South Texas Border Chapter
Texas Master Naturalist

Purple Bush-bean. (Photo by Anita Westervelt) Published in the McAllen Monitor, November 1, 2025 Story and photos by Anita Westervelt I was first introduced to a lovely native vine called purple bush-bean, during a presentation given by Jann Miller, president of the Native Plant Project. Her lecture was about container gardening, one of her specialties, which is an impressive feat in the heat and wind of Deep South Texas summers. Purple bush-bean, Macroptilium atropurpureum ,

Pumpkin. (Photo by Anita Westervelt) Published October 25, 2025, in the McAllen Monitor Story and photos by Anita Westervelt American pumpkin, Cucurbita pepo , is native to North America; it is a cultivated winter squash. The oldest known domesticated pumpkin seeds were found in caves in the Oaxaca highlands of Mexico, possibly 10,000 years ago. Pumpkin was designated the official Texas state squash by House Concurrent Resolution No. 87, in 2013, stating, “the diversity of Te

Menacing, perhaps, but not scary -- Great-tailed Grackle. (Photo by Anita Westervelt) What better way to proceed into Hallowe’en week than through a bit of nature. Nature is pretty scary – until you learn about it. I was pretty scared the first time I happened upon a cormorant. I was new to Texas and new to nature photography, after years as a military news and documentary photographer. But this unscary scary missive isn’t about cormorants, yet. I’m starting with crows. A fun

We are excited to announce our participation in the Pollinators for Texas initiative! Our chapter project was selected to receive...