Sunday Speaker Series program to be held at 2 p.m. on May 19, 2013
The Museum of South Texas History welcomes Texas Master Naturalist™ John Thaxter as he presents “Medicinal Plants of the Rio Grande Valley,” a demonstrative presentation on the healing and health-giving benefits of plants native to the area. This Sunday Speaker Series program will include a multimedia presentation along with a display of plants and medicinal samples made from local plants.
John Thaxter
Plants have historically been used by many cultures for medicinal purposes. Today their active ingredients, also known as phytochemicals, can be found in modern medicine. Having experienced first-hand the healing benefits of plants after an injury, Thaxter has spent years learning about plants. He now shares his knowledge by teaching classes on herbs including propagation and growing, preserving, cooking, cosmetics, crafting and medicinal uses of plants to varied audiences and through his involvement in professional naturalist organizations.
Thaxter has been interested in the world of nature since childhood, beginning with collecting butterflies. After retiring from a career in the U.S. Navy as a Chief Warrant Officer, Thaxter returned to his love of nature and became a Texas Master Naturalist in 2009. A partnership between the Texas Cooperative Extension Service, Texas Parks & Wildlife and other local partners, the Texas Master Naturalist program develops representatives to provide educational and outreach services aimed at the better management of natural resources and natural areas within their communities.
Prior to becoming a Texas Master Naturalist, Thaxter, along with his wife, Sue, owned an herb nursery and bed and breakfast in the Missouri Ozarks where they were both Missouri Master Gardeners. Thaxter’s career experience also includes working for the Missouri Conservation Department on a 1,500 acre preserve near Branson, Missouri and participating in the Amazon Rainforest Workshop in the Peruvian Amazon. This Sunday Speaker Series presentation by Thaxter is included in the fee for regular museum admission. FRIENDS of the museum are admitted free as a benefit of FRIENDship.
About John Thaxter
John Thaxter is a Texas Master Naturalist and the First Vice President of the Rio Grande Chapter of Texas Master Naturalists (RGVCTMN). Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Thaxter served over 20 years as a radar technician in the U.S. Navy before retiring as a Chief Warrant Officer. In addition to teaching a series of classes he has developed on herbs, Thaxter, a current resident of the Rio Grande Valley, also volunteers regularly at the Valley Nature Center in Weslaco, Frontera Audubon in Weslaco, Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge in Alamo, Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park in Mission and The World Birding Center in Edinburg.
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