Social Updates from Quinta Mazatlan World Birding Center
Tickets are now on sale for Illumina Fest 2022 happening December 13-17 from 6-10pm. Take a walk through the glowing forest lined with over 3,000 luminarias, stop and enjoy dancing, singing and music from local community performers and enjoy yummy food from local food vendors! Go to quintamazatlan.ticketleap.com and purchase your tickets today!
The Rio Grande Valley is a complex economic and diverse cultural region that encompasses the counties of Starr, Cameron, Hidalgo, and Willacy. Enormous development in the area is attributable to two factors: the introduction of irrigation on a large scale in 1898 and the building of the railroad in 1904. The development of irrigation and railroad systems made the Valley a major agricultural center. Quinta Mazatlan has been home to two avid pioneers in agriculture. Jason Matthews had a 1,450 square foot greenhouse located on the east side of the estate. This is where Mr. Matthews tried many agricultural experiments, including the study of hydroponics. After many trials and errors, he had success in the correct combination and distribution of nutrients to grow tomatoes quickly. It is reported that the U.S. military used Mr. Matthew’s hydroponic techniques to grow tomatoes and other vegetables to feed our soldiers stationed in Guam and the Philippines during WWII. Frank Schultz was the second owner of Quinta Mazatlan and the owner of Crest Fruits in Alamo Texas. Mr.Schultz is credited for growing, harvesting and marketing the Texas Ruby Red Grapefruit. Shultz took this rare fruit and created a marketing campaign called “A Fluke of Nature”. He created a direct mail order enterprise to deliver “Royal Ruby Reds” to your home. These grapefruits were large, weighed more than one pound, vibrant in red color, flowing with natural sweet juices and able to stay that way for weeks. Wander, Explore, & Discover at Quinta Mazatlán. #QuintaMazatlan #TBT #KnowYourHistory
"The butterfly counts not months but moments and has time enough." -Rabindranath Tagore May you find peace in you here and now this Sunday. Receive each moment as it is presented to you, replacing the tick of the clock by the slow inhale and exhale of your steady breath. Imagine yourself in a field of Texas Indian Mallow (Abutilon fruticosum), valued by many species of birds and butterflies who know this practice best.
DID YOU KNOW? The Sharp-shinned Hawk is the smallest hawk found in the United States! Males are not much larger than jays while females reach a size close to that of a male Cooper’s Hawk. Sharp-shinned Hawks do not stoop on prey from overhead but instead speed through wooded areas and surprise their prey. Adults are characterized by their slate blue-gray above and narrow, horizontal red-orange bars across their breast. Younger birds are mostly brown with vertical streaks on their white underparts. Both adults and young Sharp-shinned Hawks have broad dark bands across their long tails. Since this hawk feeds mostly on songbirds, you may have a chance of seeing one at one of our feeders. Come and enjoy a stroll through the forest and discover the many different bird residents, including the Sharp-shinned Hawk, found at Quinta Mazatlán! #funfactfriday #QMfact #quintamazatlan #knowyournature #bird #sharpshinnedhawk
Tickets are now on sale for Illumina Fest 2022 happening December 13-17 from 6-10pm. Take a walk through the glowing forest lined with over 3,000 luminarias, stop and enjoy dancing, singing and music from local community performers and enjoy yummy food from local food vendors! Go to quintamazatlan.ticketlap.com and purchase your tickets today!
Quinta Mazatlan World Birding Center updated their cover photo.
Explore the illuminated forest at 2022 Illumina Fest! 🎄 Quinta Mazatlan's brightest holiday event returns next month, featuring: ✅ Artistic light installations ✅ Live performances ✅ Food and drink vendors ✅ and more! ✨ Illumina Fest runs Dec. 13th - 17th 🎟 Tickets on sale now at QuintaMazatlan.ticketleap.com
Happy Birthday! The first owners of Quinta Mazatlan, Marcia Crary Jamieson Matthews was born November 26. 1892 in Warren, PA into an affluent family. She was known to be part of the “social scene” at the time and traveled immensely around the world. Often described as a woman before her time, adventurer, writer, editor, broadcaster and a patriot. Mrs. Mathews was a collector of curios and relics, proudly displaying them throughout the mansion. She expressed her many journeys and hobbies through fine needlepoint, was a lover of all animals and was a strong presentation of empowerment. Wander, Explore, & Discover at Quinta Mazatlán. #QuintaMazatlan #TBT #KnowYourHistory
"Our indigenous herbalists say to pay attention when plants come to you; they're bringing you something you need to learn." -Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass With special value to native bees and late-season butterflies, the fluffy-edged Blue mistflower has harmonizing qualities and is a great example of what it means to be a service to one's community. Acting as colonizing groundcover, these flowers will not only add a pop of color to your garden bed, but provide an insulating cover for the soil, helping it retain moisture longer. Integrated into the natural world is a system of reciprocity. When we take the time to recognize the gifts of our native flora, it may inspire us to think what we ourselves are doing for the world which surrounds us.
Rain or shine learning all the time. Texas Children in Nature training was a success. "Growing Up Wild" training participants included Edinburg Wetlands, National Butterfly Center, Valley Nature Center, Wild + Free RGV Homeschool and Quinta Mazatlan staff.
Even though it's cold, it's still a great day to learn about how you can create a beautiful habitat for wildlife. Join us this afternoon for our last Gardening for Wildlife workshop of 2022! Quintamazatlan.ticketleap.com
