Primetime Newspapers

By Calvin R. Finch, PhD, SAWS Water Resources Director, and Horticulturist

Week of February 25, 2008

“Free Plants, Gophers, and Birdathon”

            It is springtime in South Texas.  In addition to our plants recovering from the winter, it is the time of great gardening and garden related educational programs. Consider the following programs depending on your interests and where you live. 

 

On March 1^st, the second annual Wilson County Gardening Day takes place from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m., on the parking lot on Hwy. 181 and Hwy. 97 in front of the Floresville ISD Offices and adjacent to the Chamber of Commerce offices.  Jerry Parsons, Milton Glueck and I will be there to do the Gardening South Texas Radio show.  Despite what Dr. Parsons says about gardening in Wilson County, last year’s event proved that area gardens grow more than sandburs and gophers!  Every adult attendee will receive a three-inch xeriscape plant and a Landscape Care Guide from SAWS.  Every adult will also receive a $5 gift certificate for the Alternative School Plant Sale that begins March 10^th.  In addition to Dr. Parsons and me to answer gardening questions, there will be community and horticultural exhibits of many kinds and plant sales.  The Wilson County Gardening Day is an educational event designed to improve the attendee’s gardening success, but it also is an event to recognize and support the horticultural activities of the Alternative school.  Young people from Floresville, Nixon-Smiley, Poth, Falls City, La Vernia, and Stockdale School Districts who have not had success in the traditional school setting have the opportunity to pursue their high school studies built around a horticultural curriculum.   

 

Two weeks after the Wilson County Gardening Day on March 15^th, SAWS will sponsor the annual Spring Bloom Giveaway at the headquarters at 2800 US Hwy., 281 North from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  The event will include exhibits and information booths of many kinds and a free blooming xeriscape plant will be available for every adult that attends.  In 2008, it is hoped that you will be able to select from salvias, lantanas, and society garlic.  The major attraction of this event, however, are the presentations. I lead off the program at 9:15 a.m. – 10:00 a.m., speaking on “Helpful Hints for Healthy Grass.”  Jerry Parsons begins his presentation at 9:30 a.m., on “Texas Superstars.”  Paul Cox speaks at 10:30 a.m., on “Tough Plants for Tough Times and Malcolm Beck speaks at 11`:30 a.m., on “Ways to Prevent Drought Damage.”  Other speakers will also cover the topic of drought proofing your landscape. 

 

            For those of you who have never seen the famous potato flushing high efficiency dual flush toilet in action, it will be one of the exhibits at the Spring Bloom Giveaway.  SAWS’ customers who have older toilets (pre-1992) may receive up to two of these remarkable machines free.  You may say, “how do high efficiency toilets relate to gardening?”  They don’t directly, but the more water we can save inside the house, the more flexibility we have outside the house. 

 

            The Mitchell Lake Audubon Birdathon is not until May 3^rd, but the nature of the event requires time for preparation.   A Birdathon is like a walkathon or a bikathon, but instead of seeking pledges per mile walked or rode, the participants collect pledges per species of bird spotted at the refuge.

 

 In 2007, the team that included me, Milton Glueck, Jerry Parsons, and Jane Tourney-Davis racked up 81 birds.  The pledges including Milberger’s pledge to match all other pledges earned the Audubon Center $2,000.  All of the participants in 2007 raised a total of $10,000 that was used towards the youth education and bird habitat programs.

 

            There are several ways you can participate in the 2008 Audubon Birdathon pledge $.25, $1, or $2 per bird to a birding team (Parsons, Glueck and I would welcome your pledge) or form your own team.  To learn more about the Center and/or your Birdathon participation, contact Susan Albert at the Audubon Center at (210) 628-1639.    

 

            The Audubon Center is one-half mile South of Interstate 410 on Moursund Boulevard.  The Center includes 1,200 acres of wildlife habitat including Mitchell Lake and seven ponds.  White pelicans, roseate spoonbills, black-necked stilts, and other shorebirds are the main attraction, but vermillion flycatchers, scissor-tailed fly catchers, shrikes, and many other species are also common.  A total of over 300 bird species have been observed on the Center.  The hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., on Saturday and Sundays.  Call (210) 628-1639 for access on weekdays.