< Previous30 COASTMONTHLY.COM | JANUARY 2025 FEATURE ALAN WILDE AND MAUREEN NOLAN-WILDE Couple recruits neighbors to help restore reefs in waterfront community A lan Wilde and his wife, Maureen Nolan-Wilde, live on the water and watched as the oyster reefs near their Tiki Island home slowly eroded away. They decided to do something to bring back the reefs, which help cleanse the bay waters. They attended a lecture given by the Galveston Bay Foundation that taught them to help restore the oyster popula- tion, which would in turn preserve the reefs and increase the number of oysters. They learned that by submerging a bag of clean, old oyster shells in the water, tiny “spats” of oysters — the larval form of oysters that have attached to a hard surface — will develop into mature oys- ters within a few years. “They were giving away the shells and taught us how to do this,” Alan said. “They were giving us a way to restore the reef.” Five Tiki Island families initially joined the program. The Wildes recruited others and now more than 40 families hang the shell bags from their docks to grow new oysters. By replenishing the supply of oysters, the bay is getting an in-house cleansing. One oyster cleanses 50 gallons of bay water a day, Alan said. “It is a wastewater plant,” he said. Galveston Bay Foundation collects shells from local restaurants, washes them and distributes them to participating growers. Up to 15 spats could be found on each shell during the season, Maureen said. In the past 10 years, more than 61,650 oysters have been developed in this program, mostly from Bayou Vista, Gal- veston, San Leon and Tiki Island. These oysters aren’t for human consumption; they’re only to rebuild the reefs. Along with restoring and cleansing the waters, the program has allowed partici- pants to take their story to the communi- ty, especially to schools, Maureen said. At the now-closed L.A. Morgan Elemen- tary School in Galveston, students wrote notes to oysters, welcoming them into the bay waters and encouraging them to grow. They used non-toxic materials to write poems and messages on the shells, which were submerged in the water. Once the spats appeared, the students were shown the progress, which made for a learning experience. The Wildes are involved in several en- vironmental programs besides the oysters, racking up more than 22,000 volunteer hours with the Galveston Bay Area Master Naturalist Program. “We really enjoy this program and working with the other families. People now understand the importance of a healthier reef,” Maureen said. And “it makes for better fishing, too,” Alan said. – Barbara Canetti “We really enjoy this program and working with the other families. People now understand the importance of a healthier reef.” MAUREEN NOLAN-WILDE COASTMONTHLY.COM | JANUARY 2025 31 PHOTO: JENNIFER REYNOLDS Alan Wilde and his wife, Maureen Nolan-Wilde, are helping restore the oyster population from the boat dock at their Tiki Island home.32 COASTMONTHLY.COM | JANUARY 2025 FEATURE NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY CLEAR LAKE & ENVIRONMENTAL INSTITUTE OF HOUSTON Groups propagate the benefits of pollinators T he Native Plant Society Clear Lake Chapter and the Environmental Insti- tute of Houston at the University of Houston-Clear Lake routinely team up to educate the public about native Texas plants and ways to attract pollinators. Bluebonnets, milkweed, goldenrod, purple passionflower and sunflowers are just a few of many native plants that pollinators rely upon to survive and thrive. “Pollinators are threatened by habitat loss, including dramatic declines in native plant communities that are necessary for animals, birds insects and other wildlife,” said Cheryl Folkes, 2025 president of the Native Plant Society Clear Lake chapter. “In addition to overall total loss of habitat, fragmentation of habitats has emerged as a major problem for wildlife, including pollinators.” A pollinator garden is a complete hab- itat that provides food, nesting areas and wintering sites for a variety of pollinators, including butterflies and native bees and hummingbirds, Folkes said. Pollinator gardens provide pollen and nectar throughout the growing season, as well as host plants, Folkes said. Most but- terflies lay eggs on specific plants, such as milkweed, which have evolved to feed the caterpillars as they emerge. Folkes encourages schools, libraries, nature centers, parks, places of worship and any other organization with public outdoor space to apply with the Native Plant Society Clear Lake Chapter for one or more Pollina- tor Garden Grants valued up to $500 each. The grants help to fund and maintain pol- linator gardens using native Texas plants. Pri- ority goes to requests for pollinator garden grants in Galveston, Brazoria and southeast Harris counties. Two projects that were funded with the grants are the pollinator garden at Ward Ele- mentary within the Clear Creek Independent School District and Galveston County Master Gardeners Pollinator Garden at Carbide Park in La Marque, Folkes said. The society and Environmental Institute of Houston often host “Planning a Pollinator Garden” workshops with support from the institute’s environmental education coordi- nator Wendy Reistle and fellow staff member Debbie Bush. Greg Pearson, a monarch butterfly enthu- siast, teaches free milkweed propagation workshops at the Environmental Institute of Houston, local nurseries and garden clubs. He and his wife, Linda, first visited wintering grounds of monarch butterflies in Mexico in 2015 and got hooked on hosting and helping them, he said. “That really sparked our interest in mon- archs,” Pearson said. “The first thing we did was plant tropical milkweed, which was the only milkweed available at the time, thinking we were helping monarchs. We started reading about monarchs and milkweed and found that there are a number of issues as- sociated with tropical milkweed. We wanted to switch to native milkweed, but it simply wasn’t available. This is when I started learn- ing how to propagate native milkweed. My first attempts were disasters, with only about a 1 percent germination rate. After