The Hays Humm
Texas Master Naturalist - Hays County Chapter
June 2015
Chapter News:
Chapter Board Meeting
When: Thursday, June 11, 2015
Where: The Education Center at Jacob’s Well in Wimberley, TX
Time: 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. (map link)
Chapter Meeting
When: Thursday, June 25, 2014
Where: To Be Announced…watch your e-mails for details!
Time: 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
How and Why Cultural Resources Become
Endangered and How the Public Can Help
Hosted by: Lost Pines Chapter
Where: Buescher State Park Recreation Center
Time: 6:00 p.m. (potluck) 6:30 p.m. (Event Starts)
Date: June 15, 2015
For more information click HERE or contact Larry
Gfeller at 512-294-6662
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Project Update: Charro Ranch Park Workday
Saturday May 9, 2015
The threat of rain kept most people away from the May workday.
Only Garry, Anne, and Mary Frances braved the mud. But the rain
held off, and it actually turned sunny.
We managed to replace several plants in the Native Landscape, which
had been killed by last winter's freezes, and added mulch around
most of the plants in the landscape.
Anne and Mary Frances also tackled some invasive Johnson Grass,
and replaced the signs at the cut-down, invasive Chinaberry tree.
We also discovered that Carpenter Ants or Acrobat Ants, had taken
over the solar-powered water pump shed, and they needed to be
eradicated and cleaned out. At least they weren't Fire Ants, but they
did bite!
So despite the low turnout and dreary conditions, we accomplished
quite a bit. I was unable to acquire more mulch this month to complete
the mulching of the Bird Viewing Station Trail, but hope to do that
next workday. Unfortunately, we discovered that the city's crew, hired
to cut the trails, mowed down some plants and all wildflowers in the
Native Landscape. The cutting crew was not supposed to touch the
Native Landscape, but apparently weren't properly instructed. The
city has been notified.
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Charro Ranch Workday Photos
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Jacob’s Well
st
May 1 Workday
Nine RRs showed up for the Workday
and First Day the Park was officially
opened for the summer.
Beverly, Irene, Susan, Blaine, Robert M,
Leigh, Jennifer, Christine and Tom
were the brave Group….
Task One - Invasive’s: Bastard
Cabbage, Johnson Grass and
Horehound along the new path. The
whole Group.
Task Two - New Path from parking lot
to trail. Beverly, Susan, Leigh and Tom.
Task Three - Walk the complete trail,
weeding, picking up trash, etc. The
whole Group.
Task Four - Weed around the nature
center. Jennifer, Christine, Bob, Irene.
-Tom Hausler
Photos by:
Tom Hausler
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President’s Message:
Our little part of the Hill Country will be dealing with the Blanco Flood and its
aftermath for a long time. While we’re still grappling with the tragic loss of life and
the devastation to property, I’d like to share how a small group of our fellow chapter
members decided to help.
On the Wednesday after the flood and after a community meeting of a local
organization which is concerned with local water issues, a group of friends discussed
and tried to figure out how best to help. Chris Middleton said, “It’s the trees.
Everyone will first focus on the families as they should. We should focus on the trees
and the river.”
Gary Weeks had called Paul Johnson of the Texas Forest Service who came to town
the next day, Thursday, to discuss river recovery with Gary. About 50 people,
including 8 HCMNs packed City Hall to hear him. Paul said they couldn’t produce a
flier for a few days. Our HCMNs knew the information had to get out sooner because
homeowners were already cleaning up and volunteers were already clearing river
debris.
Left to Right: Jean McMeans, Susan Nenney, Lin Weber
The Flyer Group!
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M
Presidents Message Continued…
Based on Paul’s comments, Susan Nenney drafted a flier and a small group met to
refine and finish it, and to get it printed. By Friday morning, the team had
developed a plan and deployed a group of volunteers on Saturday. The volunteers
went house to house along the river, distributing fliers, on Flite Acres Road, River
Road, the Hub, and other locations. They also distributed fliers to every café,
coffee shop, hardware store, and volunteer sign-up place. They had received the
Texas Forest Service’s flier on Friday night and distributed that too.
