We took another bench to Wild Wings Sanctuary that we secured for $5 from Facebook Marketplace. Note for the future: be prepared to pick up the free or nearly free items the day they are listed.
New bench and birdbath.
While at the sanctuary, we saw bees, hummingbirds, and chickadees. Cindy found a new water fountain, as well, and more drip lines have been installed.
Then we worked in the Wildscape to keep improving pathways and seating areas. We are also planning where more native trees will go. The weather is great now.
Small native trees pictured are Texas Kidneywood, Southern Wax Myrtle, and Button bush. The cat is sleeping in Buffalo Grass. Soon to be added are Texas Redbuds and Possumhaws.
Happy Earth Day! Plant something native to our area in honor of it.
Last year a small group of us planted three Bur Oaks in Cameron parks in honor of the day. Two of them survived and are now thriving.
The photo is from the one at Orchard Park. We replaced a tree that went down in the freeze of 2023 there. The other surviving tree is at Wilson Ledbetter Park. It needs a little help being upright because of a major hit by that big storm we had right after we planted them, but it is already growing new ones to make up for it.
I watered the Orchard Park tree and Liz Lewis watered the Wilson Ledbetter Park tree. Liz went to see her tree at least three times a week, and she is still working on it. I have left mine to fend for itself. Watering a Bur Oak for its first year is enough for it to establish itself, it seems. Hint: they are both planted close to bodies of water.
The El Camino Real chapter planted native trees in three Cameron parks on Earth Day, then removed some invasive species that they “girdled” last year. Twelve members and a couple of family volunteers planted Bur Oaks in Cameron City Park, Orchard Park, and Wilson-Ledbetter Park to promote native species to help the natural eco-system locally.
The tree-planting gang at Cameron City Park
Quite a few trees were lost in and around Cameron during the ice storm this year, so the chapter is making an effort to replace them. Any type of native oak tree is considered the most beneficial to the local eco-system. Native trees are more acclimated to the heat and drought conditions that are occurring fairly often.
Planting in Orchard Park
In addition to planting the trees, the members removed the three Glossy Privets at Wilson-Ledbetter Park that had been girdled over a year ago. Girdling is a method to remove trees without herbicides to avoid harming other trees. Alan Rudd brought his chain saw and a trailer. He cut them down and the members and volunteers loaded all the branches on the trailer. They were removed and burned to prevent resprouting elsewhere.
Pondering a privet at Wilson-Ledbetter Park
Alan also planted an Eastern Redbud in the trunk of an old dead tree at Cameron City Park in an experiment to see if it will grow there and add some color to the park. Members have volunteered to keep all the trees watered on a weekly basis through the summer and early fall. We planted the trees in the manner recommended by our recent speaker from the A & M Forest Service.
Planting the redbud
We plan to add more trees to Wilson-Ledbetter in the fall.
I am sure I am not the only one here in Central Texas who lost trees in the recent ice storm. It was a masterpiece of art, with everything encased in ice. A magical scene for sure. But also, a terrible thing, and deadly for nature.
I have many trees down. I will miss them all. But one was very special to me and Linda.
The tree with ice on it.
She was the mother of all the standing tree people who lived on our property. I talked to her and listened to her breathing every day.
Trees communicate with each other through electrical impulses. This has been proven. So the other trees were aware of those who fell. But I know there is much more than just a mess to clean up, if you love and listen to nature.
After it warmed up.
The trees watch our busy lives and never complain. They stand quietly as the years go by. I will miss her and all the others and thank them for being here.
Facts from the US Forest Service also place monetary and health value on trees.
The value of a single tree can provide $73.00 worth of air-conditioning, $75.00 worth of erosion control, $75.00 worth of wildlife shelter, and $50.00 worth of air pollution reduction.
A single tree can produce 260 pounds of oxygen each year.
There are some beautiful poems about trees, just too long to print here. Poets Joyce Kilmer and Maya Angelou have some very nice ones.
I have shed tears about my friend, and on Earth Day, I shall plant another friend to replace my fallen one. I have done this since 1970.
This is a good thing for everyone to do on Earth Day, which is April 22nd.
Nature Along the El Camino Real 