Texas Border Business
Does it really matter?… Last April one of the country’s top ecologists came to visit Quinta Mazatlan. The questioned asked of the ecologist was as follows, “If I plant a small patch of native plants in an urban neighborhood yard that is disconnected from the rest of the Valley’s ecosystem, could it possibly help wildlife miles away at larger refuges? Dr. Mack’s answer grounded our resolve to promote natives, firmly in stone. “ABSOLUTELY IT MATTERS!” was his response. What your little backyard habitat can do for this Valley is provide a “botanical Noah’s Ark” and create a wildlife corridor of native backyards. With only 3% of the native habitat left for our wildlife, creating backyard corridors can be a vital way for urbanites to play a role in helping the larger ecosystem. Reserve your space now for the “Backyard Habitat Steward” program at Quinta Mazatlan. The course takes place on Tuesday, February 4th to March 11th, from 9 am to 12:00 noon.
No matter how large or small one’s yard or business property, somewhere there is room to add a native plant. Native trees such as Wild Olive, Anacua, Cedar Elm, Sugar Hackberry, Mesquite, and most of all Texas Ebony can provide food and habitat for our Valley birds, lizards, and amphibians. Native shrubs such as Turk’s Cap, Yellow Sophora, Coral Bean and Scarlet Sage are nice native choices to lure in hummingbirds. Texas Lantana, Bush Sunflower, Heliotrope, Frogfruit all are excellent sources of butterfly nectar. Even a gap along a chain link fence can be enough for Corky-stemmed Passionvine to climb. Its leaves host some of the Valley’s most spectacular butterflies – the Zebras and Gulf Fritillaries. Nesting birds can find their way to the urban back yard and fill the air with song, if the right native plants are there to provide them protection. These musical and colorful displays of our wildlife, flying and darting about our back yards, reap a valuable return for the home or business owner, but provide an invaluable support for the ecosystem.
Learn from the best as we bring in speakers each Tuesday morning at Quinta Mazatlan. February 4th on the ecology and of the valley with John and Carol Goolsby. February 11th on backyard birding with John Brush, Tiffany Kirsten and Ben Nibert. February 18th on soils and butterfly gardening with Mike Heep and Mary Thorne. February 25th on tree ID, planting and maintenance with Ed Kuprel. March 4 on landscape design and ponds with Allen Williams. And to close on March 11th is waterwise gardening and recycling with Delila Martinez and Carol Goolsby. Cost of the course is $60. Advance registration is required; with the course cost at $60 (includes binder, mesquite feeder, and patch). Call (956) 681-3370. For more information, contact Carol Goolsby, Education Director.
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