The team also got the word out through several organizations’ emails lists, social
media, and property owners associations. The group hosted a table at the
Wimberley Community Center on Saturday to reach flood victims who were
coming for information on many topics. They also worked with other local groups
to coordinate the effort. Among these were the Hill Country Alliance, the
Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority, the Texas Forest Service, the Nature
Conservancy, TreeFolks, and the Meadows Center.
The Nature Conservancy and the Texas Forest Service are holding a series of
workshops, based on our fliers, to reach more people as they become able to
concentrate on their riverside.
Among the HCMNs who were key to this effort (in no particular order): Susan
Neeney, Lin Weber, Jean McMeans, Mary Gilroy (trainee), Debi Bowers, Chris
Middleton, Jeff Vasgaard, Martha Pinto, Jamie Kinscherff, Candy Spitzer, Linda
Land, Chuck Curtis, and Jennifer Richmond. Apologies if I left someone’s name
off!
I’m extremely impressed and proud to have such members! They provide a fine
example of caring for the local community, brainstorming, mobilizing and
coordinating and sharing of valuable information. Their work will help our
community and the Blanco River for many years to come.
- Art Arizpe
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Hays MN Forum
Volunteer Opportunities
Join the Forum! It’s a great way to
connect with fellow naturalists, ask
questions, and learn from each
other. Find the link on our website!
Watch your e-mails for upcoming
opportunities! Check out the
Projects Calendar for more
information.
HAVE A VOLUNTEER IDEA?
Submit your idea, just fill out
The form HERE!
Contact Herb Smith,
[email protected] if you have
suggestions or questions!
Volunteer & Advanced
Training Hours
Whacha Got?
Send your photos, musings,
and other stuff to:
PLEASE REPORT ALL HOURS BY
THE END OF JUNE SO THEY CAN
BE INCLUDED IN THE SECOND
QUARTERLY REPORT!
[email protected]
or
[email protected]
Thank you! 
Thank you!
Want to be in the Hays County MN Marching
Kazoo Band?
JOIN US…at the Wimberley July 3rd Parade!
It is going to be a BLAST!
Contact Lin Weber ([email protected])
For more information!
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To Spring
Oh Spring!
How you send us glorious colors
How you bring a fresh day
Filled with whimsical whispers
Filled with tiny tinkers
Spring
Boasting blooms with beauty bright
And magical evenings with twinkling lights
The fresh feel
The warm aura
Of
Spring
-Hope Shimek
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Member Photos
Hyalophora cecropia (Cecropia
moth larva)By: Dan Zinn
This Cicada is waiting for
its wings to dry.
This giant got moved to a tomato
plant that wasn’t doing so well.
Caught in the act!
A happy little tree frog…
Argid sawfly larvae By: Dan Zinn
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Links to Chapter Partners and Sponsors
Sponsors
Hill County
Photography
Club
Agencies of Interest
Partners
Bamberger Ranch
bambergerranch.org
Native Plant Society of Texas
www.npsot.org
San Marcos Greenbelt Alliance
www.smgreenbelt.org
San Marcos River Foundation
www.sanmarcosriver.org
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
www.tceq.state.tx.us
Texas Outdoor Women’s Network
www.townsanmarcos.org
Texas Cooperative Extension -- Sea Grant
Program
texas-sea-grant.tamu.edu
Texas Forest Service
txforestservice.tamu.edu
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
www.usace.army.mil
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
www.fws.gov
U.S.D.A. Natural Resource Conservation Service
www.nrcs.usda.gov
Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority
www.gbra.org
Board of Directors
President
Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
Past-President
State Representative
Training Committee
Advanced Training Com.
Membership Committee
Web Master
Newsletter Committee
& Editor
Outreach Committee
Calendar Committee
Host Committee
Historian
Volunteer Service
AgriLife Agent
TP&WD Rep
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Art Arizpe
Karen Archer
Tracy Mock
Beth Ramey
Larry Calvert
Dixie Camp
Dick McBride
Susan Kimmel-Lines
Leah Laszewski
To Be Announced
Hope Shimek
[email protected]
Helen Bowie
Beverly Gordon
Roxana Donegan &
Mary Dow Ross
Tom Watson
Dixie Camp
Richard Parrish
Gordon Linam