All Blog Posts (25)

Minutes from November BOD meeting

Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors

of the

Watson Rare Native Plant Preserve

November 18, 2022

Internet Meeting via Zoom.com

1:10 pm


Highlights of the minutes
Members present: Pauline Singleton, Kathleen Appelbaum,…
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Added by kathleen appelbaum on November 30, 2022 at 9:51am — No Comments

In Memory of Kris Petterson

In the photo taken July 17, 2021, Kris was checking on the orchid seeds she had planted in Fall. The mosquitoes were very bad and she went to Walmart and bought a yard of tulle to wrap around her face.This young lady was very bright and full of curiosity about the natural world. Sadly she died way too soon on October 15, 2021.

Kris came to Watson Preserve to learn more about Orchid fungal and bacterial diversity. She was working in Dr Jyotsna Sharma's lab at Texas Tech University. She…

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Added by kathleen appelbaum on February 22, 2022 at 10:30am — No Comments

Results of June 12, 2021 Mushroom Walk

The following species were identified:

Akanthomyces aculeatus Lebert 

Amanita bisporigera Atkinson 

Amanita peckiana complex 

Amanita vaginata complex  

Callistosporium luteo-olivaceum (Berk. & M.A. Curtis) Singer …

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Added by Pauline Singleton on October 26, 2021 at 10:58pm — No Comments

Highlights of Minutes January 2021 Board of Directors Meeting

Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors of Watson Rare Native Plant Preserve

January 8, 2021

Highlights of Minutes

 

Present: Pauline Singleton, Chris Eldredge, Jim Willis, Joe Liggio, Linda Knowles, Kathleen Appelbaum, Charles Smith, Wanda Smith, and Mike Howlett

 Chris Eldredge suggested that we put the minutes, or at least the most important parts of minutes, on the…

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Added by Pauline Singleton on February 7, 2021 at 7:57pm — No Comments

Mushrooms found on the November, 2018 Mushroom Walk

Watson Preserve mushroom walk, November 10, 2018 Watson Preserve mushroom walk, November 10, 2018 Agaricus pocillator Murr. Amanita "amerifulva" Tulloss nom. Prov. Amanita amerirubescens Tulloss, nom. prov. Amanita flavoconia Atkinson Amanita lavendula (Coker) Tulloss, K.W. Hughes, Rodrig. Cayc. & Kudzma Amanita persicina (Dav. T. Jenkins) Tulloss & Geml Amanita vaginata complex 2 speciesArtomyces pyxidatus (Pers.) Jülich Baeospora mysura (Fr.) Singer Calostoma cinnabarina Desv.…

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Added by Pauline Singleton on January 8, 2019 at 2:54pm — No Comments

Mushroom Species List for June 25, 2016

Gulf States Mycological Society mushroom walk

Watson Rare Plant Preserve

June 25, 2016

 

Abortiporus biennis (Bull.:Fr.) Singer

Amanita bisporigera Atkinson

Boletellus ananus (Curt.) Murr.

Callistosporium luteo-olivaceum (Berk. & M.A. Curtis) Singer

Cantharellus species

Cantharellus tabernensis Feibelman & Cibula

Cantharellus tenuithrix Buyck & V.…

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Added by Pauline Singleton on October 12, 2017 at 10:11pm — No Comments

Dr. Jyotsna Sharma, who is an Associate Professor at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX, is leading conservation research projects at Watson Native Plant Preserve since 2012. The focus of her lab’s…

Dr. Jyotsna Sharma, who is an Associate Professor at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX, is leading conservation research projects at Watson Native Plant Preserve since 2012. The focus of her lab’s work is on one of the rare and superbly showy orchids of Texas. Platanthera chapmanii (Chapman’s orchid) is known from only a few locations in southeastern Texas, and Watson Native Plant Preserve hosts the largest population in Texas. Her work has included:

1)   augmenting the…

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Added by Pauline Singleton on November 17, 2016 at 10:09pm — No Comments

We're Losing our Redbay Trees

I have some very bad news.   It  concerns two of our most common but easily-overlooked shrubs/small trees:  the redbay (Persea borbonia) and sassafras (Sassafras albidum).  They don’t directly affect people’s lives, except that sassafras is the source of the flavoring for root beer and gumbo file, and redbay is occasionally used in cooking.  They do play a role in the ecosystems of east Texas, and we may be about to receive an unpleasant lesson in the interconnectedness…

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Added by Pauline Singleton on August 21, 2016 at 9:30pm — No Comments

No Campaign Posters on the Preserve, Please

Without the knowledge or consent of the Board of Directors of Watson Preserve, someone put some campaign posters for one of the presidential candidates on trees on Watson Preserve.

We are a 501c3 tax-exempt corporation, and therefore do not support specific candidates for office. Any political material that we find on the preserve will be removed. So please, save yourself some time and energy, and post such materials somewhere else. Please don't take it personally, but a…

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Added by Pauline Singleton on April 18, 2016 at 7:54pm — No Comments

Species List for Mushroom Walk June 27, 2015

Watson Rare Native Plant Preserve

Mushroom Walk

June 27, 2015

 

Species List

 

Agaricus silvaticus Schaeff

Amanita bisporigera Atkinson

Amanita flavoconia Atkinson

Amanita peckiana complex

Amanita vaginata complex

Boletus oliveisporus (Murr) Murr

Cantarellus tabernensis Feibelman & Cibula

Coltricia cinnamomea (Jacq.:Pers.)…

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Added by Pauline Singleton on September 19, 2015 at 2:22pm — No Comments

facebook page!

