Wildscape Facelift

by Catherine Johnson

The Wildscape had a major facelift thanks to the Reks and employee Brandon. 

Upcoming events include a full moon gathering to observe moths and nature at night.  The improved space will be easier for people to walk thru each month learning about the Master Naturalist program. 

Birds have built nests in the mailboxes and the Mason bees are active. 

The pictures include our State grass, Sideoats Grama. It is a short clump grass that provides nutrition for wildlife and erosion control. It is drought tolerant, with oat-like seeds and orange and purple flowers.

Happy Wildscape Surprises

by Catherine Johnson

There were surprises at the Wildscape discovered on a quick trip to assemble a donated shade arbor.  The Mexican Plum trees that looked dead for a long time are back, as are thought-dead Blackfoot Daisy and Desert Mallow. 

Pink primroses are back, too. They bloom the second year from seed.  The grasses Debra cut are already two- to three-feet high. Rough-leaf Dogwood and Arroya Sweetwood are fine, but the tallest Anacacho Orchid suffered major damage. 

Gaillardia and Thistles are taking over as all manner of “Belly Botany” wildflowers. Come see the Wildscape before some of it has to go so that we can safely walk the paths!

The Wildscape Returns

by Catherine Johnson

We accomplished a lot at the first Wildscape workday for the year.

Fantasy Garden

Neal  worked on getting the children’s  fantasy garden  in shape. Debra sheared many large grasses, while Phyllis and Patricia hauled it away and weeded. Trees were pruned and ants killed.   

The huge oak tree is gone having been destroyed by past ice storms. Now we have to work on getting more shade, as it will be a while until new trees grow. Everything is greening up, and the bluebonnets made it back!

Farewell, tree