This is an archive of articles written by Anita Westervelt between 2015 and 2021 for the Rio Grande Valley Chapter, Texas Master Naturalist. To focus on the most current information, these earlier articles were retired from the original site. We are pleased to provide a permanent home for them here. Please note that the articles are preserved mainly in their original form and may contain outdated information or links. For Anita’s current work, please visit the South Texas Border Chapter’s blog: stbctmn.org/blog.
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Anita’s Blog — Out of Sync
This year seems to be rather out of sync. Mid-February saw numerous flowers blooming that generally only bloom in summer; the next week the devastating week-long freeze shockingly left the Texas habitat in shades of brown and black. Much of the flora has now rallied, but later than normal, and some plants may not produce…
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Anita’s Blog — It’s a What Kind of Wasp?
This is the time of year I talk about my favorite insects –those noisy, siren-singing-sounds-of-summer cicadas. I’ve heard very few this year, three, to be exact; their absence strikes a loud void in the pre-dawn air and cuts a deep pining in my soul for their illusive comfort of a carefree childhood when I was…
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Anita’s Blog — Moths are Important!
National Moth Week 2021 — July 17 to 25. As mentioned in the previous post, there are about 4,700 documented species of moths in Texas. More are being discovered as Texas Master Naturalists, scientists, moth enthusiasts and residents participate in citizen scientist events and private and group mothing activities organized by local parks and organizations…
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Anita’s Blog — Anything But Dull
National Moth Week 2021 is July 17-25 — this year it’s being celebrated in all 50 U.S. states and 80 countries. Moths have fun, exotic, romantic and sometimes slug-ugly common names — if they’ve got them at all. Every moth species has a scientific name in Latin (often mixed with Greek). Most micro-moths only have…
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Nightshades — a family of plants as infamous as it is famous
Story and Photos by Anita Westervelt, Texas Master Naturalist Nightshades are a peculiar family of plants. With nearly 2,300 species worldwide, they range from exceedingly nutritious to dangerously poisonous. Nightshade plants belong to the Solanacaea family of plants; most are toxic. The primary toxin is solanine. On the dark side, we get the deadly nightshade,…
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Horridulum — what kind of name is that for a pretty plant?
Story and photos by Anita Westervelt, Texas Master Naturalist Latin botanical names often offer a clue about the nature of a plant. The Latin word horridulum isn’t as bad as it looks, though, for describing prickly bristle thistle, Cirsium horridulum — horridulum merely translates to meaning somewhat rough; unadorned. About 18 months ago, a rosette…
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Anita’s Blog — The Exotic Nightshades
On the exotic side, the nightshade family includes hundreds of species of showy and fragrant flowers; although still dangerously poisonous, they are not without their extraordinary beauty. This post will wrap up a three-story series about native and cultivated plants in the nightshade family that can be found locally. There’s so much to learn about…
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Anita’s Blog — A Commercial Nightshade
Previously, I brought you the dark, edible and wild side of certain nightshades. /blog/anitas-blog-nightshades-beneficially-questionable/ Recap: there are nearly 2,300 species of nightshade plants worldwide. They belong to the Solanacaea family of plants — most are toxic; the primary toxin is solanine. Interestingly, this peculiar botanical family that includes plants ranging from exceedingly nutritious to dangerously…
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Anita’s Blog — Nightshades, beneficially questionable?
Nightshades are a peculiar family of plants. With nearly 2,300 species worldwide, they range from exceedingly nutritious to dangerously poisonous. Nightshade plants belong to the Solanacaea family of plants; most are toxic. The primary toxin is solanine. On the dark side, we get the deadly nightshade, Atropa belladonna, from Eurasia. It has been a popular…