Missy Singleton (private lands biologists with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) will discuss the role of pollinators in our environment and how we can help protect them. National Pollinator Week brings attention to the urgent issue of declining pollinator populations while emphasizing the valuable ecosystem services provided by bees, birds, butterflies, bats and beetles.

Info: Annabelle Corboy apcorboy@sbcglobal.net or 817-683-1739

Plant your landscape with native plants to save water, attract pollinators and reduce your carbon footprint. Learn how to identify and choose native plants for a landscape, plan a layout, and care for your plants. An expert will guide you through the process of designing your own native landscape, whether it be for an urban container garden or a large suburban yard. 

$25.

The community is invited to watch the documentary Racing Extinction and to discuss possible actions to help the environment. Refreshments will be served. Free.

Utilizing state-of-the-art equipment, Oscar-winner Louie Psihoyos and his team show the world never-before-seen images that expose issues of endangered species and mass extinction. 

Trailer 

Info: Cindy Engel, cindita_e@yahoo.com

This is the first chance for the public to photograph the Big Spring Landmark Conservation area since 2016. This is one of our Meetup favorite sites, and one of the Great Trinity Forest's most unique spots. We are hoping for a good wildflower year, too. 

Details being finalized. See website for more info.

Speaker Randy Johnson of Randy Johnson Organics will speak on “Pollinators and Natives: An Ancient Marriage.”  One-sixth of all described species on Earth are angiosperms, the flowering plants. Their co-evolution with pollinators is the most important relationship in the terrestrial environment. These two entities co-evolved with and for each other, their healthy relationship is vital to the structure and maintenance of almost all terrestrial ecosystems. This ancient marriage is threatened... what are the issues and how can we help? This and more are discussed.

Learn about the 5 or 6 species of frogs most likely to be found on any night at White Rock Lake. After a brief session spent listening to the different calls, we will hike around the area listening and looking for frogs. A small flashlight would be handy.

Janet D. Smith, Texas Master Naturalist

Info: Donna Ressl, donnarus@usa.net

Explore the Refuge and see for yourself the many species of butterflies. You will learn all about their habitats, their host plants, and how to identify them. $5 (with paid admission).

Escape to the “wild” side- spend an evening with the FWAS viewing some great wildlife and bird photography submitted by our globe-trotting membership. The annual membership “slide show” features pictures and videos of great birds, wildlife, landscapes and adventures from the past year whether it is from our back yard or far away. 

Info: Scott Hollinger, scotth150@verizon.net

Ryan Giesecke will walk us through his fascination with how bees function, explore our dependence on bee pollination, and detail the diversity of native bee species, as well as discussing ways to get started in urban beekeeping and how non-beekeepers can help our bee population.