Texas Border Business
Edinburg, Texas — What was the most important native plant to a vaquero? What plant provides seeds that were used by our ancestors as a coffee substitute? The answers to these questions will be presented by Benito Treviño, the owner of Rancho Lomitas Native Plant Nursery in Starr County. Treviño will present “Traditional Uses of Native Plants” during the Sunday Speaker Series on Oct. 28 at 2 p.m. at the Museum of South Texas History.
Treviño, an ethnobotanist, owns Rancho Lomitas Native Plant Nursery located outside of Rio Grande City. During his presentation, Treviño will discuss the many ways native plants can be utilized, ranging from healing skin cuts to preparing meals. The history of native plants will also include how the native peoples in the region used plants to survive. After learning which plants are the right ingredients for cooking, guests are encouraged to visit the Museum Store and pick up a copy of “Heritage Cookbook” or choose from a variety of locally-sourced foods such as Cappadonna Ranch mesquite bean jelly. Guests can also browse through the book selection at the Museum Store and find a variety of cookbooks from salsa making to Texas barbecue.
Treviño graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in botany. Since starting the nursery, Benito has grown more than 800,000 native plants, which have been used for native landscapes and restoration projects throughout the state.
Sunday Speaker Series is included in the fee for regular museum admission. FRIENDS of the MOSTHistory are admitted free as a benefit of FRIENDship and must provide their FRIENDship upon entrance.
This program is made possible with generous support from the Carmen C. Guerra Endowment. Mrs. Guerra was deeply committed to supporting educational opportunities in the Rio Grande Valley. This named endowment was created at the museum by her family to honor her memory and to continue her commitment to providing opportunities for education to the community.
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