Category: Blogs
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Porpita porpita and the naming of things
Scientists, as we were taught in the early days of our Texas Master Naturalist training, use a two- name system called a Binomial Naming System, naming plants and animals using a system that describes the genus and species of the organism. The first word is the genus and the second is the species. It’s as…
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Milkweed: from Aphids to Zizotes
As the plight of the Monarch Butterfly in North America is discussed, the conversation always includes their host plants in the Milkweed family. An excellent source of information on these plants and their impact on nature is a booklet that is, unfortunately, no longer in print Milkweed, Monarchs and More by Ba Rea, Karen Oberhauser,…
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Harlequin Flower Beetle
by M. Kathy Raines The ornate creature in the soil-filled crotch of our ash tree appeared to be a decorated rock or a lost jewel, a pendant perhaps. Never had I seen such a thing—a beetle’s yellow carapace embossed with an ink rendering of an outspread tree, or maybe a Rorschach test. Then I picked…
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South Texas Ecotourism Center: Introducing future generations to ecosystem preservation and restoration
by Ed Meza For the month of July, the South Texas Ecotourism Center offered a four-week summer camp to students ages seven to tenon Tuesdays through Thursdays. The goal was to introduce the children to the preservation, restoration and education of our various rich ecosystems in the Rio Grande Valley and South Texas. The first week focused on native plants. Students learned how…
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And he’s off again!
It was a late July Dog Day Afternoon – perfect for a tram ride at Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park in Mission. South Texas Border Chapter Texas Master Naturalist, Jani McGee, drives the tram Thursday afternoons from 1 to 4 p.m., making rounds at the top of each hour. Bring a camera, grab a cold…
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Sea Turtle Adventures
So what does a science nerd, with a BS in Biology and a MS in Environmental Science, do in retirement? When I was asked back in 2019 about my future plans, I realized I had no idea. It was time to investigate. I did know that I could not just sit down for too long…