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 Please note that the articles are preserved mainly in their original form and may contain outdated information or links.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 — Of Dandelions & Ditches
The Common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) was the most observed species — globally — in this year’s iNaturalist/City Nature Challenge. How cool is that?! — 246 cities in 40 countries joined the annual event — 12 more countries participated than in 2019. Who doesn’t love a dandelion? Every kid’s first delight as soon as they’re let…
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Let the mockingbird sing you a love song
Story photo by Anita Westervelt, Texas Master Naturalist Mockingbirds are ramping up their antics. They’re more entertaining. They’re braver — landing near your feet to snag an insect from the grass, and then darting away with it clutched in their beak. And more daring — chasing larger birds, like grackles, through the air — most…
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Anita’s Blog — Something for Everyone
This is fun, easy and relaxing. If you’re still cautious about keeping your distance but finding you’re running out of self-isolation projects, stay home and consider building an objet d’art. Clean trash sculpture, found objects art, trash art, junk art, funk art, repurposing, recycling, temporary-relief-from-anxiety art — call it what you want, it’s a project…
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Anita’s Blog — “All Night Long”
A friend called and said, “It’s spring, why don’t you write about the mockingbird? Why do they sing all night long?” So, don’t you know, Lionel Richie’s 1983 hit single, “All Night Long,” has been going through my head — especially the last couple of days while I’ve been photographing everything moving, chirping or blooming…
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What’s the difference?
Story and photos by Anita Westervelt, Texas Master Naturalist The first task when identifying a plant is to find its botanical name. Once you have that, it’s easy to use a search engine and find information. Finding a botanical name is easy when using a mobile device. Many apps can help identify plants, birds, bugs…
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Anita’s Blog — Bee Funny; Bee Friendly
It was a warm and windy morning. I was checking the native basket flowers, Plectocephalus americanus, for pollinators. A tiny bee, possibly a ligated furrow bee, was minding its own business wallowing in the pollen in the flower head when suddenly another bee launched on top of it. I already had my phone camera at…
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Anita’s Blog — Trees Like Colorful Easter Eggs
My mouth was agape in a most un-lady-like fashion the first time I spied a blue tree. Yes, blue! And again, the other evening, an audible gasp escaped my lips as I exited a fast-food strip mall in San Benito. The distant visage of the blue-in-the-sky tree reminded me of a giant Easter egg piñata…
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Anita’s Blog — Pandemic Project # 8
Did you catch Dr. Phil’s (McGraw) brief segment on the news this week? “Get up, get dressed, get active, get busy,” were his recommendations to keep from getting depressed during self-isolation. “Find a project,” he continued, “something you can put on a timeline — and hold yourself accountable.” View Dr. Phil’s show at these links:…
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Rosy roseate spoonbills
Story and photos by Anita Westervelt, Texas Master Naturalist If it’s a pink bird you see flying around coastal Texas, it’ll be a roseate spoonbill migrating back to the coastal shores and resacas. In flight, the roseate spoonbill looks all pink. When wading, it’s easier to see their true colors. Adult roseate spoonbills have no…