On August 2nd, 42 volunteers gathered from 6:30 to 9:30 AM to rescue plants on the Saums Road Prairie. The Saums Road Prairie is one of the last remaining large tracts of pristine prairie left in Harris County. This 100+ acre hayfield is an example of the highest quality coastal prairie remaining in our area. It is slated for development beginning September 28th.
Houston Audubon's volunteers transported approximately 150 native plants to a new Brays Bayou Wildscape Garden installation in the 3200 block of S.
Braeswood, just west of Buffalo Speedway. This is a high profile site along the Brays Bayou Hike and Bike Trail. It is an ideal location for education outreach to Houston residents and visitors who want to learn more about our coastal tallgrass prairie.
Saums Road Prairie on August 15th, 2008.
Relocating as many plants from Saums Prairie as possible will greatly benefit wildlife. There is less than 1% of our coastal prairie remaining, and loss of this habitat has had devastating effects on grassland birds and other wildlife. Birds that were once common in our area, Eastern Meadowlarks, Northern Bobwhites, and Field Sparrows have population declines as high as 80%. As we unloaded the Saums plants at the new Brays garden we were delighted to see a large number of dragonflies and butterflies investigating the new plant material. The native plant garden should attract birds, butterflies, beneficial insects, and hopefully, many interested visitors.
Houston Audubon is serving as consultants to Terry O'Rourke, Project Manager for the new Brays Bayou Wildscape Garden. Citizens League for Environmental Action Now (CLEAN) is the sponsoring organization for the project. Houston Audubon donors contributed funds towards a large scale plant relocation from Saums Prairie to the new garden that occurred Friday, August 15th. Chip Davis, of Chipco, Inc., and his crew mechanically moved over 1000 sq. ft. of the Saums Prairie plant material.
Volunteers planting Saums plants at Brays Bayou Wildscape Garden
An additional plant rescue will occur Saturday, September 6th. If you are interested in participating, please contact me at fhannah@houstonaudubon.org for a liability waiver that is required by the Saums Prairie landowner, Mr.
Eric Ho. All waivers need to be in my hands by noon, Thursday, September 4th. No waivers will be available at the event. We encourage everyone to join us rescuing as many plants as possible. The plants will be held in the Edith L. Moore Nature Center nursery for a new demonstration pocket prairie in a midtown Houston park. The new site should be ready in a few months.
I encourage all volunteers to take some of the Saums Prairie rescued plants home. Adding native plants to your home garden is essential for wildlife in our urban landscape. This is a good opportunity to acquire plants that are native to our area. I hope to see you at dawn on September 6th. Thanks!
