By Pauline Tom
N
ow’s the time for Mountain City limbs to go curbside. Limbs (8-inch maximum diameter, according to past standards) must be placed curbside by the “close of business” on Sunday, July 27.
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I just ordered “Wildlife Tree” signage from Cavity Conservation Initiative (CCI). CCI promotes the conservation of dead and dying trees for cavity-nesting birds and other wildlife that depend upon them. Those trunks and limbs too large for curbside might stay in place to provide food and shelter and nesting cavities.
From the CCI website I gleaned some tidbits.
Leaving just 15 feet of tree trunk with a few branches as a Wildlife Tree can provide many years of value to wildlife.
A “Wildlife Tree” attracts breeding beetles. Some of the beetles eat insects and some pollinate, plus they help with the decay process. Beetles, their larvae, and insects become food for birds and other wildlife. This actually helps lower insect populations.
Do you know about the value of fungi you see on dying trees? Fungi help the natural decay process. Their fruiting bodies serve as nest sites for insects and food for small mammals. They help the tree provide valuable nutrients to the soil, facilitating growth of new and existing vegetation.
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We came home from vacation to find many Painted Buntings at our feeders. It appears the males are “porking” (avian’ing?) up before leaving for Central America later this month.
And, we came home to find a few scorpions, with the help of KissMe the Scorpion Hunter. KissMe scouted out two while Lance dogsat. The back of one scorpion Lance killed was filled with scorpion nymphs. A female scorpion’s back opens for the live birth of scores of babies. She carries them on her back until their first molt.
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Filing for city office candidates has opened and goes through 5 p.m. on Aug. 18. The spots up for election are two alderman positions and mayor. Obtain an application and instructions on filing from Ellis Craig, city secretary, at 512-268-1239.
The Council meets again on Thursday, July 31 at the City Hall at 7 p.m. The agenda will be posted beforehand on each of the City Message Boards.
The Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District’s next regular board meeting is Thursday, July 24, at 6 p.m. Each meeting, the board looks at two factors (flow of Barton Springs and water depth in Lovelady Well) to determine whether or not we are in drought, which mandates water usage cutbacks.
We literally inched into the lifting of the drought declaration in June. Voluntary conservation is on. If the indicators drop, drought will be redeclared. The day the drought was lifted, the Lovelady well was 479.12 feet. The drought line is 478.4 feet.
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Karen Hermann wants to know if others are interested in a scrapbooking night. You need not know how to do it. If interested, email Karen at hermannk@hayscisd.net or phone 512.468.2891
I want to know what tidbits you have on hand, please. Send word to ptom5678@gmail.com or 512.268.5678.
Thanks! Love, Pauline
