalk Garden. Bring cutting tools such as shears, rakes, and clippers and also gloves and water for this workday. This is an AAMN project at the corner of Aubrey and Old Guilbeau on the Riverwalk. Lan Eng (830) 980-2300 or lanbceng@gmail.com Approved for volunteer service hours
New on the A A M N W ebsite Need H elp with Content There are a lot of new pages on the AAMN website, including a new tab for Class 28, complete with a blog and an Alamo Area Natural History tab. We need feedback from Class 28 about what they want on their tab. We are also seeking content for the Natural History site, which has second level pages for ecoregions, birds, mammals, native plants, invasives, reptiles and more. The individual pages have a brief introduction to the topic, then annotated photos of local flora and fauna. W e need people to send in suggestions for more topics and to send in detail items for all the pages. Send your picture and a paragraph describing it written in your word processor or editor. Please include information sources and links to more complete data about your item.. Please e-mail your content to reichert@satx.rr.com or epenrod@gvtc.com.
Volunteer O pportunities We welcome you to volunteer with us this spring! New for 2011- HYHU\ ³)LUVW )ULGD\´ RI WKH PRQWK LV DQ DIWHUQRRQ :RUN Day in the Headwaters Sanctuary. This season exciting events like Basura Bash & the 2nd DQQXDO ³:DON RQ :DWHU´ DUH ULJKW around the corner, followed by Earth Day, National Trails Day and even more Headwaters Volunteer Opportunities! Contact Helen Ballew helen.ballew@amormeus.org for more information. (210) 828-2224 ext. 232 Date
T ime/Place
E vent
M arch 4
2:00-5:00pm @ Main trailhead
M arch 5
10:00am- 2:00pm G E T O U T D O O RS! @ Mission San Jose
M arch 22
11:00am-2:00pm @ Red footbridge
A pril 1
F irst F riday Wor k Day
WORLD WA TER DAY
2:00- 5:00pm F irst F riday Wor k Day @Main trailhead Approved for volunteer service hours. 7
³1DWLYH 6DQ $QWRQLR´ DW /DQG +HULWDJH ,QVWLWXWH The second annual "Native San Antonio!" will be held at the Land Heritage Institute (LHI) on Saturday, March 26, 2010, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, with set up on the day before the event. The event is sponsored by the SA chapter of the Native Plant Society and LHI. This will be an opportunity for MNs to become familiar with the Land Heritage Institute, a 1200-acre living land museum rich with archeological evidence, South Texas history, diverse environments (riparian, flood plain), and native flora and fauna. The LHI is located at 1349 Neal Road, SA TX 78264-3531, between Applewhite and Pleasanton Roads. Directions at http:// www.landheritageinstitute.org/gpage2.html . Details on "Native San Antonio!" at http://www.landheritageinstitute.org/gpage.html.. Volunteer shifts are available from 8:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 26. The LHI will be open until 5:00 PM that day so MNs can conduct nature hikes at that time as well. AAMN volunteers are needed for the following activities: 1) Nature hike leaders and assistants. Nature hikes will be held throughout the day. Information specific to LHI to help familiarize KLNH OHDGHUV ZLWK WKH DUHDœV LQWHUHVW SRLQWV ZLOO EH SURYLGHG W elcome table: Direct visitors to various activities, keep gate count, hand out exhibitor maps, guide exhibitors to assigned spots. 3) Assist and escort spea kers; tech-savvy volunteers are needed to assure powerpoint presentations wor k from a laptop and screen projector. 4) General event operations, set-up and closedown: To volunteer, please contact Bea C araway at bcaraway@trinity.edu Approved for Volunteer Service Hours