community outreach – Page 6 – Nature Along the El Camino Real

Two out of Three isn’t Bad for the Bur Oaks

January 20, 2024 Sue Ann (Suna) KendallLeave a comment

By Carolyn Henderson

Anyone remember planting the three Bur Oaks in Cameron parks last April? Two of the three are doing great.

About 10 members and friends planted them in Wilson-Ledbetter Park, Cameron City Park, and Orchard Park in honor of Earth Day. The trees at Orchard Park and Wilson-Ledbetter Park are growing, which indicates they will survive. Cameron City Park tree has mysteriously died.

Both of the living trees were planted close to the bodies of water in each park, and then Liz Lewis and I proceeded to water them every week. They both survived a very heavy wind in a storm the day after we planted them. The wind bent both of them toward the ground. It practically laid the Wilson-Ledbetter Park Bur Oak on the ground. Michelle and Oscar Lopez and I went out to check on them and found it. We staked it upright to a degree. The top part is alive, but it really seems to be coming back from the ground.

The Orchard Park oak also was found leaning from the storm, and I pushed it back in place. Then the heat wave set in on the area. Liz and I took water to the three at least once a week. We used cat litter jugs to carry it. The City Park oak had lost all its leaves early on, but resprouted them in two weeks. I labeled that transplant shock. I was watering it once a week.

Later, I was told someone else (not a member) was watering the tree regularly. I drive by it frequently. It had green leaves on it until one day it didn’t. It was dead at that time. It is a mystery why it died. I have left it there for now, just in case it sprouts from the bottom like the Wilson Ledbetter oak has done.

I’d like to plant Redbuds out a Wilson-Ledbetter, but it might be too much to water.

Note from Sue Ann Kendall: I had a bur oak in my yard in Round Rock. It lost its leaves each winter. Maybe that’s what’s going on in the City Park tree. If they all resprout in spring, do cut the sprouts from the base so the trees will have one trunk. If they don’t, encourage one trunk to regrow.

Just thoughts. I could be wrong. it happens.

Nature Days, Week 3

December 9, 2023December 10, 2023 Sue Ann (Suna) KendallLeave a comment

by Catherine Johnson

Beautiful day, awesome quests, and fun.

Nature Days Memories

December 7, 2023 Sue Ann (Suna) KendallLeave a comment

by Catherine Johnson

Here are some photo memories of another week of our November Nature Days series. Thanks to all who came out to volunteer or visit!

Great Weather for Nature Days

November 24, 2023November 26, 2023 Sue Ann (Suna) KendallLeave a comment

by Catherine Johnson

The weather turned out great for everyone at Nature Days this year. Guests took home native plants and nature gifts.

As usual, the best part was getting to know people from distant towns including Dallas, Centerville, and McAllen, as well as neighbors from Hutto, Sommerville, and College Station.

This first day, we met with some Master Gardeners. Stay tuned for the next Nature Days blog.

Here are some of the beautiful plants we have been seeing in this late fall time.

We apologize that all the photos didn’t appear when the post initially went up. There was an internet issue, and also the photos were in high definition, so they were very large. We’re all learning here, so sometimes things mess up!

We’ve Been Busy

October 4, 2023 Sue Ann (Suna) KendallLeave a comment

Our Chapter President, Carolyn Henderson, was asked to put together ten photos of activities our group has engaged in over the past year, so they can be shared at next week’s Texas Master Naturalist Annual Meeting in McAllen, Texas (we will get to see the eclipse there!). We want to share this recap with all our blog readers and Facebook friends, too.

We look forward to more fun the rest of the year and in the future. Join us if you want to! You don’t have to be a member to attend our meetings and activities.