San Antonio Native Plant Events

The focus of this month's event is wildlife. Our presenter, Christine Westerman, is the lead project manager in the local office of a national environmental consulting firm. She was involved in the studies leading to the park's Master Plan. Christine will highlight the common park wildlife, show wildlife photos mostly taken at night and often on the Land Bridge. She will also have the park's collection of pelts and skulls of most park wildlife to pass around . After her talk in the small classroom we head out on nearby trails for a nature walk looking for "signs" of wildlife.

Please arrive by 8:50 am SHARP at the small classroom of the UEC to sign up for an 9:00 am start. First, enjoy the heavily illustrated introductory talk focusing on the park's wildlife, supplemented by the parks collection of pelts and skulls, and then find signs of wildlife along the nearby trails. Participants will be encouraged to observe nature and ask about what they see.

Minors must be accompanied by an adult parent/guardian. This presentation is not appropriate for dogs. DIFFICULTY: Easy--it is definitely suitable for families, with flat terrain, and a slow pace. This will be about a mile walk, and the event will last about two hours, ending back at the Urban Ecology Center around 11:00 am.

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

This event's 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.

Our morning talk will focus on the role of an area's underlying rocks on soil formation. It will cover the constituents and type of soils. Emphasis will be placed on all the organisms present in soils. Finally, how soil and soil composition, through the symbiotic relationship between the soil microfauna and plants, affects plant communities will be highlighted.

Our presenter is Gary Poole, an accomplished former Middle School math/science teacher, an electronics technician, bee keeper, and caver. Gary's graduate work in Geology left him with an abiding interest in rocks and their role in nature. Gary is a past president of our AAMN chapter.

With a 1.5 hour timeframe there will be plenty of time for questions related to rocks and soils and their effect on plant communities.

Please arrive to register for the event at least ten minutes before the 9:00 am start. Minors only when accompanied by an adult parent/guardian. Dogs not appropriate because it is an indoor presentation. DIFFICULTY: Easy, definitely suitable for families whose children are at least upper elementary.

Suggested $3 individual or $5 family donations to the PHP Conservancy to support enhancements to the park.

This event's general sponsor is the Phil Hardberger Park Conservancy supported by the Alamo Area Master Naturalists, the Sierra Club, the San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department's Natural Area Office, and the Native Plant Society of Texas- SA chapter.

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

SPECIAL NOTE: Our presenter has so much to share we are "allowing" 2.5 hours for the full walk, but participants are free to leave earlier.

The event's purpose is to learn about the many special understory and canopy trees in our area. This walk will be led by Michael Nentwich, president and founder of Bexar Branches Alliance. Michael has nearly 20 years of experience in community forestry management and program development. He was San Antonio’s first City Forester and later served as City Forester and Bureau Manager of Parks and Urban Forestry with the City of Norfolk.

He earned a Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Science and a Master's Degree in Forestry from Stephen F. Austin University. He has extensive knowledge and a deep and abiding interest in trees as well as being a great communicator. You will be introduced to the common tree species found in the park, and probably will get to see and learn about Eve's Necklace, Texas Kidneywood, and Little-leaf Mulbery among many other fascinating species.

Please arrive about 7:45 am SHARP so we can register everyone and be ready for an 8:00 am start. You will walk an about 1.5 mile route starting and ending at the Urban Ecology Center. There will be brief explanations at the start and along the way with ample time for participant 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.

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. The SA Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas is a special sponsor.

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