Our May program speaker, HMNS Greenhouse Manager Soni Holladay, began her talk about butterfly gardening with a discussion of monarch and queen butterflies. These butterflies migrate south in November to January/February to California and Mexico where they roost, drink water without eating, and wait for spring. In spring they make their way north, laying eggs on milkweed plants as they travel. The protozoan parasite O.E. (Ophryocystis elektroscirrha), is carried by spores on the adult female abdomen and is deposited with the eggs, infecting newly hatched caterpillars. The heavier infections of O.E. can cause decline in the health of the butterflies. Milkweeds There are many species of milkweed (genus Asclepias). Asclepias curassavica, tropical or Mexican milkweed, is evergreen and doesn’t go dormant in the winter like the native milkweeds. This makes it more likely to harbor O.E. Therefore, to lessen the chance of O.E. infection, it is preferable to grow native milkweeds for monarch and queen butterflies. .

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May 23rd, 2016

Volume 4, Issue 5

Coastal Prairie Chapter Courier

We are a group of trained volunteers who share our appreciation and

knowledge of nature with the community through outreach, education

and conservation/restoration projects

Monarch Butterfly Monarch on A. curassavica Mistflower

Green Milkweed (A. viridis)

Soni Holliday on Butterfly Gardening by Amber Leung,

CPCTMN Secretary

by Lynn Trenta, CPCTMN Courier Editor Individual Highlights:

Butterfly Program..….... 1

Chapter Field Trip….…. 3

Mad Hatter Days….……4

Still Feeding Birds.……..5

Invasive Species……….7

TPWD Outdoors.………8

Water Specialist……….9

MN go to Sheldon..…..10

Seabourne ……………11

Bayou Greenways…...12

Chapter events and nature-related articles, photos,

and items of interest to the chapter need to be sent to

Lynn by the 15th of the month. Suggestions for the

newsletter are also welcome. Thanks.

Lynn Trenta, Courier Editor

Tiger Swallowtail

Page 2 of 14 Coastal Prairie Courier

Growing Native Milkweeds To grow native milkweeds it is recommended that you use seed stratification, which involves keeping the seeds cold and moist in a refrigerator for 3 weeks at a minimum. The best time to harvest seeds is when the seed pods crack open. The tufts need to be shaken off into a paper bag and then the seeds put into a Ziploc bag of moist vermiculite, with a ratio of ¼ cup seeds to 1 cup vermiculite. It is then best to keep the seeds refrigerated for 2-3 months. After stratification, the seed/vermiculite mix needs to be spread over a tray filled with seed starting mix, adding more seed starting mix on top to keeping seeds moist. After approximately a week, seeds start germinating. When they have about 2 sets of mature leaves, they need to go into 4” pots. These plants will be very small for the 1st year. When planting outside, care needs to be taken with the large taproot of the plant. Common Milkweed Species include Asclepias species of incarnate (swamp), viridis (green), asperula, verticolata and oenotheroides. Another species is perennis (aquatic milkweed). Care of Tropical (curassavica) Milkweed. Tropical milkweed needs to be cut back once a year to 6 inches above the ground, after the first caterpillar group, in both April and November to diminish the chance of O.E. infection. Other monarch caterpillar predators and pests Besides O.E. infection, soldier bugs, ants, wasps, and flies can cause caterpillar destruction. Covering plants with a pop up laundry bag can address these insect issues. Swallowtails The genus name for swallowtails is Papilionidae. These butterflies are big and showy, both in caterpillar and butterfly form. Giant swallowtails’ host plant is prickly ash. Pipevine swallowtails are poisonous as they store toxins from their host plants: pipevine, dill, rue, prairie parsley, and bronze fennel. The spicebush swallowtail’s host plants are the spicebush and sassafras tree. The Eastern tiger swallowtail has 3 female forms and uses trees in general as their host plant. Puddling This activity is what male butterflies do to absorb minerals from the ground that help with reproduction. Following the wonderful butterfly program, our chapter general meeting began. Several chapter members received their certification and recertification pins, as well as milestones.

Congratulations to all of the members who received milestone pins and were certified and recertified. We are so appreciative and thankful to you all.

