MASTER GARDENER SEMINARS INTRODUCTION AND INFO 1. Introduction and Info 2. Volunteer opportunities 3. Upcoming events 4. Other Opportunities ############################################## INTRODUCTION AND INFO 1. As of last report Robert Flott was improving from his open heart surgery. Please keep him and Joyce in your thoughts. Get better Robert, we miss your smiling face at our meetings. 2.There are still plants left over from the sale that are available. They are $1 over the invoice price plus tax. 3. The November newsletter is on the website now at http://hcmga.tamu.edu/Public/urban/2009.aspx . 4. All upcoming events are listed at: http://harris-tx.tamu.edu/hort/ . Visit http://hcmga.tamu.edu, and http://hcmgap2.tamu.edu for more info as well. ############################################## VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES 1. Mentors for the Phone Room needed: We need at least 1 person a day. If you can't work a full day, half a days are available as well. This is a great way to get your volunteer hours and stay out of the weather. To sign up contact David Parish at 281.855.5635 or dwparish@ag.tamu.edu. As of this point in time we have opportunities in the month of Nov.for mentors and interns. Mentors - 16th. ##############################################   UPCOMING EVENTS (CEU opportunities) 3. A HCMG Field Trip has been planned for Wednesday, December 2nd to Varner-Hogg Plantation (decorated for the holidays) and Brazos Citrus Nursery in W. Columbia. Cost for museum admission and lunch is $17. CEU's 1.5 hours. Sign ups begin on the 10th and continue until the 24th. 4. Nov 17         Master Gardener Evening Lectures: Bear Creek   PJ Ellison, Owner, Ellison Farms         6:30 p.m. - Desserts and coffee     7:00 p.m. - Lecture begins     Texas AgriLife Extension Service     3033 Bear Creek Dr, Houston, TX 77084 5. Nov 18       Master Gardener Lecture Series: Clear Lake   Top 10 Tree Myths       Dr. Anthony W. Camerino, County Extension Agent - Horticulture   10:00 a.m.       The Meeting Room at Clear Lake Park (on the Lakeside)   5001 NASA Road 1, Seabrook, TX 77586 6. Nov 19     Green Thumb Lecture Series     Fruits and Nuts     6:30 - 9:30 p.m.     Texas AgriLife Extension Service     3033 Bear Creek Dr, Houston, TX 77084     ##########################################

NPSOT FALL FIELD TRIPS Three field trips are scheduled for Fall 2009. All three trips will be on Sundays and led by Dr. Larry Brown. PLEASE CONTINUE TO USE OUR NEW MEETING LOCATION! Due to over crowded parking at the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center, 4501 Woodway, we will meet in the parking lot 0.4 mile east of the Arboretum.   After leaving the Arboretum and heading east, take a right at the split in the road just before the light and then immediately another right into the parking lot. Please wear appropriate footwear for walking through wet or dry fields, bring drinking water, bug spray, and a sack lunch. Field trips normally end after the picnic lunch. If the weather is drizzling rain, we proceed, but if it is a gully-washer, we still gather at the Arboretum and then cancel. We meet at the Arboretum between 8 and 8:30 AM, and depart promptly at 8:30 AM. Please contact Paul Roling for any additional inquiries: 281-353-7413 or PRoling@att.net. If you want to be added to the NPSOT field trip e-mail list, send an e-mail to PRoling@att.net requesting to be added to the list. E-mail reminders are sent out about a week before each trip.

