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…

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 …

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…

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.…

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.…

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…

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…

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…

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.)…

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!…

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…

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

Mushroom walk, June 1, 2013

Amanita bisporigera…

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…