Texas Master Naturalist Certification

I am happy to announce my graduation from the Elm Fork Texas Master Naturalist class this fall.  It was a wonderful 12 week course put on through the Park & Wildlife department.  We covered everything from weather, archeology, geology, wildlife, prairies, forests, wetlands, conservation, ......
As a native Texan, I thought I knew a lot about the State, but WOW!  Now I'm thinking about how much more I need to learn.
I am looking forward to leading hikes and mentoring school kids about the wonders of the outdoors. 
Stay tuned for more adventures.

inaturalist observations

   

 
 
   
       
     
   
 

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Roger Barnett's Thanksgiving Message

This is a message for all seasons, but especially now during Thanksgiving week.  If you're still looking for a way to do something good for the planet, your neighborhood, your home, and your family, think of a 100 year old company that has been sustainable and green before it was a fad.

Happy Thanksgiving to to all.

Native Plant (wild carrot)

Thanks to the Native Plant Society of Texas, this beautiful white flower would have been yanked out of the ground before blooming.  I have really tried to plant more native plants this year.
Our Elm Fork Chapter only promotes natives that grow naturally within 60 miles of Denton.  I'm a newbie at this, but I'm delighted with my beds so far this spring.  Plus, the pollinators recognize these plants more than the nursery grown annuals. 
Look at my April 25th post for more natives I've planted this spring.
Happy Gardening!

LADYBUG RELEASE

 I gave my dad a ladybug house many years ago, but for some reason, we've never had one here.
We'll see if they stick around or if we bought 1500 bugs for the neighborhood.  
Yesterday evening we sprayed the vegetable garden foliage with water and sprinkled a powdered nectar on the wet leaves.  Then the ladybugs, which had been the fridge for a few days were sprinkled on the plants.
This morning I only saw 7 ladybugs.  So,....... it's wait and see.
Ladybugs are voracious aphid eaters,

consuming 100 aphids a day.  They also control spider mites, thrips, and mealy bugs.
The ladybug house is a convenient place for them to cluster together in a pile of dead leaves for the night.
 

BLUEBIRDS HAVE FLEDGED!

Poor little bluebird got kicked out of the box before able to fly.  Saw his sibling get eaten by a huge American Crow. 
Parent bluebirds have their hands full teaching 3 other fledglings to fly.  Hope this guy gets to be more than snake food tonight.
I love my yard this time of year.  I call it Birdie Day Care because the cardinals, blue jays, wrens and chickadees are very active.  
Our bluebirds usually have two clutches each year, so I guess mom and pop want to get started on the next family.

Native Plants for Denton County, Texas

 
Just recently, I found the Native Plant Society of Texas (NPSOT).  I was invited to a native plant sale in Flowermound, Texas (such an appropriate name for a town and a plant sale).  The week before, my town, Trophy Club, had a native plant presentation at our town park where I met these lovely, caring members of NPSOT that had a real passion for keeping Denton wild (with wildflowers).

Much of what I took away from the presentation was that the decline in bees and monarch butterflies may be due to homeowners planting too many foreign species instead of natives.  If you want to attract hummingbirds and butterflies to your yard, try introducing native plants to your garden.



This  year I still have my spring color, but have moved to dispersing pollinator attracting flowers around the garden.  These three pictures are from newly planted flowers, so they haven't gotten to their showiest phase, yet.  The first is a red cedar sage, then gulf penstemon, and next, the compact gold calylophus.  
The sage and penstemon like partial shade, while the calylophus loves full sun.
 

 


 





Two more sun loving plants are the foxglove and blackfooted daisy.

Finding native plants may be difficult in modern nurseries, so check out your counties agriculture extension services for names of NICE nurseries.  NICE stands for Native Instead of Common Exotics.  Wish me luck with my yard transformation.