LATEST NPSOT NEWS SEE NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY NOTES AND DATES FOR THE NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY BOOTH at the bottom of this note, please consider taking the native plant society booth to an event just once this year. If we all participate in outreach activities, we can invite more wonderful people to join our us in enjoying and learning about nature and preserving and restoring natural areas.   ------------------------------------------------------------ Lagniappe: a.    Rain: In urban areas, every time it rains, millions of gallons of rainwater are wasted as runoff into storm sewers. Consider ways to increase the amount of rain you keep on your property. Rain barrels, rain gardens, mulching, terracing http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/earthrain.html c.     Houston Museum of Printing History, 1324 West Clay www.printingmuseum.org d.    Support Wildlife with a Texas Conservation License Plate www.conservationplate.org e.     Houston Zoo: programs for teachers www.houstonzoo.org/en/cms/?1624 f.     ID & Protect Rare Trees: Contact Ray Sher to turn in the rare tree report form: gary_ray@sbcglobal.net  Questions, call Ray at 713-851-6102 g.    Schools: $50 for Wildflower Seeds LadyBird Johnson Wildflower Center www.wildflower.org/wildflowers/ i.      Million Trees + Houston Program www.treesforhouston.org Please ask for a greater variety of native trees. Biodiversity, please. j.      Trust for Public Lands Green Printing. What lands are best for conservation? www.tpl.org/tier3_cd.cfm?content_item_id=20938&folder_id=264 k.     The Story of Stuff www.storyofstuff.com/index.html  l.      US Tree Cover http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=17913 m.   Conservation: Please help add parklands for the millions of people who are predicted to be added to Texas in the next 50 years. Houston Parks Board www.houstonparksboard.org n.     Prairie Videos. Videos by Jaime Gonzales of Katy Prairie Conservancy can be found at www.youtube.com Enter Harvesterant as the search term. Seed Collection at Nash Prairie, by Tom Solomon, is at www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AUT0F_3Oy8 o.    Contact Lawrence Spence to get alerts from the EEE Environmental Educators' Exchange lawrence_spence@yahoo.com p.    Rasberry Crazy Ants http://agnews.tamu.edu/showstory.php?id=1068 q.    Environmental Websites@ http://www.npsot.org/Houston/Local_Websites_and_Links.htm   Regular Volunteer Activities & Workdays o    Butterfly Garden Weeding at Trinity River refuge  Stuart_Marcus@fws.gov o    High Island Audubon Clean-Up Workdays Contact Andrew Beck abeck@houstonaudubon.org c: 832.643.7471 www.houstonaudubon.org o    Houston Zoo Native Garden Workday RSVP to Lisa lkayey@gmail.com o    Japhet Creek workdays  Contact Brian Herod to get alerts bjherod@gmail.com o    Katy Prairie Nursery Fridays 10-2 pm www.katyprairie.org o    Plant Propagation Committee 2nd Thurs. morning RSVP to L71S@yahoo.com o    Turner Park Wetland Workdays RSVP to Kelly Conner at princesskk69@yahoo.com o    Tapley Tributary, Buffalo Bayou  RSVP to Lucy starwanderer2001@yahoo.com   Volunteer and Membership (M) Opportunities Armand Bayou Nature Center Volunteers (M) www.abnc.org Texas Parks & Wildlife survey of Mexican Freetail bats need volunteers for the Waugh Street Bridge Bat Project. Contact Diana Foss, tpwd urban wildlife biologist at 281-456-7029, ext 21 or Odie Asscherick - MasterNaturalist@webtv.net for more information. Check out our website. http://community.webtv.net/masternaturalist/THEWAUGHBATMONITOR Houston Audubon Society Docent (M) www.houstonaudubon.org Houston Arboretum & Nature Center Amigos (M) www.houstonarboretum.org Jesse Jones Park & Nature Center Volunteers www.hcp4.net/jones Legacy Land Trust-please support increased sand & gravel legislation (M) www.llt.org Katy Prairie Conservancy Patchwork Prairie Fund. $10 can buy 1˛ ft of transplanted prairie. Less than 1% of tallgrass prairie remains. (M) www.katyprairie.org Native Prairies Association of Texas (M)  www.texasprairies.org   Trust for Public Land- preserving open space (M) www.tpl.org   Native Plant Society Notes 1.     Send Newsletter articles to Native Times Editor Tricia Bradbury  triciabrad@aol.com     2.   Create a wildlife-friendly yard: NWF's Certified Wildlife Habitat Program  www.nwf.org/backyard 3.   Find Native Plant Information pages at www.npsot.orghouston    4.     Workdays at Levy Park Native Plant Garden RSVP dknowlespe@aol.com 5.     Plant Blindness Articles (Flo Oxley of the Wildflower Center, Texas Plant Conservation, Issues and Challenges)  www.tpwd.state.tx.us/newsletters/eye-on-nature/2008spring/page2.phtml (Natalie Angier, Green, Life Giving and Forever Young) www.nytimes.com/2007/04/17/science/17angi.html?_r=1 (James Wandersee and Renee Clary, On Seeing Flowers are you Missing Anything?) www.humanflowerproject.com/index.php/weblog/on_seeing_flowers_are_you_missing_anything/   Native Plant Society Booth -Interact with the Community; Outreach, Good way to get volunteer hours- Sign up to help! - Contact Linda Knowles 281-558-3710 dknowlespe@aol.com to be added to a list of potential booth volunteers. We have several display boards. We will have booths at some of these events; lf you like to work at an event, let us know and we will check to make sure they have a place for us. Let us know of other events where you like to have a booth!   Native Plant Society of Texas (NPSOT) Information: NPSOT STATE OFFICE  P.O. Box 3017, Fredericksburg, TX 78624,  830-997-9272, coordinator@npsot.org, www.npsot.org  Native Plant Society Membership Application at  www.npsot.org/application/join_npsot.html

