Sunday Speaker Series Presentation Begins at 2 p.m. Oct. 28
What was the most important native plant to a vaquero? What plant provides seeds that were used by our ancestors as a coffee substitute? The answers to these questions will be presented by Benito Treviño, the owner of Rancho Lomitas Native Plant Nursery in Starr County. Treviño will present “Traditional Uses of Native Plants” during the Sunday Speaker Series on Oct. 28 at 2 p.m. at the Museum of South Texas History.
Treviño, an ethnobotanist, owns Rancho Lomitas Native Plant Nursery located outside of Rio Grande City. During his presentation, Treviño will discuss the many ways native plants can be utilized, ranging from healing skin cuts to preparing meals. The history of native plants will also include how the native peoples in the region used plants to survive. After learning which plants are the right ingredients for cooking, guests are encouraged to visit the Museum Store and pick up a copy of “Heritage Cookbook” or choose from a variety of locally-sourced foods such as Cappadona Ranch mesquite bean jelly. Guests can also browse through the book selection at the Museum Store and find a variety of cookbooks from salsa making to Texas barbecue.
Treviño graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in botany. Since starting the nursery, Benito has grown more than 800,000 native plants, which have been used for native landscapes and restoration projects throughout the state.
Sunday Speaker Series is included in the fee for regular museum admission. FRIENDS of the MOSTHistory are admitted free as a benefit of FRIENDship and must provide their FRIENDship upon entrance.
This program is made possible with generous support from the Carmen C. Guerra Endowment. Mrs. Guerra was deeply committed to supporting educational opportunities in the Rio Grande Valley. This named endowment was created at the museum by her family to honor her memory and to continue her commitment to providing opportunities for education to the community.
About Museum of South Texas History
The Museum of South Texas History is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. It is located in downtown Edinburg at 200 North Closner Boulevard on the Hidalgo County Courthouse square. Hours of operation are from 1 p.m.–5 p.m. Sunday and 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Tuesday–Saturday. Founded in 1967 as the Hidalgo County Historical Museum in the 1910 Hidalgo County Jail, the museum has grown over the decades through a series of expansions to occupy a full city block. In 2003, following the completion of a 22,500 square foot expansion, the museum was renamed the Museum of South Texas History to better reflect its regional scope. Today, the museum preserves and presents the borderland heritage of South Texas and Northeastern Mexico through its permanent collection and the Margaret H. McAllen Memorial Archives and exhibits spanning prehistory through the 20th century. For more information about MOSTHistory, including becoming a FRIEND, visit MOSTHistory.org, like us on Facebook, follow on Twitter, find on Google+ or call +1-956-383-6911.