KISD Teachers Visit Nash prairie

On July 22, 2019, eleven Katy ISD teachers visited the Nash Prairie Preserve, a 400-acre tract that is one of the last remaining segments of the Great Coastal Prairie.  Nash was once part of the KNG Ranch, which was run by socialite Kittie Nash Groce, and now is managed by The Nature Conservancy and the expert stewardship of Susan M. Conaty.  Susan, and fellow prairie-enthusiast Mark Morgernstern (of Morning Star Prairie Plants) gave an amazing tour of this pristine piece of prairieland to workshop-goers, guiding them through the preserve that contains over 300 different plant species, including several rare species and at least one type of grass thought to be extinct in Texas since the 1800s.   Highlights of the evening included identification of various insects (praying mantis, orb spiders and dragonflies), innumerable prairie plant species, and an introduction to the local coastal geology.  Less than one percent of the Great Coastal Prairie still exists, and barely a fraction of it is virgin prairie like Nash…this was an amazing opportunity for Katy teachers to experience a remnant prairie first-hand: many thanks to Susan and Mark for making the sunset prairie workshop an amazing experience for all!