Miscellaneous Highlighted Events, Etc.: 1. Recycle Pots- bring/take 2. Donate to the Katy Prairie Conservancy. 3. Jesse Jones Park needs guides & volunteers 4. Garden Club Scholarships/Fellowships 5. Glenn Olsen Birding Classes 6. Butterfly, Bird & Dragonfly BBD Calendar   1.     Garden Pot Recycling- Houston Arboretum. Details-call 713-681-8433  www.houstonarboretum.org 2.     Katy Prairie Conservancy: Warren Ranch Loan must be paid off by June! www.katyprairie.org 3.     Jesse Jones Park needs volunteers to guide week day park tours and to work at the carnivorous plant greenhouse! Contact KFry@hcp4.net www.hcp4.net/jones/ 4.     Garden Club Scholarships for the study of Ecological Restoration, Coastal Wetlands, Endangered Bird Habitat, Urban Forestry, Environmental Science, Landscape Architecture, Horticulture,Medicinal Botany, Field Botany & more. For updated info, applications, and deadlines go to the Website: http://gcamerica.org/scholarships.php3 6.     Butterfly, Bird & Dragonfly Calendar  http://www.gallerianaturalist.com 7.     SB 205 Texas Partnership for Children and Nature Call or email your state representative; ask for a vote in favor of SB 205.  Find your rep: www.house.state.tx.us/members/welcome.php 8.     Houston Arboretum & Nature Center Summer camp www.houstonarboretum.org/summercamp.asp 9.     Blackwood Nature Camp www.blackwoodland.org/nature_camp 10.  Nature Discovery Center Summer Activities http://www.naturediscoverycenter.org 11.  Houston Audubon Edith Moore Sanctuary Summer Camps   www.houstonaudubon.org 12.  Jesse Jones Park & Nature Center Summer Camps  http://www.hcp4.net/jones   In Memoriam: native plant society member Karen Stockton, an avid member of the Butterfly Society, an accomplished pianist & a wonderful nature storyteller, has passed away. We send our deepest sympathy to Farrar.

NATURE CENTERS & LIKE ORGANIZATIONS Please note: The following information is only as accurate as it was reported by various members and other sources. Dates, times, and locations are subject to change. Contact information is provided wherever it was available, so please confirm this information before attending. ======================================= Armand Bayou Nature Center: 281-474-2551 8500 Bay Area Blvd., Pasadena, TX Volunteer meetings - 2nd Thursday, Social 6:30pm, Lecture at 7pm Guided Canoe Tours - A morning of education and adventure paddling canoes on a guided tour down the backwaters of Armand Bayou. Meet at Bay Area Park for a leisurely morning of wildlife watching, wetland education, relaxation and fun. Observe numerous birds, reptiles, deer and other residents at the water's edge. Beginning and experienced canoers welcome. Life jackets provided. Cost: $20 members; $25 non-members Every Saturday 9:30 am & 2:00 pm Owl Prowl - Enjoy a moonlit walk through the woods as we look for owls and listen for fascinating night sounds. Bring a flashlight. Cost: Members - $2 adults, $1 children & seniors; Non-members - $5 adults, $3 children & seniors Pontoon Boat Cruises - Sunset & Moonlight Cruises - Experience a relaxing and education trip on the bayou in the cool of the evening. Depart from Bay Area Park. Cost: Members: $15 adults, $10 children & seniors; Non-members: $20 adults, $15 children & adults ***Check back for dates Prairie Night Ride - From the elevated view of a hayride, we will explore the sights and sounds of the transforming prairie landscape. With the aid of a powerful spotlight the guides will interpret the prairie's beauty, wildlife and ecology. Bring your own drinks and snacks. Cost: $5 members; $7 non-members ***Check back for dates ===================================== Artist Boat - Eco-Art & Eco-Tour Adventures 2415 Avenue K, Galveston, TX Offering opportunities that include paddling and safety instruction and hands-on outdoor environmental and art enrichment activities. Trips cost $20 if you have your own equipment (kayak or canoe, paddle, PFD). Equipment is available to rent for an additional $20 per person. Bring lunch and water. For more information and to register, contact Artist Boat at info@artistboat.org or 409-770-0722. For detailed information about this program, visit www.artistboat.org. ==================================== Brazos Bend State Park 21901 FM 762, Needville, TX Visit http://www.bbspvo.org or call 979-553-5101 for events and more information Bird Watching Hikes - 8 am - Leaving from the 40 Acre Lake Restroom Night Hike - 7 pm - Meet at the Park Headquarters. Reservations and pre-payment required. Cost: $5 per person (7-12 yrs