Missouri's Native Champions

G.O.A.T. stands for 'Greatest of All Time,' as in the ultimate champs. In Missouri, this means superstar plants that do wonders for nature…native plants that birds, bees, and butterflies depend on to thrive.

If you're a gardener curious about these amazing plants, swing by the 'Goats in the Garden' event at Empire Market on March 9th. The Missouri Master Naturalist, Chert Glades Chapter, will be there to reveal Top 10 picks for different interests and garden situations. 

Do you want to attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators to your garden? Are you trying to save water, or do you have a problem with too much water? Is your yard all sun or all shade? Are you trying to connect children to nature, or do you just want things to look pretty? 

Drop by our table and discover which plants might fit your needs in the very best way.  Let's level up Missouri's green game, one awesome plant at a time!     

Look for us on March 9, 2024 from 10:00 - 2:00

Empire Market

998 E 3rd St, Joplin, MO 64801

No Flying Monkeys in the Ozarks; We have Barred Owls!

There are certain phone calls I receive that from the first few words of conversation I know what the subject is going to be. For example, the passion vine or passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) native to our region is so different looking that when a caller to the Shoal Creek Nature Center starts to describe a plant as “different looking” or “bizarre” I have a hunch to its identification.  The one topic, I like the most, are the dialogs where the caller first identifies themselves as intelligent, not irrational, nor on lots of medication. I’ve even had them say “I’m a normal citizen and have a job!”.  I just smile on the other end of the phone, because then they say, “I think I have monkeys in my woods”.

We have eight species of owls in Missouri, and four live here all year long.  The other four raptors visit our region during the wintertime. Which makes the cooler seasons the absolute best time for viewing and enjoying owls.  Barred owls are likely to be the easiest to observe for the average nature lover; there is no doubt they are the one to hear. Barred owls are just the noisy students in the forested outdoor classroom. They are vocal all the time. When I do education programs for elementary classes, I lead in with Missouri’s owls and their special adaptations. I always end with how owls communicate, and I usually shut the classroom door, so we don’t disturb other classes down the hall. While some of our owl species trill, neigh, and hoot or hooo…barred owls have a repertoire of vocals. Third through fifth grade students like to learn about their communication, especially the main territory calls of a series of hoots that can be placed in a familiar rhythm sounding like “Who Cooks for You, Who Cooks for You ‘all”. However, the barred owls are very social with their partners and during certain times of year with their older offspring (the teenagers); they hoop and holler and carry on for easily 20 minutes or more. It is this ballad disorder when they truly sound like monkeys in the treetops.

These owls stay on territory year-round, so if you have them in your neighborhood or on your farm you are likely enjoying the same birds year after year. Barred owls appreciate mature woodlands, and an ideal habitat is a heavily wooded stream or water environment. To keep their body weight down, owls will cough up a neatly packaged pellet of indigestible fur, scales and bones of their prey. This way the materials don’t have to be in their body for full digestion and makes flight more efficient. Their favorite branch perch will have some pellets on the forest floor below. An easy investigation of the owl pellets will give us evidence of meadow voles, crayfish, snakes, and wood rats. Frogs are part of the diet as well; however, they are easily digested and won’t have remains in the pellet. Naturalists appreciate their role in the environment for where they fit in the food web. Just as many people and school children are fascinated by their adaptations and attractive good looks.

Barred owls have dark eyes (of Teddy Bear quality), and their heads are rounded without feather tuffs. Males and females look similar, but females are slightly larger. Teenagers will have more reddish or brown tones, compared to more gray plumage of older adults.  I have to say, I think of them as good neighbors on my farm. Kansas’ Dorothy witnessed flying monkeys in OZ, but we never have to worry about them. And just like lovable neighbors…we all might hear their “music/songs” or conversations …but we smile and appreciate them in our community.

Jeff Cantrell is a local Stream Team biologist and specializes in conservation volunteer engagement. He assists MO Master Naturalist chapters in Joplin, Rolla, and Springfield and is proud to announce their 2024 recognition pin is the Barred Owl.  Thank you volunteers for serving our natural heritage!

Field notes by J. Cantrell, photos courtesy of the MO Dept. of Conservation

Plant a Native Garden

Chapter Ice Cream Social

Chapter Members Socializing

The Pavilion at Wildcat Glades hosted smiling faces sharing ice cream Saturday afternoon. Members of Chert Glades Master Naturalist met for treats, socializing, and entertainment, as six varieties of ice cream were served. There were numerous choices of toppings to dress up the dessert selections.

Member Kerry Sturgis played his guitar softly in the background, lending an easy, relaxing atmosphere to the gathering. Everyone was delighted that the weather held out, though a little cool as the gathering grew to a close. The breeze wafted through the air, rippling the creek with silver edges.

Scott B. with fish and Lloyd Smith assisting with the whopper.

Scott Butler brought his fishing gear and managed to snag a fish from Shoal Creek, as his wife, May, snapped photos. Several of the senior members (including me), clapped and marveled at this skill! It was great fun and companionship.

Great selection of Ice Cream

more socializing

Lloyd S. & Kerry S. visiting

Krista dipping in for another flavor - Coffee flavor prepared by Cynthia

Everyone enjoying the Ice Cream & visiting

Submitted by Julia Womack with Photos from Julia W. & Scott Butler

Playing Cornhole