Saturday, September 24, we had another wonderful and informative Prairie Seeker class. This time we were at the Ft. Worth Nature Center & Refuge. Stay tuned for future training sessions at the website or consider joining Ft Worth NPAT chapter to keep up-to-date emails.
While Jeanne and I waited at the entrance, we took the opportunity to check the native plants at the gate. American Bumble Bees were numerous on the Mealy Blue Sage (Salvia farinacea)!
A hover fly called the Common Oblique Syrphid (Allograpta obliqua) visited the Silver-leaf Nightshade.
The markings on abdomen was a give away to the species!
Later, one landed on a finger while out in the demo prairie!
This is the demo prairie. It is burned every couple of years as needed. The group listened and observed! After lunch, Daniel Price (Natural Resource Manager) gave a presentation on the prescribed burns at the refuge.
Besides the grasses, forbs are also in a prairie. Here I found a monarch egg on a milkweed!
An incredible Feather-legged Fly (Trichopoda lanipes) was spotted by Rosie! Great find!
As we were cutting through towards the bison pasture, this log spoke to me. I am sure it was a huge Giant Swallowtail caterpillar. LOL. It was a great class and always so much information to soak in! You may want to join us next time. 🙂
Need something to do? Texas Land Conservancy is holding a 40th anniversary event at the Dixon Foundation at the Leo Ranch. It will be October 8th. For details follow this link. So Jeanne and I will both be there assisting with the guided walks. The walks will be short and it is free!
Good to see the monarch egg. Good articles too. Thanks
🙂
It was a lovely workshop! Thanks again so much for adding your expertise to the mix.
It is so nice to be a part of the team 🙂 And thank y’all for putting the PS together!
What a great day! Really cool fly. Hope my nightshade berries sprout next spring, it brings such good stuff in.
Nightshades will are neat plants. Good luck!