Tag: prairies

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Meeting Reminder September 12: “Rediscovering the MoKan Prairie” with Ashley Landry

Join NPSOT-Williamson County on Thursday, September 12, 2024, when the featured topic will be “Rediscovering the MoKan Prairie” with Ashley Landry.

  • Free and open to the public. The meeting begins at 7:00 PM. 
  • Our guest speaker’s presentation begins after a short business meeting.
  • This presentation will NOT be recorded for our YouTube channel.

Read about our topic and speaker in this meeting announcement.

==> This month, we meet at the Georgetown Parks & Rec Administration Building, 1101 N College St, Georgetown, Texas 78626.  Come early (6:30 PM) for expert advice, to check out the seed swap board, or just to visit.

==> To attend via Zoom register at https://npsot-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUocO2hrDIoHtJr04M8aO3xidbZhHQz09i7#/registration

At every meeting, we give away a book — about native plants or the meeting topic — to one randomly chosen in-person attendee!

Have an idea for a speaker?  Let Program Leader Susie Hickman know via  email to wilco-chapter@npsot.org.

NPSOT-Williamson County meetings are free and open to the public. We hope you attend!  Meetings may be in person, virtual, or both, so be sure to check details in the meeting announcement. Meetings are announced on our website, our calendar and Facebook. See upcoming topics on our page Wilco Home or on our Calendar.

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September 12 Chapter Meeting: “Rediscovering the MoKan Prairie” with Ashley Landry

Join NPSOT-Williamson County on Thursday, September 12, 2024, when our featured topic will be “Rediscovering the MoKan Prairie” with Ashley Landry.  The meeting begins at 7:00 PM.  Our guest speaker’s presentation begins after a short business meeting. The meeting is free and open to the public.

This month’s guest presentation will NOT be recorded for our YouTube channel.

==> This month, we meet at the Georgetown Parks & Rec Administration Building, 1101 N College St, Georgetown, Texas 78626.  Come early (6:30 PM) for expert advice, to check out the seed swap board, or just to visit.

==> To attend via Zoom register at https://npsot-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUocO2hrDIoHtJr04M8aO3xidbZhHQz09i7#/registration

About our topic:  This presentation will tell the story of the forgotten MoKan Prairie of Williamson County. This prairie was the “crown jewel” of our Central Texas prairies, and you’ll hear the dramatic (but ultimately futile) account of the efforts to protect it. We’ll also explore some of the special MoKan Prairie plants and our efforts to save those plant genetics through seed collecting and plant salvage.

image of Camassia Scilloides in bloom

About our speaker: Ashley Landry is a Texas Master Naturalist, a member of the Native Plant Society of Texas, and the founder of the Native Plant Rescue Project. She has been featured in Wildflower magazine, The Austin Chronicle, Central Texas Gardener and the Liberty Hill Independent. She is an avid iNaturalist user and enjoys spending her free time botanizing.

At every meeting, we give away a book — about native plants or the meeting topic — to one randomly chosen in-person attendee!

Have an idea for a speaker?  Let Program Leader Susie Hickman know via  email to wilco-chapter@npsot.org.

NPSOT-Williamson County meetings are free and open to the public. We hope you attend!  Meetings may be in person, virtual, or both, so be sure to check details in the meeting announcement. Meetings are announced on our website, our calendar and Facebook. See upcoming topics on our page Wilco Home or on our Calendar.

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The Coastal Prairie Conservancy

Here’s recent news from the Coastal Prairie Conservancy. Check out CPC’s website for places where you can get outside if you travel in the area!

News Release – January 22, 2024 – Houston, Texas

Coastal Prairie Conservancy Successfully Conserves Two Properties in Southeast Texas

The Coastal Prairie Conservancy (CPC) is delighted to announce the successful completion of two pivotal conservation easement projects—Flyway Farms and Brazos Tower. Strategically located in Matagorda County, these projects are integral to CPC’s long-term landscape conservation goals, contributing to the health of the region for present and future generations.

The 166-acre Flyway Farms along with the 75-acre Brazos Tower, adjacent to and near existing protected lands, expand the protected coastal prairie. These properties lie within a critical coastal zone, both less than 5 miles from Matagorda Bay. Both properties feature a diverse mix of coastal grasslands and wetlands, providing homes for various wildlife, including mottled ducks. The permanent protection of these tracts aligns with the organization’s strategic conservation plans and addresses the needs identified in various bird conservation initiatives.

Mary Anne Piacentini, President and CEO of Coastal Prairie Conservancy, expressed, “These conservation easement projects mark a significant stride toward our commitment to preserving coastal grasslands and wetlands. Flyway Farms and Brazos Tower are important additions to our preserved lands, promoting habitat conservation for resident and migratory birds while ensuring the health of Matagorda Bay.”

Piacentini added, “We are grateful for the partnership and generosity of these landowners and partners, making projects like these possible. The permanent protection of Flyway Farms and Brazos Tower contribute to the region’s biodiversity and help ensure a resilient future.”

These projects were funded through generous donations from the landowners, as well as philanthropic grants from the Partnership for Gulf Coast Land Conservation and Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation. As CPC celebrates the completion of these projects, the organization looks forward to continued collaboration, emphasizing the collective effort needed to enhance and secure the long-term conservation of vital lands in the Texas mid-coast region.

For more information, visit www.coastalprairieconservancy.org.