Though the official start of Spring is not until March 20th, the signs of the season change have begun to sprout all around us. Mountain Laurels are blooming, Purple Martins are nesting, and baby animals are popping up! The warm weather change brings so much life back to the lands of the Cibolo, and we’re excited to invite the community out to enjoy it.
At the Cibolo Nature Center
The Visitor Center at the Nature Center has had a few updates to get it ready for the busy season. Be sure to stop in and see what’s new! We have started renting out our Cibolo Explorer Backpacks- “a do-it-yourself field trip” which allows visitors with children to check out a backpack filled with a variety of books and supplies to guide them on nature-themed activities. This program was designed to encourage adults and children to look at nature from a new, inquisitive perspective and learn more about their environment together. Our current backpacks include the Animal Signs Backpack, a look into prints, scat, and what these say about the animal that left them, and the Insect Interaction Bag, an opportunity to investigate insects and an introduction to citizen science.
Family Night Hikes and Adult Night Hikes are beginning this month as well. These evening hikes provide a unique way to experience the Cibolo. Tour guides will discuss topics like water conservation, bat conservation, owls, reptiles, and nocturnal, crepuscular, and cathemeral animals, to name a few. You may be familiar with our trails during the day, but it can be a very different experience after dark!
At the Herff Farm
At the Herff Farm campus, the Farmers Market is back in full swing! This year’s market has seen the addition of several farmers and gardeners, making our market an ideal shopping destination. Our Farm Manager, Sherry Lim, has created a Garden 101 Series. These classes are the first and last Saturday of the month during the Farmers Market. Taught by knowledgeable local gardeners like Mark Mason and Keith Amelung, this series covers a variety of topics to help any Central Texas gardener green thumb or not! These classes are open to the public, with a suggested $10 donation per family to help cover farm costs like tools, feed, etc. Our Second Saturday Volunteer Days are also during the Farmers Market, and we love seeing new faces! Springtime in the garden means there’s lots of planting to be done before summer, so don’t miss out on these very important volunteer days!
Another new spring addition is the arrival of baby chicks at the Hatchery and Sherry’s baby bunnies, or kits, at the Teaching Garden. Our animals are used to teach self-sufficiency and empathy between humans and animals. They’re part of our everyday lives and understanding and respecting that relationship is an important part of any farm. Once these chicks and kits are old enough, they will be ready for adoption, so socializing them with people at this stage is crucial. These babies will be at every Farmers Market, so come down for hugs and snuggles!
The Cibolo’s 35th Earth Day Birthday Celebration
April 22nd will be the Cibolo’s 35th Earth Day Birthday! This very special day will be a celebration of 35 years of support and love from our community. We will showcase our programs and departments that have sprouted and grown over the years, such as the year-round Farmers Market, guided nature hikes, the NPSOT Native Plant sale, and the Nest Preschool, and more! We are excited to show the community all that they’ve made possible, and we hope to see lots of familiar and lots of new faces!
Please visit Cibolo.org/ calendar to view our events, and follow us on social media for updates. If you are interested in getting involved as a volunteer or donating to give support, please contact [email protected].
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