The Texas Star Newsletter of the Master Naturalist, Hill Country Chapter JULY MEETING ... OASIS PIPELINE FIRE AND RECOVERY Scott Richardson, president of the Wildlife Department, and other local South Llano Watershed Alliance, organizations and businesses to address will detail the devastation which took the effects of the fire. The fire scene place in April 2011 when a wildfire became a laboratory for developing burned through almost 10,000 acres recovery initiatives to mitigate erosion south of Junction. from coming rains. The results of His will focus on the marshalling of those efforts will be discussed. efforts and techniques by the South Llano Join us Monday, July 23 at 7p.m. in Watershed Alliance, Texas Parks and the UGRA Lecture Hall. We gather at 6:30 to visit with members and guests. PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE ... Priscilla Stanley Picnic Thank You a gala event. These are mainly folks who already Each year our volunteer on the gardens, grounds, and trails family picnic is a at Muleshoe Farm, a chapter volunteer project. special time when These folks include: Cynthia Burgin, Jim Burgin, our family members Tom Hynes, Rheda Boardman, Daneshu join us to socialize and enjoy each other’s Clarke, Jim Clarke, JD Clarke, Dan Carabin, company in a nice Hill Country park or other natural Ann Dietert, Louis Giusti, John Huecksteadt, setting. This year we had a wonderful event at Myrna Langford, Diane McMahon, Sharon Muleshoe Farm and Ranch in Comfort. If you McLaughlin, Mike McLaughlin, Pat McCormick, were not able to attend, you can read about it in Nina Wagner, Kathleen Mundy, and Kendra Tom Hynes’ letter on page 5. If you attended Schwarz (Daneshu’s granddaughter). Those and had a great time, you can revisit the event helping with the successful silent auction were by reading Tom’s letter. organizer Cynthia Burgin, Sharon McLaughlin, I want to thank our many members and their Diane McMahon, and Nina Wagner. Diane family members who made our family picnic such McMahon and Nina Wagner were responsible continued. It was one of those Watson’s Milkpea July 2012 days… unique unto itself, and will not Galactia watsoniana Volume 10 happen again. Bandera No. 7 page 6. HILL COUNTRY CHAPTER County July 2012 txmn.org/hillcountry Page 2 THIS MONTH WE HONOR Milestones 2012 Recertification Special Recertification First Year Certification 1000 Hours - Gold Mexican free-tailed bat Mexican free-tailed bat Dragonfly Glenn Randow Kip Kiphart Merrily Labarthe Betty Clyburn Karla Trefny Ward Miller Ric McCormick Pat McCormick 250 Hours - Bronze Linda Louise Ross Bernadette DeShields Garry Speir Marian Worthington To those devoid of imagination a blank place on the map is a useless waste; to others, the most valuable part. Aldo Leopold Do you know? The ecosystem of the Edwards Plateau evolved with fire. With the possible exception of grazing and browsing, fire is probably the most important and widespread natural phenomenon functioning to retard development of natural grassland and savanna vegetation toward dominance by trees and shrubs. Fire is Mother Nature's choice for woody plant management. President’s message continued. for auction recordkeeping and oversight at the event. Thanks go to Cynthia Burgin for providing such a helpful list of her many volunteers. helpful A very special thank you goes to our member and speaker at the picnic, Bill Csanyi. His excellent presentation and demonstration of the ancient art of flintknapping included a discussion of geology and the benefits that flintknapping skills brought to ancient peoples. Bill exhibited many examples of various ancient stone tools that he re-created over the past eighteen years with his incredible knapping skills. It takes a lot of work to plan and host our picnic, but we are fortunate to have many capable members who have been very generous with their skills and time. Please thank them next time you see them. Volume 10, No. 7 txmn.org/hillcountry Page 3 ADVANCED TRAINING AT 12-047 WILDFLOWER EXPLORERS' CLASSES Wednesday, August 1,15; September 5, 19; October3, 17; 9-10a; RNC First and third Wednesday mornings, learn about 150 native wildflower species found in the Hill Country. Volunteers will meet to walk and talk through the gardens of RNC. AT 12-095 DRAGONFLIES WITH JAMES LASSWELL Saturday, July 21, 2-3p, Wild Birds Unlimited, Kerrville James speaks about his extensive knowledge of dragonflies. Limited to twenty. Call 830-895-7393. AT 12-097 THE OASIS PIPELINE WILDFIRE AND RECOVERY Monday, July 23, 7-8p, UGRA Chapter monthly meeting. AT 12-092 ELEMENTS OF HABITAT Friday, August 3, 1-5p, Kerr Wildlife Management Area (KWMA) First Friday Tours addressing resource concerns in the Edward’s Plateau. Part 1 “Elements of Habitat.” First of three seminars will deliver the central components in management of any wildlife species: food, water, and cover. Wildlife tax valuation procedures and outdoor tour will follow. Reservations required. Call KWMA office, 830-238-4483. AT 12-068A-E CANYON GORGE DOCENT TRAINING CLASS Friday, August 31, September 