Jackie Davis sent the following message our way:

Dorothy Mattiza will be at the LBJWC on Saturday, June 5, 11:00 am to
4:00 pm, for a book signing of her "100 Texas Wildflowers" and also to
display (and sell) her beautiful photographic images of the plants found
on her property at Gunsight Mountain.

I think you know about Dorothy:  she was the 1st president of NPSOT and
ran a wholesale native plant nursery at her Gunsight Mountain acreage
outside of Tarpley, which is west of Bandera. For the last few years,
she has been making fantastic photographs of the flowers and leaves of
all of the plants at GM.  They look so real that the first time I saw
them, I reached out to touch them, because I thought they were fresh
plant pressings!

Could you possibly send out an all-points bulletin via e-mail to NPSOT
folks in and around the Austin area, to encourage them to at least go
out to say "Hi" to Dorothy on the 5th?  She will be there from 11:00 am
to 4:00 pm.

Dorothy has certainly been one of our Texas pioneers in promoting the
use of Texas native plants.  I hope that, with your (and NPSOT's) help,
we can get people out there to show our appreciation of her dedication
to native plants!

Hi all,

We just wanted to let you know that Lisa and I made a major update to
the chapter website to make it more attractive.

Check it out at http://npsot.org/Austin/ .

Lisa also made a page for the Zilker Demonstration Garden project:
http://npsot.org/Austin/ZilkerDemoGarden/zilker.html

We also have a page for the Travis County Flora project:
http://npsot.org/Austin/TravisCountyFlora/default.html

Thanks!
- Jason and Lisa

From Marieke Beltman <Beltman@...>:

NWF Habitat Ambassador volunteer trainings in Austin

We would like to invite you and/or anyone else you know who is
interested, to one of our trainings to become a Habitat Ambassador
volunteer for the National Wildlife Federation. Habitat Ambassadors
spread out the word about gardening for wildlife in their community
through tabling events at a variety of places.

There will be two training sessions this June in the Austin area. (If
you are interested, please select one of the two sessions; both sessions
do cover the same).

Training session 1:
Friday, June 18, 2004
9 am - 4 pm
Lakewood Club House
7317 Lakewood Dr
Austin, TX 78750

Training session 2:
part 1: Monday June 21, 2004
             6.30 - 9 pm
             North Village Library
             2139 W. Anderson Lane
             Austin, TX 78757
part 2: Monday June 28, 2004
             6.30 - 9 pm
             First Unitarian Universalist Church
             4700 Grover Avenue
             Austin, TX 78756

Registration is free. Space is limited, so register now!

To register by June 16th: contact Marieke Beltman,
habitatambassadors@...
If you have any questions, please contact the NWF Headquarters:
703-438-6519.


Habitat Ambassadors Team

July Chapter Meeting: Bring Your Mystery Plant!
Date: Tuesday July 20, 2004
Time: 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Location: Wild Basin Wilderness
Street: 805 N. Capital of Texas Highway (also known as Loop 360)
City/State/Zip: Austin, TX 78746

This month's chapter meeting is a "bring your mystery plants" meeting.
Bring in your mystery plants to identify, and also bring books and
other materials to help identify plants!

For more information, see the chapter website at
http://www.npsot.org/Austin/

Kirsti send the following announcement our way:

Hummingbird Gardening Workshop, including selection and care of native
  plants that attract hummingbirds - Thursday August 5, 7-9pm and Saturday
  August 7, 10am to 12 noon. The cost
  is $15 for Travis Audubon members and $20 for non-members.
  To sign up, contact Roxie Rochat at rfrochat@... or 512/345-6935.

  Taught by Mark Klym from TPWD

Kathy McCormack of Travis Audubon sent the following our way:

Training Series for Songbird Festival Field Trip Co-Leaders

Would you be willing to co-lead a field trip at next May's Lago Vista
Songbird Festival, but don't think that you know enough about the birds
and other plants and animals in the Balcones Canyonlands National
Wildlife Refuge (BCNWR) ?  Well, here's the opportunity that you've been
waiting for !  Over several months and at each meeting, we'll spend
about an hour reviewing species lists and field guides, then take a
short break, and then spend one-to-two hours in the field to reinforce
what we've learned.  We will focus on the flora and fauna likely to be
present during the Festival, but information will also be provided on
the other species reported from the Refuge.  Several guest instructors
will discuss the following potential topics (but please note that this
list is subject to change !):

·        October - butterflies, grasses, BCNWR history/facts

·        November - reptiles, trees, shrubs

·        January - mammals, geology, climate/weather

·        February - birds, amphibians, tips on how to co-lead field
trips, review tentative list of Festival field trip locations/schedules

·        March - dragonflies, damselflies, flowers, birding by ear,
match Festival field trips with co-leaders, preliminary Festival
logistics (maps, keys/codes, radios, etc.)

