by Robert Hernandez

The South Texas Border Chapter of Texas Master Naturalist has accepted the invitation to participate in the annual Rio Grande Valley Home and Garden Show (McAllen Convention Center, April 8 – 10, 2022) once again.

Our chapter has been assigned a 10 foot by 10 foot booth space during the three-day event. We will use the booth to inform the public about the use of native plants in our landscapes. Pamphlets, brochures and other literature will be available for the public to inform them about the use of native plants, island habitats for native and migratory pollinators, and other critters beneficial to the environment.

Native plants will be for sale to the public at our booth as part of a fundraiser. We encourage anyone who already has a pollinator garden established and who might be finding baby plants sprouting, to put them in containers and donate them as part of this fundraiser. Funds earned will be used for upcoming projects that focus on our Texas Master Naturalist (TMN) mission of outreach and service that benefits the conservation of our natural resources and areas within our communities.  Native plants will be for sale

We are also providing the show’s organizer with speakers from our TMN speakers’ bureau to conduct seminars related to propagation, use and care of native plants in creating native garden spaces. One of the featured speakers will be Texas Master Naturalist Anita Westervelt. Her presentation, “Living with the Natural World,” will focus on the importance of different creatures and critters coming together in a native plant garden. She will also present ideas on how to start your own native plant habitat.

Members and families of both Texas Master Naturalist chapters are invited to visit our booth during this event and to listen to our speakers during the seminars. We have two speakers currently assigned. Anyone who would like to be a presenter about native habitat or pollinator gardens is encouraged to contact the chapter event coordinator, Robert Hernandez, at hernaang1@gmail.com. Those interested in working at the booth, please contact Robert also.

The Home and Garden show is a great outreach opportunity; visitors come from all over the Valley. Time spent potting up native plants for the booth sales, helping prepare for the event, working up presentations and working the booth during the event count as volunteer time and advanced training for master naturalists who attend native presentations.