July 14 Second Saturday Activities

By Kelby Archer

Wildflowers will be the featured topic for Second Saturday at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge on July 14. Dr. Connie Taylor, Professor Emeritus of Biology, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, will be the speaker for the program, which will begin at 10 am in the Multi-purpose Room of the Visitor Center at the Refuge.

Dr. Taylor, who now lives on her own prairie east of Durant, Oklahoma, retired after teaching at Southeastern Oklahoma State University for 28 years. She holds three degrees in Botany from the University of Oklahoma. Among her special research interests are the goldenrods of Oklahoma and Texas and Southwestern U.S.; the distribution of all the native and naturalized plants of Oklahoma, and study of the seeps and bogs in southeastern Oklahoma.

Dr. Taylor and her husband reported over 150 species of plants new to the Oklahoma Flora, and collected several plants new to science, including 3 in Costa Rica and 2 goldenrods in Oklahoma. Together they were named Oklahoma Scientist of the year in 1993. She is the author of several publications on Oklahoma flora.

Also on the calendar for July 14, early-birds can meet at 8 am at the FOH Center at the Refuge for a nature walk, led by Dr. Wayne Meyer and assisted by Vance Wolf. The walk will conclude in time for Dr. Taylor’s presentation.

Second Saturday for Youth at 10 a.m. will be about the Bald Eagle, with hands-on nature crafts and games for youngsters ages 4 -10. Reservations are required for the youth program, to insure adequate materials, and children aged 6 and under are to be accompanied by a parent or other responsible adult. To reserve a spot, call the Refuge, 903 786 2826.

The FOH Nature Photo Club will meet at 12:30pm in the audio/visual classroom of the FOH Center.  “Bugs” is the theme for sharing for July.  Sally Papin will present a program on creating art from photographs using layered textures.  There will also be a presentation of the Spring Photo Safari!

These programs, sponsored by Hagerman NWR and the Friends of Hagerman, are free and open to the public. The Refuge is located at 6465 Refuge Road, Sherman, TX, 75092. For more information, call the Refuge or see www.friendsofhagerman.com.