In December of 2020, I read an article by W. F. Strong in the Magic Valley EC Members’ magazine, TexasCoopPower, entitled “He Gave Us the Stars.”  This article told the story of a man—Mr. William Johnson McDonald—whose extraordinary vision was the impetus behind the University of Texas’ McDonald Observatory located on Mount Locke and Mount Fowlkes in the Davis Mountains of West Texas. 

After I read this article, I was enraptured, enthralled, and invigorated at the idea of visiting this spectacular place.  At that very moment, with stars in my eyes, I added visiting the McDonald Observatory to a most prominent position on my vision board.  Right next to it, I enthusiastically penciled in staying at the Indian Lodge in Davis Mountains State Park to my vision board, as well.  (Two bucket list items for me!)

Fast forward, a little more than six years later after reading W. F. Strong’s article, to January 2026.  My sister and I made our first trip to Hotel Limpia in Fort Davis, Texas, Davis Mountains State Park, the Indian Lodge at Davis Mountains State Park, and the McDonald Observatory on Mount Locke.  Our main objective on what we considered a “scouting trip,” was to attend a two-day astrophotography class at the McDonald Observatory and take in as much of the surrounding sights as possible. 

Our first night at the Indian Lodge, skies were clear.  We staked out some vantage points in the parking lot and seized the opportunity to start snapping portraits of the gorgeous night sky deep in the heart of West Texas.  The next day—day 2 of our scouting trip—we were on track to begin our first day of astrophotography class in the Frank N. Bash Visitors Center at the McDonald Observatory.  

A winter storm was nipping at our heels…

Shortly upon our arrival, though, we found ourselves facing the high probability that our trip would be cut short due to an approaching winter storm.  Consequently, we kept moving at a pretty good clip to try and take in as many of the sights as we could before we had to decide whether to stay for the second to the last day of our trip (and day 2 of our astrophotography class) or leave a day and a half early and get home safely well ahead of the storm.   

Despite our pioneering spirit, tenacity, strong will, and desire to stay, we opted to leave West Texas a day and a half early in order to, ultimately, give me enough time to get out of the San Antonio area before the winter storm set in so I could head back to the Rio Grande Valley (RGV). In retrospect, leaving the Davis Mountains a day early did afford me just enough time to get back in the RGV and winterize things out at El Mesteño Ranch and my home before the freezing temperatures set in. It was a mad dash for sure.  Whew!!!

As I reflect on this trip, I give my sister the majority of the credit for helping me with astrophotography.  With her expertise, guidance, and experience, I was able to get some great photos of the Milky Way in the parking lot at Indian Lodge and of the night skies over the McDonald Observatory.  Naturally, when I got back home in the RGV, I had to head out to El Mesteño Ranch on the South Texas Sand Sheet—just a few days after our full moon on February 1, 2026—to try and capture some of the incredible night skies deep in the heart of the South Texas Sand Sheet.

Sunset ushering in the night sky on the South Texas Sand Sheet…

Night Skies over the South Texas Sand Sheet

The Milky Way…

Mercury just above the horizon…

Orion

Moonlight on a tin roof…

Mesquite-filtered moonlight…

Thank you for your time!

• “El Glorioso,” our Protoxaea gloriosa, is back on the South Texas Sand Sheet!
• Lycus fernandezi – a species of net-winged beetle on the South Texas Sand Sheet.
• Night Skies Deep in the Heart of West Texas & the South Texas Sand Sheet
• “El Guapo,” our rare Mesoxaea texana, catching some Z’s on the South Texas Sand Sheet!
• Mesoxaea texana update from the South Texas Sand Sheet, and guess what? The Protoxaea gloriosa are back!!!!!!!

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Since 2013, El Mesteño Ranch, has focused on the preservation, education, research, and enjoyment of the Tamaulipan thornscrub habitat that exists on it’s 12 acres of red, sandy soil with other plant enthusiasts, native Plant Project groups, Nonprofit organizations, and local chapters of the Texas Master Naturalist Program. Community awareness through educational presentations and field trips are just a few of the intentional steps that have been taken in an effort to help preserve and raise awareness for a habitat that is severely threatened due to land conversion.

Located in the Coastal Sand Plain Ecoregion, also known as the South Texas Sand Sheet, El Mesteño Ranch boasts a diversity of wildflowers, plants, cacti, shrubs, and trees native to the Tamaulipan thornscrub, par none. Significant efforts have been made to participate in plant surveys, plant studies, and the propagation of threatened, native plant species. Specifically, seed propagation and seed collection for increasing threatened, native plant populations and improving their subsequent genetic diversity, through the sharing of these seeds with likeminded individuals and organizations, has also been of the utmost priority and importance.

An additional area of interest and study relating to the propagation and survival of threatened native plant and cacti species at El Mesteño Ranch has focused on the reduction of animal predation of both threatened native plant and cacti species. This focus involves the design and implementation of non-lethal plant predation reduction measures and has been in progress and evolving since 2008. To date, numerous exclosures and fencing methods have been designed and successfully implemented to prevent Javelina from decimating populations of these threatened native plant and cacti species.

Going forward, El Mesteño Ranch and Arboretum will continue to be dedicated to the preservation, education, research, and enjoyment of the flora that inhabit its red, sandy soils, including all of the diverse fauna that rely on the Tamaulipan thornscrub for their survival. The efforts of El Mesteño Ranch and Arboretum will continue to focus on education, research, and community outreach. As a living seed bank, El Mesteño Ranch and Arboretum will continue to seek out ways to contribute to reforestation projects. We hope that you will give us the opportunity to share this magical habitat with you in the future!

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Stargazing with Leah and her family the other evening, we observed Orion the Hunter.

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