Soni Holliday on Butterfly Gardening/Members Receive Awards [Cont.]

by Amber Leung, CPCTMN Secretary

Page 3 of 14 Coastal Prairie Courier

On May 11, fifteen chapter members went on a field trip to the Eddie V. Gray Wetlands and the Baytown Nature Center. We toured their fabulous wetlands nature center, where every inch is packed with educational items for all ages. Some brave members held a bullsnake and a squirming young alligator! Their extensive touch tank contained crab, anemones, shrimp, and lightning whelk snails, just to name a few. Our education was then continued in their decked out science lab, complete with high power microscopes. Using the microscopes, we viewed a random sampling of fresh water which contained tons of living organisms. We then looked at the lightning whelk egg. At our picnic lunch at the Baytown Nature Center we were surrounded by the beautiful Burnet, Crystal and Scott Bays. During lunch, we heard about the elite Brownwood subdivision destroyed by subsidence (basically when the water is sucked out of the ground, and the ground sinks in), upon which the Baytown Nature Center was eventually built. It was a great talk and so informative to hear about all the history in the area. After lunch, we headed over to another area of the Baytown Nature Center where we walked along the wetlands with a guide. The guides got in the channels and used a sieve fishing net to pull up little marsh fish and fresh water shrimp. We finished up with a walk up 'the hill' that showcased the beautiful landscape with all the channels surrounding the Baytown Nature Center. We had beautiful weather, learned a lot, and a good time was had by all!

Chapter Field Trip to Baytown Nature Center by Donna Pisani

Page 4 of 14 Coastal Prairie Courier

Field Trip-photos -Don Johnson, Donna Pisani, Karl Baumgartner and Roger Hathorn

Page 5 of 14 Coastal Prairie Courier

Mad Hatter’s Days of April made a fun splash on April 2nd in Fulshear! Among the festivities at the celebration were a scavenger hunt, Mad Hatter Hat competition, an inflatable slide, Anna’s Gourmet Greek Food Truck, unique bird houses and feeders, and native bird art exhibit by photographer Kevin Malo. Chapter members Diane Russell and Kim Farou set up a wonderful Monarch Butterfly exhibit and the caterpillars and chrysalises were a big hit with the kids. Chapter member and Parks Commissioner Pat Mollere and son Mitchell organized the Mad Hatter competition and prize donation. Chapter member Susan Archer served as a Mad Hatter Judge. Photos are via Facebook.

Hat Contest Judges, including chapter member Susan Archer (L)

Mad Hatter Days of April Celebration

Fulshear Councilwoman Tajana Mesic

Chapter President Diane Russell with chrysalises

Chapter member Pat Mollere and son

Page 6 of 14 Coastal Prairie Courier

In this area, Spring is a great time to see seed eating migrants like the Indigo Bunting & Rose-breasted Grosbeak, as well as residents like the Red-bellied Woodpecker, at your feeders. The brown birds with the Buntings are the females, which is also true of the brown Rose -breasted Grosbeak on the one picture with the two males. I see a color difference on the Buntings between the pictures & have researched it but could not find a different Bunting other than the Indigo that fit. So, if we call them all Buntings & Grosbeaks, I think it's covered, & then add the Cardinal & Woodpecker as the residents, as applicable. (The Woodpecker is a male Red-bellied).

STILL FEEDING BIRDS? By Diane Eismont

Page 7 of 14 Coastal Prairie Courier

Thanks to CPCTMN Member Carol Swartz for sending in these next articles from Texas Parks and Wildlife.

Invasive species

Working Dogs for Conservation, a non-profit organization founded in 2007, trains conservation detection dogs that can sniff out unwanted invasive species among their many conservation efforts. They travel the world hunting invaders everywhere from Guam to Iowa, and now they’re in Texas to raise awareness about invasive species. This spring, the Working Dogs for Conservation have been conducting demonstrations, searches for emerald ash borer and voluntary boat inspections for zebra mussels. They will make their final public appearance for 2016 at the Toyota Texas Fest in Frisco on May 20 – 22. These dedicated dogs can search an entire boat for zebra mussels in about three minutes versus up to an hour it could take humans. The Working Dogs’ work is just part of a larger invasive species public awareness effort. This summer, Texas Parks and Wildlife and a coalition of partners are relaunching a zebra mussel awareness campaign in North and Central Texas and a giant salvinia campaign in East Texas. The campaigns seek to remind boaters to clean, drain and dry their boats every time they leave the water to prevent the spread of destructive invasive species. For more information about the Working Dogs for Conservation, visit their website. Watch this video showing the dogs at work at a demonstration in east Texas.

