General Meeting Tuesday, May 26, at 7 pm

“Replacing Guinea Grass” presented by — Christina Mild

Mild has been working to replace guinea grass (and increase diversity) at Harlingen’s Ramsey Park since 1993. She will discuss natives which have successfully replaced guinea grass, as well as a few failures along the way. Mild has worked with a low to nonexistent budget. She works with nature, planting in wet seasons and watering in dry times (to aug- ment survival and food for wildlife). She rescued plants from Brownsville to Raymondville  and Rio Grande City and collected seed throughout deep south Texas. After a deeply cut index finger and surgeries to remove encysted thorns, she is finally exercising caution in the Tamaulipan thornscrub.

Christina has been learning and teaching about deep South Texas native flora and fauna since 1990. She worked for Valley Nature Center circa 1996, where she met a wide array of quirky characters involved in environmental efforts. She is grateful for the wisdom and knowledge of former Billie MacWhorter and Dr. John Hoverson. Mike Heep, Al Richardson, Ken King and Jann Miller have been generous in sharing plants and knowledge for many years. Mild continues to be inspired by participants on Facebook groups, NPP attendees, iNaturalist Observers and Identifiers, and Joey Santore’s many posts and amazing photos.

Mild’s background includes an M.S. in Biological Science and ten years teaching high school science (students dubbed her “la Mild”). She has been able to volunteer full time since 1998, teaching and writing about local natural history and working on revegetation projects.

The program will take place at the Valley Nature Center, 301 South Border St. in Weslaco, behind Gibson Park.
The public is invited, and admission is free.

Board of Directors Meeting will precede the General Meeting  at  6:00 PM.