Young at Heart is BACK SWIMMING NEWS

Black-capped vireo eating a katydid; photo by Tom Hausler other wildlife – they are an essential part of the food web. More than 95% of land-dwelling birds feed their chicks with caterpillars and other insects, not seeds or berries. And those baby birds eat a LOT of caterpillars. Research has shown that chickadee parents need between 6,000 and 9,000 caterpillars to raise one nest of babies! So it’s important to plant trees that support a healthy population of caterpillars. Doug Tallamy, a prominent entomologist and researcher, has found that across the United States, native oak trees host more than 900 species of caterpillars. Meanwhile, familiar non-native trees like crepe myrtle and ginkgo host as few as four. While natives are in general better for caterpillars than non-natives, oaks really stand out as the super stars, and so are

critical for birds.

Here are some of our favorite native Central Texas trees:

• Oaks: There are many native oaks to choose from, including live oak, red oaks, and chinquapin oak. They all provide birds with both food (like caterpillars) and places to nest. Red oaks often also have nice fall foliage. • Cedar Elm: Many birds nest in cedar elms, and enjoy eating their seeds in the fall. They are also important hosts for caterpillars, supporting hundreds of species. Cedar elms make great shade trees and show off their bright yellow-orange foliage in the fall. • Texas Redbud: Redbuds are small, pretty trees with heart-shaped leaves. Their pinkish-purple blooms are a valuable nectar source for butterflies, bees, moths, and other insects, especially since they appear early in the spring before many other flowers are available. Their fall seeds are enjoyed by goldfinches and other birds. • Texas Persimmon: Another great small native tree, the Texas persimmon produces tasty fruits that birds love – especially bluebirds, waxwings, and warblers. It’s also a butterfly host plant and its small white flowers are a nectar source for pollinators. • Ashe Juniper (aka cedars): While these trees often get a bad rap, they are great for wildlife. Many birds and other animals eat their berries; they are a host plant for several kinds of butterflies including the juniper hairstreak; and the bark of mature Ashe junipers is needed by the endangered golden-cheeked warbler and other local birds to build their nests. For more information about Texas native trees, check out the Texas A & M Forest Service’s Tree Planting Guide: https://texastreeplanting. tamu.edu/index.html In addition to helping you find the right trees for your landscape, it has a variety of tips for site selection and planting techniques. (See Figure C) Please avoid planting non-native invasive trees and shrubs like ligustrum, Chinaberry, and nandina. They wreak havoc in natural areas and are also prohibited by the Steiner Ranch HOA. For a full list of prohibited plants, check out the Residential Design Guideline Manual on the HOA’s website. For more information about invasive plants in Texas, visit https://www.texasinvasives.org/ So as you begin planning your Fall planting, please keep the birds and

Red oak fall foliage; photo by Johanna Arendt butterflies in mind, and consider using Texas natives. They are beautiful, hardy, and key to a healthy ecosystem, for both us and the birds. For more information about the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve, visit our website at https://www.traviscountytx.gov/tnr/nr/.

Figure C Image courtesy of the Texas A&M Forest Service.

(YAH women group at one of their recent meetings) Young at Heart is an active senior social group open to Steiner Ranch residents ages 55+. We are purely a social organization wanting to share fun times. Joining us is a great way to make new friends and to get to know people your own age and with common interests. Our activities are planned to give everyone a chance to get know each other in casual social settings. Many friendships have been formed while participating in our various interest groups. If you live in Steiner Ranch, you are invited to join us. To become a member, send your name(s), address, phone number and e-mail address to steinerranchYAH@gmail.com. Planned activities include: Book Club, Ladies’ Social Bridge (limited),

Canasta (day and evening), Euchre (limited), Exploring Austin, MahJongg, Mexican Train, Technology Classes, BUNCO and Biking.

In addition, we have several other social groups that give us an opportunity to meet and visit with those in Young at Heart but are not in any of the other groups. These activities include: Ladies’ Lunching Out, Happy Hours, Wine Socials, as well as the popular ROMEO

(Retired Old Men Eating Out) and SWEET (Single Women Enjoying

Eating Together). New groups are added when there is interest.