Hello everyone! Please visit The Watson Rare Native Plant Preserve facebook page and join the group! It's an open forum so please post pictures, comments, questions, or educational links to the page! We will try and keep it as updated as possible with walks and workdays that are coming up so that you will be notified through facebook. Spread the word as this is a great way to get people involved and exploring new areas!  Thanks!…

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Added by Meredith Wilson on September 1, 2015 at 10:45am — No Comments

Species List for Mushroom Walk Held June 28, 2014

 …
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Added by Pauline Singleton on September 3, 2014 at 9:00pm — No Comments

Summer 2013

I can't believe the summer of 2013 is history.  It was an eventful summer.  In addition to events mentioned earlier, a youth group from Triumphant Lutheran Church in San Antonio under the supervision of Youth Pastor Chris St. Clair came out on July 26 and spent several hours helping us out.  We are very grateful to them for their assistance.  We are also very grateful to the staff of the National Park Service for putting them in touch with us.

Joe Liggio again led a wildflower walk to…

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Added by Pauline Singleton on November 3, 2013 at 6:34pm — No Comments

Species List from David Lewis from June Mushroom Walk

 

GSMS species list, Watson Rare Plant Preserve, Lake Hyatt, TX

Mushroom walk, June 1, 2013

Amanita bisporigera…

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Added by Pauline Singleton on October 7, 2013 at 8:47pm — No Comments

Mushroom Hunt

Twenty-something people gathered at Watson Preserve on June 1 to brave the heat and search for mushrooms.  All levels of skill were represented, from beginners to experienced mycologists.  David and Pat Lewis did a great job of leading the activities.  We hope they will do it again  There is no better way to learn more about fungi than to go into the field with an expert.  I have posted a few photos and will try to add a few more as I get time.  If David gives me a list of species found, I…

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Added by Pauline Singleton on June 4, 2013 at 10:26pm — No Comments

May, 2013

Our thanks to DeAndra Ramsey from the Houston Zoo for bringing a group of  college students to Watson Preserve on May 23.  Eleven young people pitched in and helped us for about 3 1/2 hours that Thursday.  They demolished and removed the old privy; they loaded up a pine tree that had earlier been cut down (it leaned over the cabin) and hauled it off site; they cut down and removed a number of Chinese tallow trees.  We were really amazed at what they got done in such a short time.  It is…

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Added by Pauline Singleton on May 27, 2013 at 10:10pm — No Comments

April 27 Wildflower Tour

We had a wonderful turnout for our wildflower walk on April 27.  Our thanks to Joe Liggio who led the tour, and to Jim Willis, who had cold water waiting at the end of our hike.

We are always glad to see old friends, of course, but we were especially pleased that there were several people visiting for the first time.  We hope they'll return many times.

The only disappointment was the paucity of orchids.  There were a few rose pogonias (very few), one grass-pink orchid about to…

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Added by Pauline Singleton on April 29, 2013 at 10:36pm — No Comments

A Word about the Iris

Before I get a call from someone telling me that there has been a terrible act of vandalism and some of the yellow irises have been removed from the pond near the cabin, let me explain.

The yellow flags are Iris pseudacorus, an exotic species from Eurasia and northern Africa.  In addition to being non-natives, they are terribly aggressive.  Those of you who have been visiting the preserve for several years may have noticed that the original clump has grown huge, and they have…

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Added by Pauline Singleton on April 21, 2013 at 9:47am — No Comments

Bird Walk on April 13

We want to thank volunteers Bill and Mary Keller and Kathleen and Lisa Appelbaum for leading the birding tour on Saturday, April 13.  They enjoyed very nice weather and identified 29 species of birds, including a great crested flycatcher, a summer tanager, a catbird, a yellow-throated vireo, kingbirds, wood ducks (with babies!) and our resident redheaded wookpeckers.

Pauline Singleton

Added by Pauline Singleton on April 15, 2013 at 8:39pm — No Comments

March Visit

Thanks for a wonderful tour, Pauline. What a treat this was! Thanks for sharing knowledge and enthusiasm. We will certainly be back. 

Added by Grace Megnet on March 16, 2013 at 10:30pm — No Comments

Donations

Watson Rare Native Plant Preserve is a 501c3 charitable corporation, and donations, while never a requirement for a visit, are always welcome and are tax-deductible.

If you would like to make a donation to support the preserve, please send a check to Watson Rare Native Plant Preserve, PO Box 533, Warren, TX 77664 or use the button below to use your credit card or Paypal.

If you wish to confirm our status with the IRS, our EIN is 80-0316780

EVENTS

Birding Hike

Saturday, March 9th from 9am to 10am Lisa and Kathleen Appelbaum will help you identify birds and answer any questions about eBird. Bring binoculars and a friend.

Wildflower Walk

Saturday, March 16th at 9:30 Joe Liggio and volunteers will tell us the history of the preserve and point out and name all the plants.

Volunteer Workday

Saturday, March 23rd 9am to Noon

We plan to work on trimming along the trails. Bring your energy and plant ID skills.We have loppers and hand pruners. We will provide water and snacks.

For regular updates you can

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