Frontera Audubon Heralds in the Holiday Season with December Open House

 Weslaco’s small urban nature preserve, Frontera Audubon, will hold its Holiday Open House on Sunday, Dec. 6 from 1p.m. until 4p.m. at the organization’s Visitors’ Center at 1101 S. Texas Blvd.  Members, guests, and the community are invited to attend for a chance to tour the grounds, enjoy classical guitar music, purchase holiday sweets at the bake sale, and shop for holiday nature gifts in the Frontera Audubon Gift Shop.  Attendance is free and offers Valley visitors and locals a chance to take a look at all Frontera has to offer through its day passes and memberships.

 

Guides will be available to lead walks through the native thicket which has become one of the leading desitinations for birders and butterfliers from all over the world.  The old orchard with its 80 year old grapefruit trees will be open for guests to stroll and witness the final days  of Weslaco’s butterfly migration, a seasonal occurrence that leaves visitors gasping at the amazing fluttering beauty that passes through the Valley. This week the rare Tailed aguna and Emerald aguna were sighted, generating a flurry of activity among butterfliers and nature lovers.

 

Retired clowns and Frontera volunteers, John and Sue Thaxter, will be painting faces for children and adults in return for donations to the Bird Seed Fund, a collection to maintain our resident birds’ food pantry. 

 

In addition, guests will have a chance to circle the historic Skaggs’ House and imagine the home in its architectural glory in the 1920’s.  Guests are always invited to picnic in the home’s backyard, once the venue for some splendid parties hosted by prominent Weslacoans Florence and Lester Skaggs.  The historic home, designed by noted architect Newel Waters, was awarded historic designation in 1992 and  is under renovation by Frontera Audubon.  The group hopes to open it for viewing in the coming months.

 

 

FRONTERA AUDUBON CENTER

1101 SOUTH TEXAS BLVD.  WESLACO, TX  78596

(956) 968-3275

 

All sorts of unique items are available in the Frontera Gift Shop, including nature reference books and local fiction, artwork from near and far, locally crafted birdhouses and furniture, environmental music, locally made holiday cards, and t-shirts and baseball caps.  Prices are reasonable, and all proceeds support the sustainability of the Frontera organization.

 

To further support the group’s efforts, a 70 gallon rain barrel, valued at over $200, will be raffled at the Open House, and tickets for a chance to win are only $1 each!  Tickets for the raffle are available in advance or at the event, and you need not be present at the drawing to win.  The drawing will be held during the Open House.

 

The “Fabulous Frontera Bakers” will be baking up a storm and offering their holiday goods for sale at Frontera’s sweets table.  Purchasers may wish to sample a plate of cookies with coffee or punch on the deck overlooking the water feature where many hummingbirds and others have been observed at the feeders hanging overhead.

 

“We are anxious to share the beauty of this little gem with Valley visitors and locals who don’t realize we’re here,” says Cindy Willson, Frontera’s Director.  “We hope many people will come investigate this great spot in Weslaco, hopefully find some holiday gifts, maybe become members, and come back often. And of course, we welcome our old friends, our longstanding members and supporters, and hope they’ll join us for nature, music, and good cheer.”

 

More information is available by calling Frontera Audubon: (956) 968-3275. The Frontera Audubon Preserve and Visitors’ Center, at 1101 S.Texas Blvd.,  is open Wed. thru Sat. 8a.m.-4p.m. and Sun. Noon-4p.m.

 

 

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