old); $9 per person (13 yrs and up). ===================================== Butterfly Enthusiasts of Southeast Texas (BEST) - Houston Museum of Natural Science, lower level classroom. Meetings are held on the 1st Tuesday of the odd months except November, January & February. Social time: 7 pm Meeting/Program: 7:30 pm. For more information, visit www.best-naba.org ====================================== Galveston Island State Park - 409-737-1222 14901 FM 3005, Galveston, TX Exploring Sea Life. Get a close up look at the myriad of critters that inhabit the sand, surf and seaweed under the guidance of local beachcombers. FREE. ===================================== Houston Arboretum & Nature Center, 4501 Woodway Drive http://www.HoustonArboretum.org - 713-681-8433 Urban Nature Series - FREE - 2 pm ===================================== Houston Audubon Society - Membership Meetings - United Way bldg, 100 Waugh Dr, Houston 77019 Social time: 7 pm. Program: 7:30 pm For more information, visit www.houstonaudubon.org or call 713-932--1639 -------------------------------------------------------------- Houston Audubon Society - Sanctuary Seminars - NOTE: Monthly seminars rotate on an every-other-month basis between Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary (ELMNS) and Sims Bayou Urban Nature Center (SBUNC). Social time: 7 pm. Program: 7:30 pm. Fee: $5 donation requested. For more information and reservations, visit www.houstonaudubon.org or call 713-932--1639 Owl Prowls - 7 - 9 pm Owl prowls begin with a program on owls and an opportunity to meet live, rehabilitated owls in the Sanctuary's log cabin. Cost:$6.00, payable in advance. For more information and reservations, contact Betty Henderson at 713-464-4900. ====================================== Jesse Jones Park & Nature Center: 281-446-8588 (free) 20634 Kenswick, Humble, TX 77338 http://cp4.hctx.net/jones/index.htm Breakfast with the Birds. Join naturalist Jerry Walls for an "early bird" walk (7:45 am). Check back for dates ====================================== Katy Prairie Conservancy Field Office - 31950 Hebert Rd, Waller, TX 77484 For information about events, call 936-931-5564 or visit www.katyprairie.org KPC PrairiECOnnection Course - The Katy Prairie Conservancy (KPC) is launching a new series of interpretation courses specifically designed for new and currently active KPC volunteers interested in leading public tours. Each class will focus on making connections between various natural history, historical, economic, and cultural topics. ===================================== Lake Houston Area Nature Club - Trailwood Village Pool/Community Room Kingwood, TX 77338 Meetings are the first Wednesday of every month, September to May. Social time: 7 pm. Program: 7:30 pm. ==================================== Mercer Arboretum - 281-443-8731 22306 Aldine Westfield, Houston Birding Walk. Join Piney Woods members on a walk through Mercer in search of birds that call the area home. Binoculars, birding guides, comfortable and quiet walking shoes, and no brightly-colored clothing are recommended. Free. Call for reservations. ===================================== Native Plant Society of Texas Houston Chapter - Houston Arboretum and Nature Center, 4501 Woodway Meetings are third Thursdays; February - November. Meeting Time: 7 pm - 8:45 pm Field Trips - Meet at the Houston Arboretum (4501 Woodway) at 8 am. Trips will be led by Dr. Larry Brown. Bring sack lunch, water and bug spray. Footwear is weather dependent since sites are often wet. Contact Flo Hannah with any questions at 713-932-1639 ext. 14 or fhannah@wt.net ==================================== Nature Discovery Center - 7112 Newcastle, Bellaire, TX 77401 Meetings are the first Wednesday of each month at 7 pm. FREE. Light refreshments served. For more information, call 713-667-6550 or email naturediscoverycenter.org. ====================================== Outdoor Nature Club (ONC) – Bayland Community Center, 6400 Bissonnet (just west of Hillcroft) Meetings are the second Thursday of every month. Social time: 7 pm. Program: 7:30 pm. http://www.OutdoorNatureClub.org ONC Botany/Entomology – Bayou Manor (basement), 4141 South Braeswood. Meetings are the second Tuesday of every month. Social time: 7 pm. Program: 7:30 pm. For more information, contact Leland Day at 713-668-2617 ONC Conchology – Bayou Manor, 1st Floor, 4141 South Braeswood Meetings are the fourth Thursday of every month. Social time: 7 pm. Program: 7:30 pm. For more information, contact Lernie Ruthven at 713-861-7301 ONC Ornithology – Bayland Community Center, 6400 Bissonnet (just west of Hillcroft) Meetings are the first Monday of every month. Program: 7 pm. For more information, contact Michael Williams at 713-228-9064 ===================================== Sheldon Lake State Park - 15315 Beaumont Highway (Business 90) @ Park Rd. 138, Houston. Birder Walk and Talk 8:30 - 10 am - Stroll around the park's many trails on this guided hike as we seek neotropic migrants and nesters.

Web page created & maintained by Odie Asscherick, Texas Master Naturalist, Galveston Bay Area Chapter Email: MasterNaturalist@webtv.net