So.. not a lot happening right now, but let’s stay in touch! What are you doing to stay in touch with nature during this time of physical distancing? Send me a few words and a photo or two; I’ll share them in a blog post.
Here’s a bit of news: The Louisiana Master Naturalist Association, out statewide parent organization, now has a video channel thanks to Charles Paxton, one of our chapter representatives and the Board’s communications officer. Click here to learn about the channel and how you might want to contribute: LMNA Channel. A link to the channel, which is on YouTube, is also on the page.
Videos already on the channel include our chapter’s recorded presentation of the Dormon Award to Kelby Ouchley and the statewide zoom interview of our state president, Bob Thomas. And if you don’t feel competent about making a video, you know that Charles is our go-to video guy. Feed him your ideas or seek advice from him!
And here’s an update: You might recall that we have graduated six Master Naturalists. You might not know that we have six more who have completed seven or more workshops and need only to do their final interpretive projects:
- David Hoover
- Arthur Liles
- Roselie Overby
- Frances Rogers
- Ann B. Smith
- Amy Ouchley
Amy lacks only the field work portion of the Phenology Workshop, so I am counting her in the six. I will develop an assignment she can do on her own to finish and I know she’s working on a project.
I encourage you six to develop a project a) that can be presented online in a zoom conference, or b) that an be done all outdoors–like take us on an instructional hike. LMNA has a zoom account available for our use, and we all know outdoors is much safer.
BTW, those of us who hiked at Camp Hardtner a few weeks ago wore our masks the whole time, even outdoors. It’s just not that bad. Nothing will keep me indoors!
It is discouraging that Louisiana has gone backwards in the fight against Covid-19. I trust we are not contributing to the problem. Please, please wear your masks when you leave the house, but be aware that this is also a “family disease.” Two of our state board members from CENLA currently are battling Covid-19 and they’re pretty sure they got it from a family member.
Our chapter board will meet via zoom the last Sunday in July to plot our way forward. Let us be safe but not abandon what we have built. Stay “in touch” safely!
Louisiana Master Naturalists - Northeast 
Thanks Bette. Yes, our car has been playing up. Anyway, we got out to Black Bayou this morning and saw some nice things, that I’ll knock up into short film tableaux. Now follows an exciting opportunity for budding film-makers. Have you heard of the Day In A Life series of books? Well, there’s going to be an epic Ridley Scott movie A Day In The Life of The Globe sort of thing called Life In A Day and we’re all invited to film our activities on July 25th and submit them. “On July 25th, 2020, Ridley Scott and Academy Award® winner Kevin Macdonald invite you to be part of Life in a Day—a historic, global documentary capturing a single day on Earth. Videos from around the world will be woven into a YouTube Originals feature film, premiering at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival.
This is an incredible opportunity to capture what a day in 2020 looks like from your perspective and connect with your fans in a unique and collaborative time capsule.”
LEARN MORE at https://lifeinaday.youtube/
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Sounds really cool, Charles. Hope we have several contributions from our corner of the world. I plan to be at Allen Acres that day for a mushroom walk. Will see what I can do.
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That sounds worth filming, Bette! Well done.
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I learned/experienced an “invasive species” up close and personal recently. The two big crepe myrtle trees I planted 30 some years ago were taking all the nutrients from the flower bed and infringing into the office building plumbing so I reluctantly had them cut. The stumps were removed or so I thought. Hundreds of new trees sprouted up. I couldn’t pull up fast enough. I’d mow em and the next week…more shoots. We left em unvisited 2 weeks and this is what has developed. See front area next to street. Prompted to research, I discovered this plant is a medicinal treasure trove. Again…notice invasive species…look for the gift. Now what?
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Linda, email me your photos. They did not post along with your comment. I also cut down a crepe myrtle tree because the roots completely overtook the flower bed in the front of my house and were going under the slab! I did not have the stump removed but purchased a stump destroyer chemical. It took many treatments for the shoots to stop popping up. I also hired a student to help me and we literally sifted through the dirt in the flower bed finding and pulling out roots. Nevertheless, it took several years for the shoots to stop popping up. Many “invasives” are really attractive plants and tenacious as all get out–which is what makes them effective invasives!
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Here’s what i did this afternoon: https://wildopeneye.wordpress.com/2020/07/12/oaks-of-ouachita-parish/
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To top it off, at least one–the southern red oak–will have leaves like the one you’ve drawn, but also leaves like lots of other species! Great job, Kim. I still get confused and am not sure sometimes.
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