7, September 14, September 21, September 28; 11a -5p; Community Resource & Recreation Center; Sattler Gorge Volunteers Needed! An intense training that includes half day in the gorge. All five classes must be completed to qualify as a docent. Registration required. Contact Jaynellen Ladd, 830-964-5424 or [email protected]. AT 12-092 NATURAL RESOURCES: ADDRESSING CRITICAL ISSUES IN THE EDWARD’S PLATEAU Friday, September 7, 1-5p, KWMA Part 2 “Natural Resources: Addressing Critical Issues in the Edwards Plateau” Second seminar of three with emphasis on critical issues including, recent research investigations, updates, and conclusions. Reservations required. Call KWMA office, 830-238-4483. AT 12-094 ECOSYSTEMS MANAGEMENT Friday, October 5, 1-5p, KWMA Part 3 “Ecosystems Management, putting it all together. Finding a cure rather than treating a symptom." Third and final seminar discussing white-tailed deer management, grazing management, prescribed burning, brush control, and endangered species. The seminar will also include over thirty-years of nutrition and genetics research. Reservations required. Call KWMA office, 830-238-4483. AT 12-096 BRUNS RANCH TOUR Friday, October 19, 8:30-9:30a, Comfort The Kendall Soil & Water Conservation District is hosting a ranch tour. Registration, coffee, and snacks at 8:30a. Tour at 9a. Tour the Bruns Ranch with stops along the way to listen to speakers discussing: spring development, brush sculpting, plant identification, prescribed burning, and riparian areas. Four-wheel drive vehicles required. If you do not drive a 4WD, you’ll buddy up with someone who does. Wear walking shoes; bring walking stick, hat, and sunscreen. Cost includes covered wagon lunch. Registration required. $20.00 per person. Call 830-249-2821. The newsletter’s publication schedule does not allow all AT events to be listed in each issue. Check email messages for AT announcements and check the chapter calendar on our website for available AT. Texas Star txmn.org/hillcountry Page 4 The Hill Country Chapter celebrates ten years of education, outreach, and service dedicated to the beneficial management of natural resources and natural areas within Bandera, Gillespie, Kendall, and Kerr Counties. Class of 2002 The first chapter officers, l-r: Jane Crone, vice president of training; John Rogers, Jr., vice president of communications; George Tinsley, vice president of programs and projects; Class Aquatic Field Trip to Louise Hays Park Myrna Langford, secretary and vice president of membership; Sandy Peña, president; and Michael Johnson, treasurer. Other positions gleaned from 2003 newsletters: Barbara Lowenthal and Jane Crone - new class organizers Betty Thomas - database manager First to earn certification were Kim Whitaker - webmaster Julia Campbell, Priscilla Stanley - internal communications chair Sandy Peña, and and first newsletter editor Alice Bulechek. Jim Stanley - advanced training chair John Quinby - volunteer projects chair Second to certify were Maggie Tatum, Myrna Langford, Priscilla Stanley, and Jim Stanley OUR CHAPTER WAS ONE OF ONLY 18 CHAPTERS IN 2002 July 2012 txmn.org/hillcountry Page 5 First Year Firsts First year meetings had The Class of 2002 included thirty adventure- refreshments! seeking future Texas Master Naturalists. The 2002 class project involved heavy labor and trench-digging at Bandera Park. June 2003 Myrna Langford discovered a moth A graduation party was held at Roberts previously unrecorded in Ranch. Graduates received a packet Kendall County of Texas Star seeds. arctiid moth Cycnia inopinatus A December potluck social started our holiday tradition. The first annual report to the state office showed 296 volunteer hours and 325.75 AT hours recorded from October to December 2002. First chapter website launched January 2003. Chapter received a $1,000 donation from Friends of Kerrville-Schreiner Park. April 26, 2003 opened the application period for the fall training class. First Committee Chairs By April 2003, after only six months, members reported 700 July 2003 hours on 23 volunteer projects. Chapter members participated in the 2nd Annual Kerrville A chapter field trip to Love Creek Preserve occurred May 31. Butterfly Count In June, Sandy Peña and Jane Crone were interviewed on the local cable channel to promote the fall training class. The 2003 class had 22 candidates, and began September 3, 2003. 2003 Original Certifying Members Volume 10, No. 7 txmn.org/hillcountry Page 6 An Open Letter to the Master Naturalist, Hill Country Chapter and Our Friends: My first iteration of this letter was up to five pages and I said, "This just won’t work." I wanted to thank everyone who came, who volunteered, and to say to those who could not attend, I’m truly sorry you missed the chapter picnic. It was one of those days that was unique unto Chapter Picnic itself, and will not happen again. Saturday June 23 Many thanks to all of the volunteers who put in time, Muleshoe Farm in Comfort planning, and hard labor, drenched with sweat; all for the purpose of making our picnic an experience.