Community Garden Club: Limitless Potential
Special to The Democrat
Gil Eckrich wrote, “Add native plants to your landscape, kick back, enjoy their beauty and their wildlife.” There is a limitless potential, he described to the Community Garden Club in his discourse on environmental-friendly gardening and care for birds in this area.
On April 10, 2025, members of the Community Garden Club engaged Gil Eckrich to assist in identifying native plants and trees, and birds that both contribute to their growth and depend on the native vegetation.
Gil Ekrich’s hometown is Bad Orelson, Germany.
He came to Texas in 1964.
After college, he joined the U.S. Army as an Infantry Officer, thereafter retired in Central Texas. He has taught State and U.S. Government courses at Central Texas College. Additionally, he is a wildlife biologist at Ft. Cavazos’s Natural Resources Management Branch (for over 25 years’ and counting), and active member of the Twin Lakes Audubon Society. Gil is an avid gardener and an enthusiastic, proficient photographer, concentrating on birds.
Gil explained that native and free-growing plants and trees were developed by The Master Gardener over eons. They require low maintenance, are friendly to wildlife, and are tough. Native plants (even and especially weeds!) and trees provide year-round beauty and wildlife benefits. The Community Garden Club members saw and heard about Kidneywood, the Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Caroline Wren, Carolina Chickadee, Goldencheeked Warbler, and the Nashville Warbler. Are you familiar with Wilson’s Warbler?
Native trees like the Flame-red Sumac tree offers significant benefits to birds, serving as both food source and habitat.
Over 20 species of birds are known to consume the red berries, including Bobwhites, Grouse, and Pheasants. Plus, the dense growth of this plant offers shelter and nesting sites.
Gil described the eating and nesting habits, and migratory history of several birds: Eastern Bluebird, Mountain Bluebird, Western Bluebird, Chipping Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Pine Warbler, and the outstanding Whitewinged Dove.
There was an unending discussion on the Orange-Crowned Warbler, the impressive Red-bellied woodpecker, the Ladderbacked Woodpecker (Guess what it looks like!), and Warbling Vireo. Community Garden Club members examined photographs of the Bell’s Vireo nest and others.
A close-up look at the Texas Mountain Laurel spurred the conversation of bees on the Mountain Laurel. The Rosebud and a Black-capped Vireo nest was next. Following was the Mexican Buckeye and a separate photograph of the Red Admiral, a medium- sized butterfly with black wings, red bands, and white spots. It has a wing span of two inches.
Its primary host plant is the stinging nettle. Next was Gil’s photograph of a Leafcutter Bee on Buttonbush and the Beautyberry, the Field Sparrow, and Northern Cardinal.
In other stills, the Goldenball Leadtree played host to the Carolina Chickadees. Gil came prepared to fully engage Garden Club members.
Excitement escalated with the Hybrid Titmouse, Monarchs on Baccharis, Antelope Horns (milkweed), Bluebonnets and Indian Paintbrush, the Square-Bud Primrose, Missouri Primrose, River Primrose, Cedar Sage, Standing Cypress, and the Black-chinned Hummingbird. Then there was Salvia Preggii and a zoomed-in photograph attesting to the exact design of the Black-chinned Hummingbird’s beak to fit in the center of Salvia Preggii for its nectar, its forehead dusted with pollen destined to pollinate.
The Bushy Skullcap, Texas Bluebell, Winecup, Foxglove Penstamon, and the ever-popular for bees Sunflower were amazing to distinguish. Photographs of the Cardinal Flower, Flame Anisacanthus, Coral Honeysuckle, Red Yucca, Tropical Sage, Sage, Turk’s Cap for Hummingbirds were further outstanding proof of Gil’s photography expertise.
For birds, creating nests signifies a crucial step in their reproductive cycle, serving as a secure haven for laying eggs and raising young. Nests provide protection from predators, weather, and help regulate temperature of eggs and nestlings. Nests can be incredibly diverse in structure and materials. Photographs by Gil showed that diversity, portrayed by a Black-chinned Hummingbird nest being built, as well as a Painted Bunting, Lincoln’s Sparrow, Field Sparrow, Lark Sparrow, Rufous-crowned Sparrow.
Even “Dead” trees provide nest spots. For example, one can find Wood Ducks at nest there, as will Bluebirds!
It is an exciting challenge to learn about our environment and how to take care of it.
The Community Garden Club of Marlin, founded in 1923, is the oldest, established and continuously active garden club in the State of Texas. The Community Garden Club of Marlin is proactive in growing and stabilizing the care for the birds, bees, and butterflies that were created to flourish and beautify by The Master Gardener.