·        April - review all bird species (and answer any questions about
other flora and fauna) likely to be present during the Festival, final
Festival logistics, tour parts of the Refuge likely to be visited during
the Festival

Snacks will be provided in the classroom.  Bring your own field guides
if you have them, but some will also be available to share.  Don't
worry, there won't be a test at the end - but you'll definitely feel
more confident about your ability to help others enjoy the Festival.
This invitation is going out to the members of the Travis Audubon
Society, the Capital Area Master Naturalists (hours will count toward
the advanced training requirement), the Highland Lakes Master
Naturalists, the Highland Lakes Birding and Wildflower Society, the
Native Plant Society of Texas, and the Friends of Balcones Canyonlands
National Wildlife Refuge.  Participants who co-lead a field trip at the
Songbird Festival will receive free registration, dinner at the Festival
Keynote Address, and one additional field trip at no charge (CAMN
members will also earn approved volunteer hours).  Contact John Kelly
(jfkellyaustin51@..., (h) 331-8693), Jean Nance
(jnance@..., (h) 259-0299), or Kathy McCormack
(kathy.mccormack@..., (w) 895-7268) for meeting date/time
information.  Come learn more about our closest National Wildlife Refuge
and support our closest annual Nature Festival !


--------------------------------------------
Kathy McCormack
(w) 512-895-7268
kathy.mccormack@...
--------------------------------------------

Rob Iski of the Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge sent the following our way:
Rob Iski
Outdoor Recreation Planner
Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge
24518 FM 1431, Box 1
Marble Falls, TX 78654
(512) 339-9432 x 70

National Wildlife Refuge Week
Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge

Invites you to participate in Free activities on

October 2-3 & 9-10 at Doeskin Ranch on RR 1174

--- Guided Walks include:

October 2nd & 3rd:  *Bird Walk.  9-11 a.m.      *bring Binocs!

October 2:  Native Grass Identification Walk.  2-4 p.m.

October 9:  *General Nature Walk.  9-11 a.m.

October 9:  Plant & Animal Ecology by John Ahrms. 2-4 p.m.

October 10:  *General Nature Walk.  9-11 a.m. & 2-4 pm.

At your leisure:

-Adults & kids can catch Monarch Butterflies, tag them with tiny stickers, & record some information about their Monarchs as part of a research project.  This activity is offered every day, 8-5 p.m.

-View interesting & bizarre water creatures everyday from

10- 4pm.  See how the creatures are captured from 9- 10 a.m.

-Learn about using native plants to attract certain wildlife on your property.  October 3 & 10 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

-See live snakes & turtles on October 9 from 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

-Bring your binoculars to look for migrating hawks. 

For more information, contact Rob Iski at (512) 339-9432 x 70.

BALCONES CANYONLANDS NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE CELEBRATES NATIONAL WILDIFE REFUGE WEEK IN EARLY OCTOBER

The public is invited to attend free bird, and native plant nature walks and other activities at Doeskin Ranch on Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge on October 2-3 and 9-10, 2004.  This Refuge Week celebration is held from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. each day.

            Bird Walks will be held on October 2nd and 3rd from 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 am.  General nature walks which include some birding will be offered during the same times on October 9 and 10.  It is possible that migrating hawks and kettling Swainson’s Hawks can be observed.  Bring your binoculars for these walks!

            Afternoon nature walks will be offered each day from 2:00 pm- 4:00 pm.  Topics may include a variety of topics such as native grasses, flowers, woody plant and butterfly identification, and refuge management practices.  A couple of these afternoon walks have specific themes.  A Native Grass Walk will be led by Bill Reiner on October 2nd.   And a Plant and Aninimal Ecology walk will be presented by John Ahrms from West Cave Preserve on October 9^th.

            Special activities include the opportunity to catch and tag Monarch butterflies as part of a research project, Monarch Watch, at any time during the four days.

            At your leisure, visitors can observe up close many interesting and bizarre looking  pond and creek creatures from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm each day.  See how these water creatures are collected from 9:00 am – 10:00 am. each day.

            Some native plants will be on display in a demonstration that discusses specific Texas native plants that attract certain animals.  A National Wildlife Federation Steward also will be showing other examples of ways to attract wildlife to your property.  Folks can visit this demonstration at any time on both Sundays from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 P.M.

Live snakes and turtles will be on display along with horned lizard displays sponsored by The Horned Lizard Society on Saturday October 9 from 10:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.  Fun, free items will be distributed to children.

Bring good outdoor foot wear, clothing, hat and water with you.  Bring binoculars if you have them.  Doeskin Ranch public use area is located northwest of Lago Vista on RR 1174 about 4.5 miles north of the intersection between FM 1431 and RR 1174.  For more information about Refuge Week, contact Rob Iski at (512) 339-9432 x 70 or check out the Friends of Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge web site at www.friendsofbalcones.org

Hi all,

For anyone interested in the Brodie Wild project, we've created a
mailing list for discussion, planning, and announcements.  Please join
the mailing list if you wish to participate and receive meeting
announcements.

The project mailing list is available at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BrodieWild/ .  To subscribe to the list,
send an email message to BrodieWild-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.

