The Hays Humm
Texas Master Naturalist Hays County Chapter
November 2014
Chapter News:
Hays County
Master Naturalist
2014 Gala and Awards
Ceremony
Chapter Board Meeting:
Thursday, November 13,
2014. Meeting will be held
in Wimberley, Camp Jacob
at Jacob’s Well. (Map link)
6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
This is all of us, this is YOU!
-A great way to learn more about
our wonderful state of Texas is to
look at what other Master
Naturalist programs are doing!
Click the link to the State site,
choose a county and skim
through their monthly
newsletters!
STATE
CHAPTERS
LINK
This year’s class of 2014, The Monarchs,
as well all other Hays County Master
Naturalists have had a very exciting and
hardworking year! Come join us for the
2014 Gala where we celebrate all of the
hard work and dedication put in by
everyone, enjoy a delicious meal, and
see what we have accomplished and
what is to come!
When: Saturday, November 15, 2014
Where: The San Marcos Activity Center
Time: 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Dress for the event is comfortable
business casual…no need for ties and
shined shoes, just Hill Country Chic!
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Featured Project: By Garry Child
Garry Child is one of our fellow Master Naturalists, and he has devoted many volunteer hours to Charro Ranch. Charro
Ranch has a beautiful story, and over the years, with help from many a volunteer, has become a wonderful place to relax
and enjoy nature at its finest! Garry and his wife Anne are 2010 Prickly Pears!
Charro Ranch Park HCMN Project #1010
Dripping Springs, TX
Charro Ranch Park is a 64-acre, open space, natural-area park, located on FM 150 on the south
side of Dripping Springs. The land was donated by Lucy Hibberd in December of 2008 after
being in her family for about 50 years. Mrs. Hibberd developed some trails on the tract,
created a Solstice Circle, and a Walk of Peace (a peace symbol with concentric circles of stone
to walk and reflect on your place in the universe, and peace on this planet). Although the city
appreciated the gift, it did not have the funds or resources to manage the park, and it quickly
fell into neglect and mismanagement (being used for a time as a dumping ground for
diggings from utility work in the city, for example). But the tract holds a very diverse set of
flora and fauna and it struck the interest and attention of Hays County Master Naturalist M.
Lee Brown, who also introduced it to Hays County Master Naturalists Garry and Anne Child,
and others. The idea of the Hays County Master Naturalists helping to manage the park was
presented to, and approved by the city, at the end of 2010 and became project #1010.
Additional nature trails have been built, as well as a Cross-Country Running Trail. There
have been several projects managed by the Hays County Master Naturalists, since the Bird
Viewing Station (dedicated in January of 2013) was completed at the park.
The Hays County Master Naturalists started and lead a monthly workday at the park on the
second Saturday each month, weather permitting. At these workdays, trails are built and
maintained, invasive species are managed using mechanical controls, and work is performed
on approved park projects. All volunteers are welcome at these workdays (not just Master
Naturalists), and it gives the citizens of Dripping Springs a chance to participate in their park.
The Master Naturalists have also supervised several Eagle Scout and Girl Scout Gold Award
projects, including the construction of the park’s informational kiosk, the Bird Viewing
Station, trail mileage markers and signage, and the construction of several picnic tables, and
benches placed along the nature trails to rest and relax. The Master Naturalists have also
managed workdays by the National Honor Society, and help to maintain the Cross-Country
Running Trail, which is used by the Dripping Springs Cross-Country track team.
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Since the park was originally all open space, there were problems with vehicles and ATV’s
driving into the park and destroying habitat and property. The Master Naturalists suggested,
and lead the construction of a beautiful, Juniper fence, which surrounds the parking lot, and
along the driveway all the way to FM 150. This fence was both aesthetically pleasing and
kept vehicles from being able to drive into the park property. Two gates were also added,
which allowed service access, and also allowed the park to be closed off completely, when
needed. The fence was completed in 2013.
A trailhead native landscape was designed, and presented to the city and approved, and was
also completed in 2013. Since there is no electricity or water at the park, a solar-powered
water pumping station was built, to install and support the native trailhead landscape. The
native trailhead landscape features drought resistant native plants as well as a demonstration
of “Habiturf”, the alternative turf grass developed by the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower
Center, featuring a mixture of three native grasses (Buffalo Grass, Blue Grama and Curly
Mesquite). This mixture has been shown to be heat and drought resistant, and attractive and
tough enough to replace more common turf grasses, such as St. Augustine and Bermuda, but
requires much less water, fertilizers, or pest control. Since the native trailhead landscape was
established in 2013, it has required very little maintenance or water, even in Texas summers.
Although the park is small and the nature trails and Cross-Country Running Trail are not
long, some people had expressed confusion about how to navigate the set of trails. This year,
the Master Naturalists suggested that the nature trails be named and marked, to allow better
navigation. Each trail is named and represented by a symbol, which appears on trail signage
at every decision point, along with an indication of which way to turn to take the shortest
path back to the parking lot. With these and ongoing improvements, the park continues to
evolve and attract more citizens seeking a natural recreational alternative.
