Story and photos by Anita Westervelt, Texas Master Naturalist It’s tree planting time in the Valley. It’s cooler, the sun not so strong, making November through February the best time to plant trees. During these cooler months, newly-planted trees can concentrate on root growth and getting established, then be ready to prosper with the spring…

Story and photos by Anita Westervelt, Texas Master Naturalist Hosting our resident and winter-visiting birds is always fun here in the Valley. It’s possible to increase the variety of birds coming to your property by planting native trees. You may recognize the mantra, November through February is the ideal time to plant trees in the…

Story and photos by Anita Westervelt It’s the time of year to start thinking about what you want to plant during the Valley’s cooler months. Right now, for butterflies, plant anything that’s blooming. Give them nectar and they will come! Busy nectar plants this month are crucita, scarlet sage, skeleton-leaf golden eye, heliotrope, passion vines,…

By Anita Westervelt, Texas Master Naturalist Beautiful when effortlessly soaring on the thermals with out-stretched wings, up close, their bare-skinned red head with greenish warts and hooked white bill do not an attractive bird make. Not everyone appreciates turkey vultures but these carrion scavengers perform a much-needed environmental service. I think of them as the…

Story and photos by Anita Westervelt, Texas Master Naturalist Earlier this year the National Wildlife Federation issued an open letter to mayors across the nation asking them to help create native habitat in cities in an effort to save the iconic monarch butterfly. You can jump on the band-wagon at home, too. A small space…

Special to the Valley Morning Star by Anita Westervelt SAN BENITO, Texas – Valley native Frank Wiseman was honored Tuesday for achieving a significant milestone of 5,000 volunteer hours in the Rio Grande Valley Chapter, Texas Master Naturalist organization. In recognition, Wiseman received a special state Texas Master Naturalist 5,000-hour service pin: a gold dragonfly…