Belterra - May 2021 by Peel, Inc.

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THE BULLETIN

Bu llet iN May 2021 Volume 3, Issue 05

News for the Residents of Belterra

The Bulletin - May 2021

THE BULLETIN

The Bulletin - May 2021

Give Turtles a Brake! By Cheryl Conley

THE BULLETIN IMPORTANT NUMBERS EMERGENCY NUMBERS

EMERGENCY ...................................................911 Ambulance / Fire..................................................911 SCHOOLS I brake for turtles. Do you? With the warmer weather, turtles are going to be on the move soon. They are most likely looking for a mate or the females are looking for a nesting site. It could be that they’re just looking for a good meal. Whatever the reason, cars and turtles don’t mix. If you’re like me and want to help turtles crossing roads, here are a few helpful hints: • Safety first. Always be aware of other vehicles. Pull off the road and turn on your hazard flashers. • If there’s no traffic, it’s best to let the turtle cross on its own. • Don’t put the turtle in your car and relocate it. Eastern box turtles, for example, only travel within about a 2-mile radius throughout their lives. They have a homing instinct and move about within their home territory. Removing them from their home will cause undo stress and shorten their lives. • Always move the turtle in the same direction it was going, as far off the road as you can place it. • Be gentle. Grasp the turtle’s shell edge at about the midpoint of the body. If it’s a snapping turtle, grasp the shell at the back of the body to protect yourself from a bite. In either case, you can then lift the turtle and place it on the side of the road. You can also place the turtle on a floor mat or piece of clothing and slide it. • Once the turtle is safely placed on the side of the road out of danger, sanitize your hands. We’ve all gotten pretty good at that! What should you do if you find an injured turtle? Believe it or not, turtles with damaged shells can recover but it’s important to get help as quickly as possible. Call a local wildlife center first to make sure they will accept the animal and follow their instructions. Don’t try to feed the turtle or give it water. Place it in a box and put it in a quiet area until you can get help. Houston area wildlife centers: Friends of Texas Wildlife TWRC Wildlife Center Wildlife Center of Texas You can also check the Texas Parks & Wildlife website for individual rehabilitators. https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/rehab/list/ Copyright © 2021 Peel, Inc.

Dripping Springs ISD......................... 512-858-3000 Dripping Springs Elementary.............. 512-858-3700 Walnut Springs Elementary................. 512-858-3800 Rooster Springs Elementary................. 512-465-6200 Dripping Springs Middle School......... 512-858-3400 Dripping Springs High School............ 512-858-3100 UTILITIES

Water – WCID # 1 & 2...................... 512-246-0498 Trash – Texas Disposal......................... 512-246-0498 Gas – Texas Community Propane........ 512-272-5503 Electricity – Pedernales Electric........... 512-858-5611 OTHER

Oak Hill Post Office ........................... 512-892-2794 Animal Control................................... 512-393-7896 NEWSLETTER PUBLISHER

Peel, Inc.............................................. 512-263-9181 Article Submissions...................belterra@peelinc.com Advertising.............................advertising@peelinc.com ............................................................512-263-9181 The Bulletin - May 2021

THE BULLETIN

The Bulletin - May 2021

THE BULLETIN Quercus with a Purpose by Jim and Lynne Weber

Ilia Underwing Texas is home to dozens of native species of oaks, all of which are in the genus Quercus. These trees provide humans with ample shade in the summer and beautiful color in the fall, and they sustain many mammals and birds with their acorn fruit, did you know that they are native host plants for dozens of butterfly and moth species? In turn, the caterpillars of these species are also a critical food source for almost all of the songbirds raising broods in the spring. Three of the most productive native oak species in central Texas are the Texas Live Oak (Quercus fusiformis), Post Oak (Quercus stellata), and Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa). The Texas Live Oak is also known as Escarpment Live Oak, Hill Country, and Plateau Live Oak. Considered a semi-evergreen tree, the previous year’s leaves fall from the tree only when pushed out by newly emerging ones in early spring. It has a stately mature form and unparalleled longevity, reaching to 40 feet in height with large limbs that over time spread a great distance from the main trunk. Firm textured leaves are oval to elliptical, 1 to 3 inches long, with young leaves having pointed lobes. Its acorns are spindle-shaped or fusiform, narrowed at the base and ¾ to 1 inch long. The Texas Live Oak is a host plant for Oak Hairstreak (Northern form), Juvenal’s Duskywing, and Meridian Duskywing butterflies, as well as Grote’s Buckmoth, Eastern Buckmoth, and Delilah Underwing moths. Also known Iron Oak and Cross Oak, Post Oak is a deciduous oak to 50 feet, coarsely-branched with a dense, oval crown. Its leaves are typically 3 to 5 inches long, with 4 pairs of lobes on each side, and the upper pair are often larger than the others, resembling a cross. Acorns are ¾ to 1.25 inches long. Post Oak is the most common oak throughout Texas, and its hard or iron wood is used for railroad ties, and construction posts and timbers. It is a host plant for the Oak Hairstreak (Northern form) and White M Hairstreak butterflies, and the Polyphemus, Eastern Buckmoth, Scarlet Underwing, and Little Nymph Underwing moths. Bur Oak is one of our largest oaks, also known as Savanna Oak, Overcup Copyright © 2021 Peel, Inc.

