Author Archives: invasivehunter

Titanic Struggle with Chinese Privet Ends with their Doom

I had a great time clearing invasives and rescuing native plants with a wonderful group of volunteers this weekend in the Long Canyon section of the Balcones Canyonland Preserve (BCP) in Travis County.

My thanks to Chris Warren, a biologist with the BCP, and for other volunteers for teaching us all about the native plants in our Central Texas area, as well as the nefarious invasives that are crowding them out. Chinese Privet, Ligustrum sinense, was our main villain, and there were many to be seen.

We cleared out a bunch and made room for native plants, including Ashe junipers, which provide essential habitat for the endangered Golden-cheeked Warbler. We saved many native plants, especially a small, but growing, tree as you saw in the video above.

Credit: Austin Water Wildland invasive removal group photo

Down with invasives!

This is Commander Ben, signing off.

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Filed under Chinese Privet, City of Austin, Video, Volunteer Work

Action Packed Weekend Battling Invasives

This weekend I’m going to be battling invasives both on and off screen:

* I completed preproduction work and will be filming my next video. Hint: It stars Commander Ben and Phyllostachys aurea.

* Also, I’ll be battling invasive plants, working with the City of Austin to help to rid Long Canyon of these foul invaders. You’re welcome to join our volunteer army too!

Down with invasives!

Commander Ben signing off

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Filed under City of Austin, Golden Bamboo, Phyllostachys aurea, Volunteer Work

Wildfires in Texas

My thoughts and prayers are with all the firefighters and people affected by the terribly damaging fires near Austin and around our state.

May rain come soon to bring Texas relief from this terrible drought.

God bless everyone,

Ben

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Filed under Wild Fires in Texas

Texas Drought 2011 Scorches McKinney Falls State Park

Join Commander Ben as he shows the terrible affects of the Texas drought of 2011 on one of central Texas’ natural beauties, McKinney Falls State Park.

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Filed under McKinney Falls State Park, Texas Drought, Video

Apple Summer Movie Camp

Had a great time at the Apple summer movie camp this summer, making a fun movie about Commander Ben and the Mayan stone. I learned how to make a movie trailer too. Here’s a picture with our camp instructor, Sean Matthew Leary.

Many thanks to Sean and all the Apple staff who made the movie camp so great!

Commander Ben signing off…

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Filed under Apple Summer Movie Camp