Updated CITY GREENWAYS BROCHURE
San Vicente Creek, Boston Hill and La Capilla Wetlands - Available SOON
— Audubon Programs Info . . .
— GRIP, 305A N. Cooper
— Visitor’s Center, 201 N. Hudson
.

The Southwestern New Mexico Audubon publication Checklist of Birds, by R. Shook and D. & M. Zimmerman, follows the latest AOU and 51st Supplement order of listings.

Covering the area of Silver City, Cliff-Gila, Redrock, Lordsburg and the Gila National Forest, the 3-fold card identifies visiting and infrequent breeding birds and notes readily recognizable sub-species. There is space to record date and/or number of birds seen, and small enough (3 ¾” by 4 ¼”) to fit in your pocket. Checklists are 50 cents each, or 5 for $2 and for purchase at SWNM programs
[ 1st Friday of each month ] and on [ field trips ].

by Patricia A. Hurley, GCEC Staff, SWNMAS Education Chair

After a near fatal unsupervised pruning that left numerous plants sheared to the ground and dead, Jose Barrios staff rallied with the help of Lone Mountain Natives to rescue and restore the schools butterfly gardens. KNMB Inc., has been a longtime supporter of planting projects at the school, and has awarded funding to re-plant natives in the Outdoor Living Classroom. KNMB Inc. also awarded money to pay for fruit trees, shrubs, herbs, and perennials for the future edible garden which the school has been planning.

The gardens were established in 2005 with grant money from PNM and Share with Wildlife and have been a focal point of learning activity for the school and by community members who viewed it as a model of water-wise native and adapted plants for pollinators, birds, and beauty. Kindergarten through 5th grade utilized the gardens as a backdrop for outdoor educational events where students learned about native and non-native species, ecosystems, pollination, plant adaptations, seed dispersal, chemistry of soil and how plants utilize nutrients, etc. The planting project provides an excellent opportunity for hands on learning and a chance for families and the school community to be outside engaged in meaningful activities. It also offers an important alternative for children who spend more and more time glued to television, video games, computers and cell phones.

Staff and students begin planting April and May. However, these are living gardens and planting continues in fall and into future years. To learn more or volunteer, email SWNMAS education chair and longtime Jose Barrios Volunteer, Tricia Hurley - lonemtn@q.com.

Tricia and husband Mark Cantrell grow their own plants and work with wholesalers who grow natives, contact them at their home nursery - 575-538-4345, www.LoneMountainNatives.com, or visit them at the Silver City Farmers Market - May 1 - Oct 26.