Sue Ann (Suna) Kendall

Bur Oaks Planted in April Still Alive – but Watering Needed

July 25, 2023 Sue Ann (Suna) Kendall1 Comment

by Carolyn Henderson

Several members and some spouse helpers planted three Bur Oaks in April on Earth Day, and they are still alive – so far. They are planted at Cameron City Park, Orchard Park and Wilson Ledbetter Park. I see the Orchard Park tree on a daily basis. I see the Cameron City Park tree about every two weeks. The last one not so often.

They all took a serious wind storm hit about a week (or so) after they were planted. It caused two of them to lean notably, but a little action was taken to try and set them upright. The Wilson Ledbetter Park tree was nearly on the ground. They did seem to recover from that event. Then came the heat. About three weeks ago, I drove by the city park to take a look at it and found it leafless. The leaves had died on the tree and fallen around it. This was a surprise because it seemed to be doing very well. It didn’t even lean over in the storm. I got out of my car to take a closer look. It appeared like it was going to bud out again. A week later it had new leaves. I don’t know what made the leaves die, but the theory is transplant shock.

Same tree with what I thought were going to be new leaves

The Orchard Park tree has looked very good until just this week. It is losing some leaves. On close inspection, it looks like some of them are being eaten by something. There are still mostly green leaves on it. The Wilson Ledbetter tree is the one that was laid over from that storm. It still leans a lot, but it is putting up new leaves from the ground. I’m not sure what to do about the still leaning part. The tilt is about a 45 degree angle.

What they all need right now is regular watering. If you volunteered, please don’t forget to take them a drink as often as you can. Wilson Ledbetter Park has a working faucet right by the American Legion, or you can dip it from the little lake. The Orchard Park tree is right beside the pond, so it can be dipped from there. The Cameron City Park requires transporting the water. If they have made it this far, I think some regular watering can get them through to cooler, wetter weather.

There Are Still Birds Nesting Right Now

July 24, 2023 Sue Ann (Suna) KendallLeave a comment

by Donna Lewis

Yes, I thought most of our local birds had finished with having babies still in the nest. It is way too hot to tend to them. I was very surprised when my Linda cut a branch off that she kept heading her head on, to find a Cardinal nest about ten inches from the cut.

Now the nest is pretty much open to the elements. I cannot move it; it is too fragile.

There is one baby in it. I have been watching it with my binoculars for three days now, and thankfully the baby is still safe. The mother is still feeding it. I pray every night that a predator doesn’t find it.

So, keep in mind while you trim branches, there are still babies in their nests now in late July.

Be watchful.

White-winged Dove Sighting

July 19, 2023July 19, 2023 Sue Ann (Suna) Kendall7 Comments

by Pamela Neeley

This past Monday, at 6:30 pm, a large bird landed on the shepherd’s crook with an open seed feeder. It is very close to the living room window. This disadvantage is that it is backlit.

I spotted a large bird, navigating an unfamiliar branch – the metal shepherd’s crook – and processing how to get to the seed. Finally, after attempting various angles, he jumped down. I was successful in moving around in the house without spooking the bird, but not near my bird book.

White-winged dove (*Zenaida asiatica*)*, from iNaturalist. © Roberto R. Calderón (aguilita)*

With the help of a couple of books, I identified it as a White Wing Dove. I’ve not seen one before and I didn’t know we had them here. Estimating the areas from the range maps, Milam is right on the edge of the range.

Ten minutes later he/she is back sitting on a branch, eying the seed, and fifteen minutes have passed! As White Wing Doves enjoy small colonies, and are monogamous, I’m expecting his/her friends.

Wildscape Workday Produces “Treasures”

July 18, 2023 Sue Ann (Suna) Kendall2 Comments

By Carolyn Henderson, with additional photos from Catherine Johnson

Sweltering heat couldn’t stop the nine Texas Master Naturalist El Camino Real chapter members from sprucing up the El Camino Real Wildscape at the Bird and Bee Farm and finding a few “treasures” in the process on Saturday, July 15.

Most of us wouldn’t consider a horsefly a treasure, but one did visit Debi Sorenson’s hat.

A lot of work was done to clean up the area where meetings are held at the site when large groups come for events. It was hot, but the area is shaded by trees and a nice breeze helped. In the midst of the cleanup, Jackie Thornton found a nice nest of chicken eggs. She took them home (and we didn’t get photos).

Phyllis Shuffield found the invasive scourge Vervain growing in a few places in the wildscape. It was not put there intentionally. Phyllis proceeded to remove them all. The wildscape acquired several non-native plants this year. An early one was a red poppy. Maximillian Sunflowers were rampant this year and will require some control measures. Other plants also showed up either by birds, wind or hitching a ride in a plant intentionally purchased and planted.

Carolyn Henderson found the Cypress Vine with pretty red flowers over-growing and choking everything in its vicinity. It completely took over the arch which had Malabar Spinach growing all over it. It literally choked that out. It was starting to overtake the Coral Vine growing around the covered picnic table and it was wrapping around the storage building. The local mouse hunter did try to help pull it up or at least push it out of the way.

It was decided that this vine, a Texas native that is seriously invasive, will require serious efforts to stop. It may overtake everything if not removed.

The color palette has also changed. The purples had mostly gone to seed, and oranges, yellows and reds have taken over. Three to four types of bees and Gulf Fritillaries were enjoying the blooms.

More plans were made for August beautification. Afterward, Catherine Johnson, Patsy Coombs, Neil Wettstein, Debra Sorenson, Pamela Neeley, Sandra Dworaczyk, Jackie and Carolyn recovered from the heat at Corona’s in Rockdale. Here are some photos of the crew.

Hot Time, Summer in the City…

July 16, 2023 Sue Ann (Suna) Kendall1 Comment

…back of my neck getting dirty and gritty

by Donna Lewis

Remember that song?

Yes, it is hot and dry. Remember to keep water in the shade if you can and plenty of it for the wild things. I have over 50 Cardinals that wait for me every day now. I bet my electricity bill is going to be a whopper from running our well to get water for them.

The bunnies are drinking along with all our other wild friends also.

A few days ago, I heard some strange clicking noises way up in a pine tree, I waited a long time to see what it was. It was some kind of bird I had never seen before.

*Yellow-billed cuckoos are elusive and often easiest to identify by their sound.*

After several days of trying to ID it, I finally found it in a field guide. It was a pair of Yellow Billed Cuckoos! I had never seen them before. It’s interesting to add them to my bird list.

Most of the wildflowers are going to seed now and the pastures look awful.

In the garden I fight to keep anything alive for the butterflies and hummingbirds.

I do have a lot of Gulf Coast Fritillaries, Swallowtails, and Sulfurs still flying around.

There is also a new batch of the red version of the Pipevine Swallowtail caterpillars.

So, enjoy what nature is around you now because the heat is hard on them too.

Remember who you are gardening for.