Images provided by Garry Child: L to R: Trail Signs,
South Juniper Fencing, Native Landscape Trailhead
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Jacob’s Well Workday
Team Bob M., Bob C., Garry and Anne were
responsible for adding downed brush to the
deer exclusion “fence”. As others finished
their projects, they joinced in the fun of
scavenging brush from nearby piles, toting
arms full of branches and adding them,
artfully of course, to the “fence”.
October 3, 2014
Job well done all!
-Anne Child
What a gorgeous day for a workday with our
eleven Restoration Rangers including our
newest member Martha!
Team Jean, Irene, and Martha took on the task
of eradicating the bamboo in the trees near
the well. Once that was done they went after
Johnson Grass between the ADA trail and the
fence. The area now has flowing water. The
birds were anxious for us to leave.
Team Tom and Jeff put the bird feeder pole
back up, enhanced with an extended pole and
held in place with cement. Next up was
adding re-purposed fence posts to mark the
entrance to the feeders from the bird station.
Wonderful Photos Provided by Bob C.
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President’s Message:
Our next big chapter event is our annual Graduation and Gala on November
15th! I look forward to seeing everyone as we honor and celebrate our newest Hays
County Master Naturalists, the Class of 2014, the Monarchs. It is also a nice
opportunity to review our chapter’s accomplishments, and recognize our recertifying members, as well as members who have achieved significant milestones.
Part of the Gala is also devoted to chapter business, mainly officer elections and
budget reporting. You don’t want to miss it!
We are on track for another great year of Volunteer and Advanced Training
hours. Through the end of September, our Chapter reported a total of 9,514
Volunteer and 1,207 Advanced Training hours. Last year we had a record 12,495
Volunteer and 1,647 Advanced Training hours.
I am sure you have seen the news that we received a grant for $25,000 from the
Harry L. Willett Foundation. The grant came with very few requirements, other
than we use the funds for a project or projects, which expand our impact and
presence across Hays County in furthering our mission. I asked Past President
Larry Calvert to form a small committee to make a proposal to our Board for the
1 best use of the funds by January 2015. The committee has held its first meetings and
I look forward to their recommendation.
- Art Arizpe
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Cactus Removal at Ringtail
Ridge in San Marcos:
The Sunday afternoon volunteer crew began
removing prickly pear cactus in Ringtail Ridge on
October 19. A handful of Master Naturalists began
working on the excessive amount of cactus in the 40+
acre natural area off Old Ranch Road 12.
Led by Donna Browning, Marilyn Brister, Tom
Watson, Jim Baggett and Dianna Tupa, they began
moving wheelbarrows full of cactus pads to a
concrete slab. Prickly pear cactus is a Texas native
that is very hardy and thrives at the former
slaughterhouse for the former Hughson Meat
Company, which is the land the greenspace is made
up of.
Ringtail Ridge is one of the city-owned natural
areas that sits on the Edwards Aquifer and promotes
retention of the all-important rain water through karst
features. A series of greenways is envisioned to
provide recreation, transportation and water
retention benefits.
-story and photo by Lance Jones
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Did You Know?
The Prickly Pear Cactus,
is the state plant of Texas
and was designated so in
1995.
-http://www.statesymbolsusa.org
The purple fruit prickly
pear cactus produces is
called the “tuna” and that
many people make a
variety of foods out of the
tuna as well as the cactus
pads!
Sign Up to be a Trail
Crew Volunteer
CLICK HERE!
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!
Newsletter Items
Tell us about it!!
Send in your book reviews, volunteer experiences, and other interesting things
any time to the editor! Be a part of YOUR newsletter!
Put in your ideas, photos, and more along with a description
to [email protected]
RSVP for the GALA!!
Volunteer & Advanced
Training Hours
Don’t forget to RSVP for the Gala
on Saturday, November 15, 2014.
Keep reporting your hours! Even
though the deadline has passed or
you already have your required
hours it is important you still report
what you have participated in!
-We will be serving BBQ!
-You can pay next year’s $15.00 dues!
-DON’T MISS IT!!
BYOB
Thank you! 
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Member News
Monthly Birding Hike
Master Naturalists enjoy the monthly
birding hikes led by Stephen Ramirez. The
October 4th hike was held at the San
Marcos Nature Center next to the river. In
the photo the group is viewing flocks of
American Robins and Scissor Tailed
Flycatchers winging overhead. (L. to R.)
Stephen, Donna Browning, Kenneth Dees,
Dick McBride, JoEllen Korthals, and Ben
Taylor. More information at
http://www.smgreenbelt.blogspot.com/
-Lance Jones
Art Exhibits at the Hays County
Government Center
Dan Zinn and Art Arizpe were two of ten
artists exhibiting at the Hays County
Government Center October 16, 2014.
Dan is a member of the current training
class and Art is president of the chapter.
Each of them exhibited five photographs
of nature scenes. The exhibit was
sponsored by the Hays County Arts
Committee and is a collection of
photographs, oils, watercolors and
graphite. The artworks remain on
display on the second floor of the Center
located in San Marcos. (L. to R.) Dan
Zinn, Art Arizpe.
-Lance Jones
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Member Photos
Submit your photos to
the Editor
[email protected]
or
[email protected]
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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
Herb Smith
Hope Shimek
[email protected]
Open
Beverly Gordon
Helen Bowie
Tom Watson
Dixie Camp
Richard Parrish
Gordon Linam