a lot of reading and experimentation, I expanded on known techniques to produce the method that I use today.” Monarch butterflies need nectar-producing plants and milkweed, which serves as the host plant for larvae, for their spring migration to the north, as well as nectar-producing plants for their trip back to Mexico in the fall. – Laura Pennino www.npsot.org/chapters/clearlake www.uhcl.edu/environmental-institute COASTMONTHLY.COM | JANUARY 2025 33 PHOTOS: COURTESY GREG PEARSON A monarch butterfly emerges out of its chrysalis in Greg Pearson’s backyard in Seabrook. (Opposite) Greg Pearson, right, leads a milkweed workshop at Friendswood Garden Emporium.Announces NEW GAR PRESIDENT 2025 Board of Directors • Realtor of The Year Newly inducted 2025 GAR Board President, Diane Moore with BHGGE, administers oath of office to the incoming 2025 GAR Board of Directors. From Left to Right: Carole Bell, Coldwell Banker TRGE; Alicia Swartz, Caravella Coastal Properties; Kimberly Gaido, Sand N’ Sea, Terry Rizzo, BHGGE; Randall Kopfer, FASA, IFA, SR/WA; and Stacey Weber-Rubio, Sand & Sea Lynn Winget, GAR State Representative, administers oath of office to incoming GAR President Diane Moore. Outgoing GAR president Stacey Weber-Rubio gives remarks 2024 REALTOR of the Year, Lynn Winget, BHGGE A Very Special thank you to our 2024 Event Sponsors. EASY LIVING, TEXAS GULF STYLE MONTHLY PLATINUM SPONSORS GOLD SPONSORS SILVER SPONSORS Matt Hawks BRONZE SPONSORSWeight gain isn’t just about diet and exercise—factors like stress, sleep, hormones, chronic pain, medical conditions, medications, and even genetics all play a role. That’s why our approach goes beyond the basics. Our dedicated team of surgeons, psychologists, nurses, dietitians, and physical therapists work together to provide the personalized support you need to achieve and maintain your health goals. 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The times might be changing, but the pursuit of fish will continue to enthrall those of us who call ourselves anglers. And there are plenty of fish-catching opportunities ahead to be excited about. One resolution I would challenge anglers to live by this year is having confidence. No other aspect of fishing is more valuable than having confidence. Without it, you’ll be second guessing every move you make and catching few to none. Confidence doesn’t blossom overnight. It’s gained and earned through experience, and it knows no bounds. After all, there’s always more to learn. And the more time you spend on the water, the more your confidence will grow. One of the first steps in gaining confidence is being open to trying new things and accepting that you’re going to make mistakes. Much confidence can be gained by learning from your mistakes and getting out of your comfort zone. Make plans to learn new stretches of water this year. Achieving success might require some trial and error, and it might involve a lot of casting without getting a bite. But when you finally start to put the puzzle together and the bites become more regular, the feeling you’ll get will be extremely satisfying. And this will give you the confidence to broaden your horizons and explore more unfamiliar waters. Trying new tactics and strategies is another way to build confidence. Don’t become so stuck in your ways that you aren’t willing to try your hand at methods that work for other anglers. I am guilty of that myself.38 COASTMONTHLY.COM | JANuArY 2025 HOOKED But if anglers around me are catching fish and I am not, I’m all ears about learning about what they’re doing. Let’s face it — the more tricks you have up your sleeve, the more prepared you are. Having confidence in the areas that you are fishing also is an important part of achieving success. The only way to do this is to take note of every possible detail about a particular stretch of water. Learn where significant depth changes are and what types of structures are available. (Above) When the puzzle pieces are put together, memories are made. (Right) The rewarding feeling of finding success in new waters is extremely satisfying. (Opposite) Confidence is earned through trial and error, and by spending more time on the water. Become a true student of what lies beneath the surface. Become a true student of what lies beneath the surface, and try to create an underwater map of the spots that you target. Understanding every inch of an area ultimately will reveal how and why the fish relate to that spot. Having confidence in your bait presen- tation also is essential. If you don’t believe COASTMONTHLY.COM | JANuArY 2025 39 Another stunning transformation at the Diamond Beach Condos! At The Design Firm, we excel in interior design, remodel design, and new construction selections for residential and commercial spaces. Our secret? Exceptional listening skills that bring your vision to life. Designs you’ll cherish for years to come! 13013 Southwest Freeway, Stafford, Texas 77477 281-494-4433 Hours Monday — Thursday: 9:00am — 5:00pm Friday: 9:00am — 4:00pm what you’ve got tied to the end of your line will coax a strike, then you’re never going to get a bite. Come up with a list of your go-to lures and baits for a variety of situations, sea- sons and scenarios. Try to add to this list as much as you can by experimenting with other options. Over time, you’ll develop an arsenal of bait presentations for almost any and all conditions. Stick with those that have helped you achieve success, while always being willing to try a new option. Placing confidence in your gear is fun- damentally important as well. Whether it’s your rods and reels, or your waders and a jacket, having doubts about your gear will prevent you from being successful and making memories. Know what you’re up against before you hit the water, and make sure you’ve got the gear that helps make you a better angler. As quickly as 2024 flew by, I’m sure this one will only go by quicker. Take the chal- lenge. Make the steps necessary to earn and build confidence with every cast. You’ll catch more fish, have much more fun, and you’ll become a better angler. From my family to you and yours, Happy New Year. Next >