By Anita Westervelt, Texas Master Naturalist You’ve been following this column and rushed out to plant important nectar plants to bring in hummingbirds and butterflies for your summer entertainment. Your Esperanza, Tecoma stans, (The Monitor, September 7, 2019) is about to bloom. Now is the time to prune it if you want a different shape.…

Story and photo by Anita Westervelt, Texas Master Naturalist Native plants are those naturally occurring in an area without human introduction. Invasive plants, on the other hand, are non-native species that are able to establish themselves within existing native plant communities and can become a threat to the integrity of the ecological community. A plant…

Story and photos by Anita Westervelt, Texas Master Naturalist The length of a bird is generally the body length from crown to feet or to tip of tail, depending on where the longest measurement will be when the bird is standing or perched. Wingspan, a much more dramatic measurement, is from the very tip of…

Story and photo by Anita Westervelt, Texas Master Naturalist Not everyone appreciates turkey vultures, although they should. These carrion scavengers perform a much-needed environmental service. Their scientific name, Cathartes aura, provides a clue to their place in the ecosystem. Cathartes, is a Greek word meaning “purify.” Although a permanent Valley resident, an abundance of turkey…

Story and photo by Anita Westervelt, Texas Master Naturalist Winter may seem mainly for the birds. January was busy with the Christmas Bird Count and backyard feeder count — which brings us to a list of the best native trees for attracting birds. Honey Mesquite is the best all-round tree for wildlife. Seeds are eaten…