LRMN News August 2018

Longleaf Ridge Master Naturalist’s Newsletter

CHAPTER OFFICERS

President

Bill Zech

Vice-President

Lori Horne

Treasurer

Joanie Kochanek

Secretary

Sharon Lamoreaux

Advisor

Brock Fry

CHAPTER

COMMITTEE

POSITIONS

Programs

Lori Horne

Laura Clark

Outreach

Brenda Marshall

Laura Clark

Sharon Lamoreaux

Newsletter

Sharon Lamoreaux

“”A bird doesn’t sing because it has an answer.

It sings because it has a song ” - Maya Angelou

The Longleaf Ridge Chapter of TMN has two canoeists who finished a challenging two days this year in Big Thicket waters. Philip Hight and Lanny Marshall received ACA certified instruction on proper canoe techniques, safety, rescues, recoveries, maneuvers and more. Congratulations Philip and Lanny for becoming skilled level 2 environment paddlers! -submitted by Brenda Marshall and Phillip Hight

Look for Lanny and Phillip in the lead as guides for the Paddling Tours at Martin Dies Jr. State Park. Check for dates here :https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/martin-dies-jr/park_events

August Chapter Meeting News

TPWD Wildlife Biologist Courtney Mcinnerney spoke to

us concerning Grassland Birds. With pictures and infor-

mation she has documented during her experiences in

the prairies across neighboring ecosystems, she

presented a very interesting program.

Terry McFall was the winner of the

door prize for August. He won a

booklet with information on birds and

wildlife common to our area, which

includes plans to build homes for

them. Congratulations Terry!!

September— 1st— Guided Paddling tour @ MDJSP—10am -11 am Space limited, Register soon @ https://www.eventbrite.com/e/guided-canoe-trip-tickets-48378615742 4th— LRMN Board meeting— 1pm @ Agrilife office 8th— E. O. Siecke Field Trip 10th—Chapter meeting w/ Master Gardeners @ St Michaels— Elyce Rodewald— Creating meaningful, exciting progams 14th— Mc Queen’s Landing clean-up 9am 15th/29th—Guided Hike @ MDJSP 10am-11am

UPCOMING EVENTS

October— 3rd— LRMN Board meeting— 1pm @ Agrilife office 6th— Dam to Dam Saddle and Paddle (see pg. 3 for more info) 6th— 1st day of Farmer’s Market Fall Season 9th— Chapter meeting - program pending 13th—Big Thicket Day—Visitor’s Center 10am-2pm 16th—17th— help Amy @ MDJSP with a school group from Huntington 20th— Fall Butterfly Festival— work the booth (site #62) across from the museum

August 2018—pg. 2

Friends of the Park Updates

Two loads of rock, purchased by Friends of the Park, were delivered to Martin Dies Jr. State Park on August 8th and has already been spread. One load went to create an additional kayak/canoe launch at Walnut Slough and the other load went to parking/erosion in the Walnut Ridge loop and Wildlife Trail. -Info and pictures submitted by Taylor Jones of MDJSP

At Watson’s Preserve Joe Liggio, author of Wild Orchids of Texas, led a group through the Watson Preserve in Tyler County on August 4th to see the rare Chapman’s Fringed Orchid, Platanthera chapmanii, which is exceptionally spectacular this year. Brenda and Lanny Marshall and Laura Clark (behind the camera) were in attendance from Longleaf Ridge. Brenda is pictured with Joe Liggio and Lanny is in the background. Photos and article submitted by Laura Clark

August 2018—pg. 3

Julie Massey, Marine Biologist

Several of our members attended an ichthyology training hosted by the Piney Wood Lakes Chapter in Livingston on

August 10th.

Julie Massey, Galveston County Extension Agent of Coastal&Marine Resources with Texas Agrilife and the Texas

A&M Sea Grant College Program, conducted the informative and entertaining program that included the opportunity

to dissect some of the fish she brought from the coast. Massey is also chapter advisor to Galveston Co. Chapter.

Participants learned how the health of the Trinity River watershed impacts the health of Galveston Bay. Galveston

Bay is the fifth largest bay in the country, and as an estuary is one of the most productive.

LLRM members earning Advanced Training hours included Julia McCormick, Joanie Kochanek, Lori Horne, Sue

Singletary, Gerald and Christine Schmelebeck, and Georgia Purdy.

Julia McCormick

Lori Horne

Gerald and Christine Schmelebeck

Joanie Kochanek

Call Beverly @ 409-384-2762 if you will be able to assist with this event on October 6. T-shirts will be given to all staff/volunteers. Event Staff will arrive 7am on Saturday, Oct. 6 and event begins at 8am and will end mid to late afternoon. A few areas where volunteers are needed:

-Man entrance booth to give direction, check wrist bands. -Direct traffic and parking -Shuttle to river launch points -Man comfort stations -Anyone who has a vessel and wants to assist Emergency Corps on the river as a safety vessel -Assist with food (Jasper Quality Meats is feeding participants) -Assist with trash/litter pick up -Roving “patrol” for event participants and park visitors Park staff will be tending to normal park operations

July 2018—pg. 4

Sharon Lamoreaux, Laura Clark, Joanie Kochanek, Lori Horne, and Brenda Marshall were busy tracing patterns and cutting plastic Thursday, August 23rd. This bevy of activity was all about getting ready for Fall Fest on October 20th where our chapter members will be educating the public about the dangers and destruction of environments by PLASTIC POLLUTION Since part of the Longleaf Ridge's project is recycling, reusing, reducing, and repurposing plastics, making bugs out of plastic bottles is a fun way to educate children about repurposing plastics. All sixty plus bugs will be decorated by children who visit our booth during Fall Fest to take home as a reminder to PLEASE RECYCLE, REUSE, REDUCE, AND REPURPOSE PLASTICS! -Article and pictures submitted by Brenda Marshall

October 26—28, 2018 Sheraton Georgetown Hotel & Conference Center

1101 Woodlawn Ave Georgetown, Texas

For more registration information:

https://www.cvent.com/events/texas-master-

naturalist-2018-annual-meeting/registration-

d15769f76c314ddfa18e80352fe24565.aspx?qp=true