Nature Speaker Series
The McAllen Great Outdoors Nature Speaker Series is designed to be both education and inspirational. A wide range of speakers and programs are featured from October 2011 to April 2012. Subjects will range from organic cooking, painting in nature, designing a wildscape in your backyard, attracting hummingbirds and butterflies, book signings and so much more!
The winter to spring speaker series is in partnership with the McAllen Chamber of Commerce and Texas Nature and Environmental Photographers (TexNEP).
We'd like to thank our sponsor, Thurmond Eye Associates, for supporting environmental education!
Our Next Speaker
The Renaissance Couple, Jason and Marcia Matthews,will be played by Erren Seale and Tina Atkins.
Meet Jason and Marcia
the Renaissance Couple
February 9th at 6:00pm
Who would have thought to train a parrot to sing opera, or publish a magazine in a treetop house? Jason and Marcia Matthews, the builders and owners of the original Quinta Mazatlan at the south edge of McAllen. The adobe home in the woods is now owned and operated by the city of McAllen as an urban sanctuary promoting the natural and cultural history of the Rio Grande Valley.
The Matthews couple’s colorful lives will come alive with a revisiting of their unique personalities and glamorous lifestyle. Often called a Renaissance man, Matthews designed and built much of the spacious home himself. Before he and his wife settled in McAllen, he led a swashbuckling life, complete with fighting in foreign wars, working in Hollywood and New York, and traveling to exotic places. His wife, Marcia, as an ardent anti-communist, threw lavish parties for international figures and worked as editor of The American Mercury, which they published on the grounds of the estate in McAllen.
The program will include fascinating details of the Matthews’ lives, told in dramatic form, complete with a sampling of Jason Matthews’ published poetry and music. Actors in the playlet include local businessman Erren Seale as Jason, and Region One educator Tina Atkins as Marcia. Others participating include soprano Linda Musollari, pianist Dr. Brendan Kinsella, and poet Jan Seale. The producers are Carl and Jan Seale, and George and Virginia Gause .
The fee for this special program is $10 per person. The event revenues will be dedicated to the production of “A Guide to Quinta Mazatlan” booklet to lead visitors around the estate. SEATING IS LIMITED TO THE FIRST 100 GUESTS, PLEASE ARRIVE EARLY!
2011-2012 Season
Regular Schedule & Fees | Date: | Thursday Evenings (October through April) |
| Time: | 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm |
| Fee: | Included in General Admission
$2.00 Adults,$1.00 Seniors (65+) |
<table class="schedule">
<caption>Regular Schedule & Fees</caption>
<tbody>
<tr>
<th>Date:</th>
<td>Thursday Evenings (October through April)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Time:</th>
<td>6:00 pm to 7:00 pm</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Fee:</th>
<td>Included in General Admission<br />
$2.00 Adults,$1.00 Seniors (65+)</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
- October 13 Presentation and Screening of the acclaimed 60 minute documentary film “Where Do the Children Play” Martin Hagne, Executive Director of the Valley Nature Center, will discuss the special Texas State Mandate called “Texas Children in Nature”
- October 20 Wildscaping with Native Plants Mike Heep
- October 27 Hummingbirds Everywhere! Mary Gustafson
- November 3 The Art of the Animal Kingdom Exhibit & Hands-on Class with artists Delvis Cortez and Xavi Castillo
- November 10 Leading the Way: McAllen's First 100 Years Eileen Mattei, Author and Book Signing
- November 17 The Next New Bird- Which Rarity Will Appear in the Valley? Roy Rodriguez, Park Naturalist, Bentsen State Park
- December 1 Homemade Holiday Nature Crafts Fun evening making Santa Rocks, Cone Feeders & Palm Antlers
- December 8 Historic Ranches of South Texas Richard Moore, President, Valley Nature Films documentary
- December 15 Concert in the Park “From Texas for a Christmas Night” Tish Hinojosa, Acclaimed Folk & Latin Artist
- January 5 Create Sensational Pots and Plantings Ouina Rutledge, Program Coordinator, Office for Sustainability, UTPA
- January 12 Celebrate a Texas Poet Laureate’s Journey Jan Seale, Author of Poetry Volumes and Books
- January 19 Nature in Chinese Culture Program & Exhibit Pu Chen, Biologist and Photographer
- January 26 Birding “Texas Style” –Voice & Visual ID Tips Luciano Guerra, Valley Photographer and Bird Enthusiast
- February 2 2 Survival in the Brushlands Arturo Longoria, Author “Adios to the Brushlands”
- February 9 Meet “Jason & Marcia,” the Renaissance Couple Presented by the Seale and Gause Families-Music, Poetry & History
- February 16 Ten Best Trees to Plant in Your Backyard Assalia Belmares, Supervisor at Quinta Mazatlan
- February 23 Butterfly Gardening for the Rio Grande Valley Gil Quintanilla, Butterfly Enthusiast & Photographer
- March 1 Want Hummers in Your Backyard? Mark Klym with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Author of “Hummingbirds of Texas”
- March 8 Nature in Motion-Using Shutter Speeds on Action Shots! Larry Ditto, Acclaimed Wildlife Photographer
- March 15 My Botanical Garden through Sketching-Class Participation! Sue Sill, Career in Botanical Gardening
- March 22 Fundraiser for Quinta Mazatlan “Moon over Mazatlan” Purchase Tickets in Advance for Private Event
- March 29 Owls and Howls of South Texas Cliff Shackelford, Nongame Ornithologist for TPWD
- April 5 Starting a Herb Garden Debbie Cox, Perennial Favorites at the Farmer’s Market
- April 12 Cook Local! Drink Local! With Chef James from Alhambra! Taste the Valley’s best-cooking with locally grown foods!
- April 19 Bringing Birds to Your Backyard Christine Williams, Supervisor at Quinta Mazatlan