Clean, Drain and Dry – Stop Aquatic Invaders

Invasive species are serious business. So serious, the Texas Legislature recently dedicated $6.6 million to stop aquatic invasive species. You can spread some of these species, like zebra mussels and giant salvinia, without even knowing it. They are so harmful we all need to do everything we can stop them from spreading.

It’s illegal to transport invasive species, and a statewide law requires draining water from boats and on-board receptacles before leaving or approaching fresh water bodies.

As you head out on the water this spring and summer, make it a routine to clean, drain and dry your boat, trailer and gear every time you leave the lake - this short video will show you how. We also have this information in Spanish. Protect your Texas lakes. Remember to ALWAYS clean, drain and dry every time you leave the water.

Working Dogs for Conservation

Page 8 of 14 Coastal Prairie Courier

Summer is creeping up on its sweaty little feet and we all know it will be HOT. The best prescription for heat relief? Water sports! Start planning now to get your splash on:

PADDLING: There are 71 Texas Paddling Trails where you can canoe, kayak, paddle board and fish. The newest trail, Chandler Upper Neches Paddling Trail, just opened outside of Tyler. Never tried paddle sports? Check out this video for a paddler’s-eye-view.

SWIMMING: Texas has lakes, spring-fed pools, rivers, creeks, and the Gulf coast, all waiting to cool you off. Get your swimming started with a list of the top 10 state park swimming areas – try to visit them all! And stay safe with these tips.

BOATING: If you’re looking for a new spot to take out the boat, try one of these. Also visit the Texas Public Boater Access site, a catalog of public areas you can use to access Texas waterways. Don’t forget the life jackets – safety first!

FISHING: Finding public access to rivers can be a challenge. Here are some places to look - we just added 2 new spots for white bass anglers. Have you tried wade fishing? Check out this video tour of some prime spots along the coast.

Public river access projects are just some of the projects made possible by supporters of Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, our Nonprofit Partner.

If you want to sign up to receive TPWD Information about outdoor activities, click on the sign up link below.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Summer Activities

Page 9 of 14 Coastal Prairie Courier

There is something new brewing in the waters of Texas! The Conservation Education team with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has been hard at work creating a new specialized training curriculum and program – the Texas Water and Watershed Specialist Program! Johnnie Smith, TPWD, and his team have been building this program with the idea to launch it this year with our Texas Master Naturalist volunteers being the first to use it! Eventually, they intend on sharing it with the general public too. Through this training and program, volunteers will have a chance to earn some advanced training hours and the title of a Texas Water and Watersheds Specialist through this new TPWD program! Here is some of the background information about this new program: The Texas Water and Watersheds Specialist training is designed to provide water and watersheds educational content to the citizens of Texas, initially through the Texas Master Naturalist program. It will allow Texas Master Naturalists to earn a Texas Water and Watersheds Specialization. Our aim is to inform and to educate them about the most precious natural resource Texas possesses, its water. So many challenges face our State concerning water, in particular in our aquatic habitats, the water for wildlife. Texas Parks and Wildlife wants the public to know that we value the natural and cultural resources of Texas and want there to always be drinkable, swimmable, and fishable waters in our great State. Volunteers will work through the curriculum individually or in small group study organized by the chapter, then will participate in scheduled interactive webinar trainings. Finally, at the Texas Master Naturalist Annual meeting, they will receive advanced training through workshop sessions to finalize their specialist training and certification. In return for this specialist training, Texas Water and Watersheds Specialists will provide their community with volunteer service in the form of educational activities, projects, or demonstrations. Before the TPWD team launches this new training program, there are a few more details left to decide – and for this, they’ve asked that we turn to you – our Texas Master Naturalists and naturalist community! The survey asks 7 questions related to your participation in the TMN program, your potential interest in this new water and watershed program and your potential engagement with the public related to water education. Please take a quick 5 minutes to help them finish developing this exciting new program! Find the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TMN-water-specialist-intro **Please complete this survey by Friday July 3rd! If you have any questions specifically about the specialist training, the curriculum or the design of the program, please contact Johnnie Smith, Conservation Education Manager, TPWD: Johnnie E. Smith, M.Ed. Conservation Education Manager Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (512)389-8060 Work (512)517-5527 Cell Johnnie.smith@tpwd.texas.gov Thank you again for your passionate support of conservation engagement!

