Essays

Moseying: Living La Vida Llanero

JoAnn Merritt, The best ambassador for West Texas Wildlife in Midland
April 9, 2008

Joann Merritt is the best ambassador for West Texas wildlife in Midland, Texas. For almost 30 years she has contributed stories to the Midnat’s (Midland Naturalists) newsletter, The Phalarope. For many years she and husband Don volunteered at the Sibley Nature Center, leading kids down the trail. She has given hundreds of programs about her passions to civic groups and schools in Midland and other towns. She intimately knows the birds, butterflies, dragonflies, horny toads, and wildflowers of Midland County. Husband Don has produced a superb collection of photographs of the butterflies of Midland County. Now that she is retired from giving presentations, the Sibley Nature Center would like to honor her for her many years of sharing her love of West Texas with others. We will soon be putting a collection of her essays on this website. To whet your appetite, please enjoy these selections!

“To be a butterflier is to see and smell the earth up close. This leads to a warm appreciation not only for native plants but for the full spectrum of the natural world”, writes Jeffrey Glassberg, President of North American Butterfly Association.

Midnats awareness of Twine vine (Sarcostemma Cynanchoides) in Pemberton Draw last August led to our enjoyment of the butterflies found nectaring there on the vine’s clustered flowers. This year Rose Marie Stortz alerted us in July that the vine was in bloom and even though it is a 60-mile roundtrip Midnat butterfliers have made numerous trips there to enjoy this butterfly haven that Midnat Don Hunter calls Butterfly Bend.

As the road bends sharply to the right it is banked high on the left side which in turn creates a steep incline toward the Twinevine. This makes an excellent location for identifying and observing the butterflies while they nectar, bask or rest in this low spot protected from the wind. Admittedly, it gets hot because of this very reason but it’s a good trade-off because the butterflies are concentrated in that small peaceful area, and beyond that is mostly dry pasture. Sometimes they will fly across the fence and temporarily be hidden from view, but with a little patience and luck you may see them return. If not, other equally exciting species will appear to keep your eyes and mind busy. Twinevine not only entwines the fences and shrubs but also the hearts of those who love butterflies.

Pemberton Draw continues meandering and winding on its journey to nearby Harris Ranch where another butterfly-friendly native plant, Plains Ironweed (Vernonia marginata) is in a riotous deep purple blooming frenzy - as are some of the butterfliers! Sally Wasowski explains the meaning of the name. She planted ONE Ironweed in rich blackland prairie country and for four years it was a delight.

Then the roots, each one easily an inch thick, iron hard, at least a foot underground and able to travel 30 feet or more, took off in all directions sending up new plants at 2 foot intervals. “Use extreme caution in flowerbeds,” she advises.

Ironweed’s bitter taste prevents it from being eaten by livestock and thus a healthy stand snakes its way for a quarter of a mile or so through Harris’ ranchland. Named for an English botanist William Vernon, Vernonia has roots that have been used to purify the blood, to reduce fevers, and as an aphrodisiac and snakebite cure according to Geyata Ajilsvgi in Wildflowers of Texas. Since she didn’t specify what to do with the roots to effect a snakebite cure, Sybil Eberhardt, Don and I cautiously wore our snake guards.

August was Butterfly Month in Midland this year and these two spots were a naturalist’s special curve of the world - it couldn’t be called a corner of the world because there were no straight lines, just curves, bends, circles and spirals. When I consider that this is the only known place in Midland County where Twinevine and Ironweed grow and that nature alone has created this great habitat for butterflies, it tugs the heartstrings of my already entwined heart.

This past year I’ve been tuned in to country music, station KBRD. I dislike being awakened by a jangling alarm clock, so at night I set station KBRD on automatic. I wake up to a soft yodel - not John Denver or Margo Smith, but the yodeling cowboys of the bird world - Upland Sandpipers. If I don’t rise and shine I’m scolded by the early morning country preacher - Brother Cactus Wren. In the background I hear a Gospel quartet composed of Bullock’s Oriole, Orchard Oriole, Western Kingbird and Northern Mockingbird imitating the Statler Brothers and Alabama. They sing lots of choruses. Then the CBW’s (Country Bird Watcher) diminutive Barbara Mandrell - the Bewick’s Wren - entertains us with lively melodies and vigorous tail twitching.

Listen! There’s a staccato tic-tic-tic-tic of the Verdin that sounds like the typewriter keys on Dolly Parton’s song 9 to 5. I’m now awake and ready for a cup of coffee when the Rufous-sided Towhee calls out “Drink your teee!” to prove that Olivia Newton-John is not the only English country singer. In America the Rufous’ cousin, Green-tailed Towhee, is considered to be the cat’s meow. CBW’s Johnny Rodriquez - El Paisano the Roadrunner - sounds his drum roll to introduce the next performers, the Country Roses, Rose Ann Cash and Rose-breasted Grosbeak who are number one on the hit parade whether you consider their style country or pop. Connie Smith was formerly a teacher and our Ovenbird is said to introduce itself “Teacher, teacher, teacher” although I have never heard it. Conway Twitty has his band of “Twitty Birds” and I have mine. The White-crowned Sparrows sing a soft sweet lullaby when they gather in the mesquite trees at sundown.

CBW’s Charlie Pride - the Black-headed Grosbeak - sings his sad sweet ballads. When Eddie Raven sings, our Chihuahuan Ravens give him numerous curtain “caws.” EmmyLou isn’t the only Harris who can sing. I once heard five Harris Sparrows whistling their sweet quavering song at dusk. A guest appearance was made by CBW’s Anne Murray - the Canada Warbler. She didn’t sing one note, just stopped briefly to show off her black necklace. You would think Minnie Pearl and Grandpa Jones were on stage when the White-winged Dove whoops it up with “Whoop-whoop-de-do” and the Swainson’s Hawk shrieks from the balcony. The Mourning Dove adds “coo-coo.” (Could that be an opinion?)

Wait! It doesn’t end yet - Willie Nelson doesn’t compare to CBW’s Poor-will. Eat your heart out, Willie, Poor-will’s outdoor concert at night is the very best. Oh, yes, this is my kind of country, my kind of music. John Denver sings it best Thank God I’m a Country Boy. Y’all flock to the country and we’ll have a Lark (species?) listening because I plan to stay tuned to KBRD.