2022 Accomplishments: 1. Submitted the initial application for Dark Sky Park designation 2. Purchased and donated a Sky Quality Meter to the Park for measuring Dark Sky Quality 3. Built and donated six trail side benches for back country hikers 4. Donated $1000 to the park for vehicle tools. 5. Hosted 2 butterfly surveys, school tours and Master Naturalist interpretive hikes 6. Sponsored a Fall Visitor’s Info Table, with a total of 15 volunteers completing over 150 hours of face-to-face interactions with community 7. Completed construction of the new pollinator garden
Lost Maples Pollinator Garden Installed! After a long planning process the new Pollinator Garden is finally done! Located at the park headquarters, the garden features a variety of (mostly) native pollinator plants intended to draw butterflies, birds and other critters. Volunteers included Allan Boutwell, David Matthews, Lee Haile, Steve Bartolomeo, Greg Walton, Lee Booker, Steve Johnson, Marc Richardson, Laurie Fondren, D'Nese Fly, Lisa Flanagan, Diana Adams, Kathy Loring and Karen Ozer. Most are Master Naturalists from the Kerrville chapter. Funded by donations from the public, the Garden will serve not only as a refuge for pollinators but will include signage to educate the public on the vital importance of pollination and of native Texas plants. Come check it out!
Ongoing Activities: Dark Sky and Stargazing Educational Parties With the support of local and regional astronomers, the Friends of Lost Maples group hosts frequent Dark Sky events, such as Star Parties and Full Moon Hikes. The emphasis is on providing information on the Dark Sky Initiative and education about the importance of maintaining clear, dark skies in the Southern Hill Country. Interpretive Activities and Visitor Information In conjunction with park staff, the Friends group leads frequent interpretive activities in the park, including plant hikes, bird and butterfly surveys, Master Naturalist training and presentations on the history and folklore of the park and the surrounding area. WE also dispribute interpretive material to park visitors during the busy fall season Invasive Plant Removal The Friends group has begun the manual removal of invasive Elephant Ears Colocasia esculentia, from Can Creek near the pond. We plan further surveys to include other invasive plant removal activities. Maple Sapling Plantings With a grant from the Apache Corporation, Lost Maples SNA received money for the planting of 60 new Big Tooth Maple Saplings. The Friends group planted each of these trees. These have been placed in the Cliffside Day Use area, the Murphy House Parking area, and near the Park Headquarters. The Friends erected exclosures around them to protect from grazing, and water them regularly.