Mary Pearl Meuth Extension Associate – Texas Master Naturalist Program Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Office: (979) 845-7294

The Texas Water and Watersheds Specialist Training Program

Page 10 of 14 Coastal Prairie Courier

Karl Baumgartner, Jim Butcher, and Roger Hathorn went to Sheldon Lake to tour their wetlands and prairies with Marissa Sipocz. Photos below were taken by Roger Hathorn.

Master Naturalists go to Sheldon Lake

Page 11 of 14 Coastal Prairie Courier

THE EDIBLE PLANTS GARDEN The Edible and Medicinal Native Plants Garden is under

construction in SCNP but there are already treats to be found. Amber Leung picked a handful of ripe dewberries on a recent visit. When mature, we envision a semi-wild area with something to offer nearly year-round. Not only will fruits will be a tasty seasonal treat from different trees, vines and shrubs, but also planned are some that offer edible and medicinal foliage, roots, and other parts. Mexican plums and muscadine grapes are in the ground. Dewberries and passion vines are naturally-occurring. To these, we will add other natives such as turk's cap, rosemallow, Texas thistle, winecups, and wild onions. A "tea garden" area will showcase wildflowers such as beebalm and goldenrod. Medicinal species such as purple coneflower, heals all, and boneset round it out. Didn't know any of these plants were edible or medicinal? Curious to learn more or want to help? Please contact Amber Leung at paintbunting@gmail.com

Photo and text by Amber Leung

PRAIRIE PLANTINGS On May 13th

the LDS Volunteers came out to plant prairie

plants and help with the prairie restoration.

Chapter volunteers were on hand to help and

they included Linda Lourim, Jim Butcher, Sal

Cardenas, Than Colvin, Roger Hathorn and

Project Manager Karl Bumgartner. The photo

was taken by Karl showing chapter member

Linda Lourim who helped with the planting.

About 167 plants made it out into our prairie

pathway area. Thanks, volunteers!

Seabourne Happenings

First the Good News--------

Page 12 of 14 Coastal Prairie Courier

Wednesday, May 17th, Diane Russell and Linda Rippert “arrived at the Seabourne Butterfly Garden to find the evil feral hogs had disrupted the entire garden, throwing compost out on the walks, overturning bricks, and uprooting some plants and much of the cardboard. What a field day they must have had.” Linda, Diane, Gloria Scheel and Avan Wolf “were able to single-handedly return the garden to complete normalcy after some hours of work. Fortunately, the hogs were more interested in what was between the plants than the plants themselves.” (Diane Russell-photos by Diane Russell)

Before Repair- After Repair

Now The Bad News--FERAL HOG DAMAGE in the Gardens

Page 13 of 14 Coastal Prairie Courier

At the same time, the Prairie Demo Garden was also attacked by the feral hogs, who tore apart the soil and brick borders of some gardens. See below the before and after photos for the Demo Garden. Jerry Trenta put the bricks back in place and Jerry, Sal Cardenas, Lynn Trenta and Linda Lourim worked on the beds and replaced cardboard and hay on several beds. There’s still some work to do on a couple of beds, which will be evened out and cardboard and hay replaced. Many thanks to these hard-working chapter volunteers!

Before After

Page 14 of 14 Coastal Prairie Courier

Great news! We teamed up with Google to create Street View imagery of Houston's parks, trails and emerging Bayou Greenways network. Now you can take a virtual tour through Houston's most popular greenspaces using Google Maps.

2016 Officers

President Diane Russell Vice President Sharon Smith Secretary Amber Leung Treasurer Doug Simons

2016 Committee Directors

Past-President Jim Butcher

Programs Sharon Smith

Communication Lynn Trenta

Volunteer Service Projects Michelle Sullivan

Membership Jade Hems

New Class Wayne Helbert

Advanced Training- Jimmy Brannon

New Class Representative C.J. McDaniel

State Representative Carol Schwartz

We’re on the Web!

See us at:

http://txmn.org/coastal

COASTAL PRAIRIE CHAPTER OF THE TEXAS MASTER NATURALISTS

1402 Band Rd Extension Office

Rosenberg, TX 77471—8678 Phone: 281-633-7033

CPTMN 2016 Board Members

Check out our Facebook Page at

TXMN Coastal Prairie Chapter Facebook

To post photos and information, email John Donaho or Lynn Trenta

Also Share our chapter Facebook entries with your friends on your Facebook Page

Bayou Greenways