San Antonio Native Plant Events

The focus of this month's event is Ethnobotany. Our presenter, Josie Gonzales, is a Certified Interpretive Guide and Texas Master Naturalist. She’ll begin with a brief talk in the small classroom defining ethnobotany in terms of how people of a particular culture and region make use of native plants. Josie will present some examples of the plants we will see on the walk. These examples will include medicinal, edible, and utilitarian use of plants. Hopefully participants will come to see how plants sustained Native Americans and early settlers not only as food and as medicine, but providing materials, dyes, tannins, wax, latex, soap, resin, oil, etc.

On the walk itself a wide variety of forbs, shrubs, and trees will be discussed again from the standpoint of medicinal, utilitarian, and nutritional uses. Participants will have a chance to look at and ask questions about these plants.

Please arrive BEFORE 8;00 am to sign up for an 8:00 am start.

Minors must be accompanied by an adult parent/guardian. This presentation is only appropriate for dogs who are leashed and socialized. DIFFICULTY: Easy--it is definitely suitable for families, with flat terrain, and a slow pace. This will be a mile walk, and the event will 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. $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, the Native Plant Society of Texas-San Antonio chapter, and the Alamo Group of the Sierra Club.

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