PRAIRIE RETURNING TO HERMANN PARK!

PROJECT BLAZING STAR

Once a magnificent prairie covered what is now Hermann Park. It was alive with butterflies, colorful migratory birds, and other amazing creatures. Over time the prairie disappeared although its memory did not. Project Blazing Star is a collaborative effort to bring back patches of this ancient landscape back to Hermann Park.

The Hermann Park Conservancy, Texas Master Naturalists, Coastal Prairie Partnership, Houston Audubon, Houston Zoo, Houston Parks and Recreation, and others are teaming up to restore three areas in Houston's historic Hermann Park back to native tallgrass prairie and we need your help!

Volunteers are needed to grow plants from seed at their homes or with scouts, conduct plant rescues, weed, etc.

Project Leaders & Contact information:

• Barbara Jo Harwell & Diane Kerr, Hermann Park Conservancy
• Lan Shen, Texas Master Naturalists - Gulf Coast Chapter
• Jaime Gonzalez, Katy Prairie Conservancy/Coastal Prairie Partnership

Project Blazing Star - Comments from first planting - April 17, 2010 

PROJECT FUNDING

Project Blazing Star is generously funded by a grant from Waste Management, Inc.

PROJECT LOCATION

View Project Blazing Star-Hermann Park in a largermap

HOW CAN I HELP?

JOIN US AT UPCOMING WORKDAYS

• 2012 First Saturday Workdays from 8:30 am - 11:30 am at the Savannah at Hermann Park's Bayou Parkland (at 6520 1/2 Almeda, 77030 and NOT in the main part of the park, NOT near the zoo).  Meet at the Pavilion.  Dress appropriately for working outdoors.  Dates in 2012 are Jan 7, Feb 4, Mar 3, Apr 7, May 5, Jun 2, Jul 7, Aug 4, Sep1, Oct 6, Nov 3, Dec 1.  However, changes may occur, so contact Jason Frederick <jdfreder2000@yahoo.com> or Lan Shen <LSComposts@yahoo.com> before coming.
• 2012 Third Saturday Workdays from 8:30 am - 11:30 am at Whistlestop Prairie  next to the entrance to the Japanese Garden and the Obelisk at the reflection pond.  Dates in 2012 are Feb 18, Mar 17, Apr 21, May 19, Jun 16, Jul 21, Aug 18, Sep 15, Oct 20, Nov 17, Dec15.  However, changes may occur, so contact Chris Gray  <chrisbryangray@yahoo.com> before coming.

BECOME A VOLUNTEER PLANT GROWER - From your Patio to Hermann Park!
Would you  like to help restore prairie in Hermann Park from the comfort of your own home? We are looking to bringing back lemon-hued coneflowers, brilliant blue-green
grasses, and other species that once blanketed the park.

You can play an keystone role in thisprairie restoration effort by volunteering to grow native wildflowers or grasses that will be used at Hermann's newest attraction. Don't have a
green thumb? No problem. We have written a new native plant growing handbook just for you. If youʼd like to grow wildflowers and/or grasses for Hermann Park weʼll be happy to provide you with the seed if you can donate soil, space, pots, water, and time.This project is also a good way to get scouts and other youth groups involved in hands-on conservation in their community. Just send your request for seeds to jgonzalez@katyprairie.org. Just choose from the selection of seeds below. Each seed packet is sufficient to growout oneflat of 18,4”X4” pots.

Seeds currently available for 2011 volunteer grow out:

• American Basketflower (Centaurea americana)
• Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
• Blazing Star or gayfeather (Liatris spp.)
• Clustered Bushmint (Hyptis alata)
• Rough Coneflower (Rudbeckia grandiflora)
• Rattlesnake Master (Eryngium yuccifolium)
• Texas Coneflower (Rudbeckia texana)
• Yellow Indiangrass (Sorgastrum nutans)