Author: Anita Westervelt
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Anita’s Blog — Novice Beachcombers Stroll Boca Chica Beach
Few birds and even less people were on the beach when we arrived on a mid-August weekday. It was somewhat eerie to be on a deserted beach on a hot summer’s day, but the draw of the surf and objects on the glistening sand quickly captured our attention; all thoughts of an apocalyptic death…
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Anita’s Blog — Fascination with Fasciation
More fun with words. Fasciation is a weird word for a weird botanical condition. Computer auto-spell likes to change the word to fascination, and, I must admit, I found the subject rather fascinating. Fasciated (pronounced: făsh′ē-ā′tĭd) is defined as: “Compressed into a bundle or band; grown closely together, with the stems malformed and flattened…
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Anita’s Blog — Misunderstood Mallows
Plants are like people — some you like instantly, others you have to get to know and some will always remain charming acquaintances at the peripheral of your mind. Mallows were in that middle category for me. They didn’t resonate with me until Christina Mild, one of our Thursday morning volunteer team mates, mentioned…
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Anita’s Blog — Special Surprises at the BRB
We had several surprises during our regular Thursday morning volunteer time at Harlingen’s Hugh Ramsey Nature Park. The first surprise was a special guest: Valley Morning Star Ace Reporter and Photographer Rick Kelley, an advocate of native habitat, birds, Ramsey Park and our volunteer team. If you missed his story in the Valley Morning…
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Anita’s Blog — Summer Fun with Teacher Workshops
Teacher Workshops aren’t just for school teachers. Three RGVCTMN members attended a recent Texas Wildlife Association L.A.N.D.S. Outreach Teacher Workshop held at Estero Llano Grande. Other Valley venues held this training, too. The instructor was Elisa Velador, the RGV Region TWA Educator — who also happens to be a new chapter member. L.A.N.D.S. stands…
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Anita’s Blog — Touch Not the Cats
Isn’t this just the cutest little moppet you’ve ever seen? It’s sitting on a tree branch, all fluffy and cuddly. Do NOT pick it up! It’s a caterpillar of the southern flannel moth, Megalopyge opercularis, in its last instar state. It’s the best known flannel moth and stinging caterpillar in Texas. The larval form…