Hill Country Ecology

The Texas Hill Country is a special place. It is its ecology - the combination of the climate, topography, creeks and rivers, plants and animals - that make it so. This book describes the Hill Country ecology for current, as well as for new and prospective residents. It seeks to teach readers about the Hill Country, including native habitat, land, water, plants, animals, people, and the myriad interactions among them. It is a series of brief, easy-to-read essays that have originally appeared in the Kerrville Daily Times under his weekly column, "Hill Country Naturalist", for the past seven years. From discovering the lyricism in the grasslands and picturesque creeks to discussions of the issues and concerns of managing rural lands so as to preserve and improve native habitat, this book instills a greater love and respect for nature for anyone who cares to read even one essay. Readers will experience the joy only one can find in observing and interacting with nature - and they'll find they're delightfully entertained along the way.
Jim Stanley is a retired chemist and a Master Naturalist in the Hill Country Chapter. He lives with his wife, Priscilla, near Kerrville, and has spent the past fifteen years studying, learning, and teaching about Texas Hill Country ecology and land stewardship.