Oak, Prairie Oak, and Mossy-cup Oak. A deciduous tree that can exceed 100 feet in height, its massive trunk supports heavy, horizontal limbs and lobed leaves up to 9 inches long. Its acorns are the largest of all native oaks, up to 1.5 inches wide, with one-quarter to one-half of the acorn enclosed in a coarsely scaled cup with a heavily fringed margin. Somestimes spelled Burr Oak, it is the northern most oak in the New World, extending farther north than any other oak species. Bur Oak is the host plant for the Banded Hairstreak and Juvenal’s Duskywing butterflies, in addition to the Ilia Underwing, Imperial, and Greater Oak Dagger moths. While Texas is known for its oaks, care must be taken in identifying and maintaining oak trees. Most all of the species can hybridize, and several of them are susceptible to oak wilt disease. However, they are worth the effort form a human and wildlife standpoint, as they are Quercus with a purpose! Send your nature-related questions to naturewatch@austin.rr.com and we’ll do our best to answer them. If you enjoy reading these articles, check out our books, Nature Watch Austin, Nature Watch Big Bend, and Native Host Plants for Texas Butterflies (published by Texas A&M University Press), and our blog at naturewatchaustin.blogspot.com.

'Norther n' Oak Hairstreak

Polyphemus Moth The Bulletin - May 2021

THE BULLETIN At no time will any source be allowed to use The Bulletin's contents, or loan said contents, to others in anyway, shape or form, nor in any media, website, print, film, e-mail, electrostatic copy, fax, or etc. for the purpose of solicitation, commercial use, or any use for profit, political campaigns, or other self amplification, under penalty of law without written or expressed permission from Peel, Inc. The information in The Bulletin is exclusively for the private use of the residents Peel, Inc. DISCLAIMER: Articles and ads in this newsletter express the opinions of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Peel, Inc. or its employees. Peel, Inc. is not responsible for the accuracy of any facts stated in articles submitted by others. The publisher also assumes no responsibility for the advertising content with this publication. All warranties and representations made in the advertising content are solely that of the advertiser and any such claims regarding its content should be taken up with the advertiser. * The publisher assumes no liability with regard to its advertisers for misprints or failure to place advertising in this publication except for the actual cost of such advertising. * Although every effort is taken to avoid mistakes and/or misprints, the publisher assumes no responsibility for any errors of information or typographical mistakes, except as limited to the cost of advertising as stated above or in the case of misinformation, a printed retraction/correction. * Under no circumstances shall the publisher be held liable for incidental or consequential damages, inconvenience, loss of business or services, or any other liabilities from failure to publish, or from failure to publish in a timely manner, except as limited to liabilities stated above.

The Bulletin - May 2021

THE BULLETIN

INGREDIENTS For the chicken marinade: 28 oz (800g) boneless and skinless chicken thighs cut into bite-sized pieces 1 cup plain yogurt 1 1/2 tablespoons minced garlic 1 tablespoon ginger 2 teaspoons garam masala 1 teaspoon turmeric 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon Kashmiri chili (or 1/2 teaspoon ground red chili powder) 1 teaspoon of salt For the sauce: 2 tablespoons of vegetable/canola oil 2 tablespoons butter 2 small onions (or 1 large onion) finely diced 1 1/2 tablespoons garlic finely grated 1 tablespoon ginger finely grated 1 1/2 teaspoons garam masala 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin Copyright © 2021 Peel, Inc.

1 teaspoon turmeric powder 1 teaspoon ground coriander 14 oz (400g) tomato puree (tomato sauce/Passata) 1 teaspoon Kashmiri chili (optional for colour and flavour) 1 teaspoon ground red chili powder (adjust to your taste preference) 1 teaspoon salt 1 1/4 cups of heavy or thickened cream (use evaporated milk for lower calories) 1 teaspoon brown sugar 1/4 cup water if needed 4 tablespoons Fresh cilantro or coriander to garnish INSTRUCTIONS Set aside and keep warm. (You will finish cooking the chicken in the sauce.) Melt the butter in the same pan. Fry the onions until soft (about 3 minutes) while scraping up any browned bits stuck on the bottom of the pan.

Add garlic and ginger and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant, then add garam masala, cumin, turmeric and coriander. Fry for about 20 seconds until fragrant, while stirring occasionally. Pour in the tomato puree, chili powders and salt. Let simmer for about 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally until sauce thickens and becomes a deep brown red colour. Stir the cream and sugar through the sauce. Add the chicken and its juices back into the pan and cook for an additional 8-10 minutes until chicken is cooked through and the sauce is thick and bubbling. Pour in the water to thin out the sauce, if needed. Garnish with cilantro (coriander) and serve with hot garlic butter rice and fresh homemade Naan bread! The Bulletin - May 2021

THE BULLETIN 1405 Brandi Ln Round Rock, TX 78681

The Bulletin - May 2021