More information on Brodie Wild can be found at
http://www.npsot.org/Austin/BrodieWild/ .  An excerpt follows:

The Austin chapter, working with the City of Austin Water and Wastewater
Department, is working on a project at Brodie Wild, a water quality
protection property at the corner of Slaughter Lane and Brodie Lane.

Our goals are protecting water quality, restoring native vegetation and
habitat, and educating the public about how to garden with natives to
protect water quality and reduce water usage.

[Ed: The first post was garbled for some folks, so here it is again.]

Dear Native Plant Society folks,

Fall is quickly approaching and, once again, the Lady Bird Johnson
Wildflower Center is co-hosting the Botanical Research Institute of
Texas Distinguished Lecturer Series. The topic this Fall is Medicinal
Plant Use by Pacific and New World Tropical Peoples. We have some
really exceptional speakers in the schedule which is posted on our
website at http://www.wildflower.org/?nd=brit

The first lecture is at 7 PM Friday, September 10, and will feature
Dr. Gordon M. Cragg, Chief of Natural Products at the National Cancer
Institute. His talk is entitled: "Exploration of the World's Rain
Forests, Coral Reefs and Extreme Environments for New Medicines
Highlights the Urgent Need to Preserve Our Global Genetic Patrimony"

Please feel free to post or circulate this announcement.

Best Regards,

Damon Waitt

Damon E. Waitt, Ph.D.
Senior Botanist
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
4801 La Crosse Ave. Austin, Texas 78739-1702
--------------------------------------------
email: dwaitt@...
web: http://www.wildflower.org
phone: 512.292.4200
fax: 512.292.4627

Greetings From the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center!

Just a gentle reminder that the 2004 Texas Plant Conservation Conference is only
two weeks away. There's still plenty of room and we'll take registration right
up to the start of the program. The conference is scheduled for September 15-17
and will be held at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

It's really shaping up to be another wonderful program with speakers from all
across the country scheduled to discuss global, regional, and state plant
conservation issues. We will also begin development of a comprehensive plant
conservation action plan for Texas at this year's conference.

The conference agenda and registration form can be found at
http://www.wildflower.org/?nd=tpcc_schedule and
http://www.wildflower.org/?nd=tpcc. Please feel free to share this information
with anyone who is interested in plant conservation.

We hope you'll be able to join us this year for this important annual event.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions.

Looking forward to seeing you at the conference in a couple of weeks!

Flo

Flo Oxley
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
4801 La Crosse Avenue
Austin, TX 78739
(512) 292-4200 ext. 160
oxley@...

Educating North America about the environmental necessity, economic value, and
natural beauty of native plants.

Hi all, "National Public Lands Awareness Day" is this coming Saturday
Sept 18.  The Army Corps of Engineers will be having a volunteer event
in the morning at Granger Lake in Williamson County.  As part of this event,
NPSOT will be working with some Boy Scout volunteers to hand-scatter native
grass and wildflower seeds.  Anyone interesting in helping with this event
please
contact Scott at slenhart@....

A correction: the speaker's topic is Central Texas Grasses (not just
fall grasses)

Central Texas Grasses--Getting to Know Them Up Close and Personal.

Speaker Bob Harms will describe some of the common grasses of our
area.  He'll show scanned images that enable him to give a very
detailed picture of them in bloom.

NPSOT-Austin-announce@yahoogroups.com wrote:
> September Chapter Meeting: Fall Grasses
> Tuesday September 21, 2004
> 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
> (This event does not repeat.)
> (The next reminder for this event will be sent in 7 days, 4
minutes.)
> Event Location: Wild Basin Wilderness
>
> Notes:
> Dr. Robert Harms, Professor in the Department of Linguistics at the
University of Texas at Austin, will speak about Fall Grasses.
>
> For more information, see the chapter web site at
http://www.npsot.org/Austin/

Hi all,

We're having a planning meeting for Brodie Wild with many stakeholders (City of
Austin, HCF, NPSOT Austin, etc) on Tuesday 9/28 at 5:30pm.

If you are interested in Brodie Wild, please attend!!!  We'll likely discuss
creating a work plan, some dates, and money.

The meeting will be in Training Room 101 of the Waller Creek Center at 625 E.
10th Street.

Gail says: There is metered parking (2 and 5 hour meters) on 10th street and 9th
street and along Red River.  There are a few visitor parking spaces on the 2nd
or 3rd floor of the parking garage and also at the top of the garage at Waller.

Mary Gay says: The building is one-half block WEST of I35 on 10 th Street.  It
is a big, white building on the south side of the street across the street from
the Marriott Hotel.

For more information about Brodie Wild, see the web site at
http://npsot.org/Austin/BrodieWild/default.html

To receive Brodie Wild related announcements and participate in online
discussions, join the Brodie Wild mailing list at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BrodieWild/

Hi all,

We're looking for volunteers for this year's nominating committee.
It would involve talking to and finding people interested in running for
the President-Elect, Secretary, and Treasurer positions for the chapter
officer elections in January.

Send me an email at jasons@... if you are interested.

Thanks!