Alamo Sierra Club Outings & Events

The purpose of this walk is to familiarize attendees about Texas native plants that you can incorporate into your own home landscape. The walk will focus on plantings around the Urban Ecology Center and the Alamo Area Master Naturalist Demonstration Garden and various naturally occurring plants in the park.

This event is presented by the San Antonio Chapter - Native Plant Society of Texas (NPSOT-SA) chapter. It will be led by Joan Miller, a former president of NPSOT-SA and Drake White of The Nectar Bar, both active plant propagators, identifiers of native plants, and teachers/event leaders of all things related to native plants.

Joan and Drake also discuss where in your landscape to use the plant, its water requirements, and tips for caring for the plant, especially when and how much to cut back. They also point out how the plants function in the ecosystem especially which butterflies utilize the plants. Bring your questions and re-imagine your yard by incorporating new native plants !

Please arrive about 7:45 am to sign up for a 8:00 am departure. We will walk around the UEC, along several paths from the UEC, and finish in the Demonstration Garden. There will be brief explanations of natives seen along the away that are candidates for the home landscape.

Minors only when accompanied by an adult parent/guardian. Dogs allowed if leashed and socialized. DIFFICULTY: Easy, definitely suitable for families. Flat terrain, slow-paced. This will be a less than 1.0-mile walk and last about two hours ending back at the Urban Ecology Center around 10:00 am.

The trail is a natural surface so be sure to wear sturdy shoes and, dependent on the weather, bring water, sun protection, and dress appropriate for the day and season. Suggested $3 individual or $5 family donations to the PHP Conservancy to support enhancements to the park.

This event's co-sponsors are the Phil Hardberger Park Conservancy, the San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department's Natural Areas Office, the Alamo Area Master Naturalists, and the Alamo Group of the Sierra Club. The lead sponsor is the NPSOT-SA chapter.

Contact Texas Master Naturalist Jean Hackett (jhackett@me.com) for additional information or questions.

This event's purposes include appreciating the beauty of our natural area; observing the many plants, insects, sounds, and smells; and with the helpful introductions from our leader allowing nature to inspire the written word.

Our leader, Mobi Warren, is a highly-regarded local poet, teacher, and puppeteer. She has lead innumerable poetry events combining a deep love for nature and poetic expression. This will be a unique experience in nature with a poet. Mobi's comments inspire participants to see and connect with nature in new and unexpected ways, from the tiniest detail to the whole interconnected web of the natural world.

You will be invited to express your observations in words and poem fragments and after each prompt on the walk there will be time to share productions from willing participants. Mobi also will read a few of her and other poets' works.

CHIGGER ALERT: Because you will be stepping off the trail you must wear long pants & long-sleeved shirts and use ample repellent.

Be sure to bring pad of paper and pens to jot down thoughts, observations, and words that come to mind.

Please meet by 8:00 am SHARP to sign up for a 8:10 am departure. We will walk along the Savanna Loop Trail NW thru the savanna restoration area, continue via the Oak Loop Connector to the Oak Loop Trail, and walk the loop and back. There will be brief experiential encounters with nature in the raw and through poetry; individual and group processing of observations, and ample time for participant interaction and questions.

Minors only when accompanied by an adult parent/guardian. Dogs allowed if leashed and socialized. DIFFICULTY: Easy, definitely suitable for families. Flat terrain, slow-paced. This will only be a one mile walk and last about two hours ending back at the Urban Ecology Center around 10:15 am

The trail is a natural surface so be sure to wear sturdy shoes and, dependent on the weather, bring water, sun protection, and dress appropriately for the day and season. Suggested $3 individual or $5 family donations to the PHP Conservancy to support enhancements to the park.

This event's general sponsors are the Phil Hardberger Park Conservancy, the San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department's Natural Areas Office, the Alamo Area Master Naturalists, and the Alamo Group of the Sierra Club.

Contact Stan Drezek (stanwendre@gmail.com) for additional information or questions.