Coming off a 9th place finish last year (one of the highest finishes in recent memory), where the Enid High Girls Tennis team graduated half of the team, there could have been a little bit of concern of what the team would look like this year. However, according to Coach Wade Rogers, he was confident they would be able to compete on at least a similar level this year. “Losing 3 starters is never easy,” Rogers said, “but I knew who was coming up, and who we had coming back, and that made it a little easier.”
Last year’s team qualified at all 4 spots (#1 Singles, #2 Singles, #1 Doubles, #2 Doubles), and Coach Rogers expects this year’s team to do the same. “Haley Hibbets placed 3rd last year at #2 Singles as a Freshman, and this year she’s moved up to #1 singles. Alexis Garcia was 7th at #1 Singles, and this year we have had her at #2 Singles. Honestly, these two girls are pretty even, and have gone to tiebreakers when they play each other, so I thought moving them to different spots gave us a little better chance to score more points this year.” The move seems to be working so far as these dynamic players have both placed in several tough tournaments this year.
Hibbets won the Muskogee tournament, finished second at Enid, and third at Jenks and Broken Arrow. According to Coach Rogers, she has done a great job filling the #1 role. “Haley’s biggest strength is consistency. She doesn’t get too high or too low, and plays best when she’s even-keeled. She’s really powerful, and I think she can finish in the top 3 at State if she plays well.”
Garcia has also been really good at the #2 spot winning the Enid and Muskogee tournaments and finishing 2nd at Broken Arrow and third at Jenks. “Garcia is playing really good right now,” said coach Rogers, “she’s consistent, focused, and plays upbeat with a little passion. There is no reason she couldn’t place at State too.”
As for the Doubles teams, the new girls have stepped up and really done well replacing the three graduating seniors from last year. “Caitlyn Stotts and Madison Nickels have really been good in the #1 doubles spot. They have adapted to the faster pace of play and it would be really awesome if they could score some points for us (finish in the top 8) this year at state. In #2 doubles, Kenzie Stotts has started every tournament and has been paired with either Sage Haffner or Sophia Groendyke. I think they can surprise some people and score some points too. If the doubles teams really step up, I think, as a team, a top 5 finish is definitely doable,” said Rogers.
Regardless of this year’s finish, the future of Enid Tennis is bright, as they have a new tennis facility in the works. Thanks largely to the efforts of Tennis Booster Avadelle Hibbets in raising over $400,000 in private donations, as well as money the school district had set aside for the project, 8 brand new tennis courts will be built on campus over the next year. “I’m really excited about the new tennis facility,” said Coach Rogers, Avadelle was really amazing spearheading the fundraising drive to make it a reality. I can’t wait to break ground and think it will be one of the nicest facilities in the state, and hopefully encourages kids to try tennis!”
Editor’s Note: After publication of this article in the print magazine, the Pacers competed in the State tournament. Haley Hibbets finished 3rd in #1 singles, and Alexas Garcia finished 2nd in #2 singles. #2 Doubles qualified for the State tournament but did not place. According to Coach Rogers, as a team, they finished 5th in the State.
ENID HIGH PRIDE OF THE PLAINS IS PROUDLY PRESENTED BY SLATER MECHANICAL!
Hey, y’all, and welcome to the May Teen Scene column in ENID MONTHLY. As most of us should know, May has a very important holiday for many Hispanics and other cultures. CINCO DE MAYO!! This got me thinking about some really amazing traditions I have got to experience and learn about from my Hispanic friends and wondering about where Cinco De Mayo came from. So let’s first talk about the history and some cool Hispanic traditions that lots of teens experience.
According to history.com, Cinco de Mayo, or the fifth of May, is a holiday that celebrates the date of the Mexican army’s May 5, 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War. The day, which falls on Friday, May 5 in 2023, is also known as Battle of Puebla Day. This victory impacted the citizens of Mexico greatly. Many say that it helped and encouraged Mexican immigrants’ pride in their Mexican heritage.
I don’t celebrate Cinco De Mayo, personally, but one cool Hispanic tradition I do celebrate with my friends is QUINCES!!! A quinceanera is celebrated when a (Hispanic, Latina, Spanish, Mexican, etc.) girl turns 15. Some have huge parties called a quinceanera (or quince for short) to celebrate it. I’ve gone to at least 8 quinces and have been invited to 3 and they are really fun. You dance, eat bomb food, and talk with your friends. My favorite memory from Quinces is dancing cultural dances with my friends. Sounds like a pretty fun time to me!! The Hispanic cultures are amazing once you really experience them.
Another fun thing I’ve experienced is Mexican cookouts or Carne Asadas. I and my friends would ride four-wheelers around the ranch, play volleyball and soccer, eat the best meat and rice, and enjoy the beautiful outdoors. My favorite memory from a Carne Asada is when we kids would beat all the adults in volleyball.
Thank you for reading this month’s article. I hope you enjoyed it!! I would love to hear about your experience with any kind of cultural tradition so email me at tweensceneenid@gmail.com also if you have any questions, comments, or ideas for upcoming articles email me for that too. I hope you all have an amazing May, Mother’s Day, and Cinco De Mayo! See you next month!!
As the 2022-23 school year comes to an end, many schools in the area are naming their best and brightest through Teacher of the Year Awards.
Enid Monthly would like to recognize and introduce our readers to five of these amazing teachers who were named Teacher of the Year at their respective Districts, and two who were finalists: Sandra Lippard, Enid Public Schools; Lacye Russell, Oklahoma Bible Academy; Jim Ebel, Chisholm High School; Amy Barnes, Chisholm Middle School; and Kalli Mason, Chisholm Elementary School.
According to parents, coworkers and administration who nominated them, all five teachers go above and beyond for their students and show tremendous dedication to education.
Sandra Lippard – Enid Public Schools Teacher of the Year
Sandra Lippard is a pre-k instructor at Coolidge Elementary, and in her 18th year teaching.
According to Coolidge Principal Shae Mercer, “Sandi goes above and beyond for our youngest learners each and every day. She creates a safe and welcoming environment for her students and their parents in her classroom. It is amazing to watch how far her students come from the first day of school to the last because of her high expectations and dedication.”
Debra Loop, a staff member at Coolidge, shared more, “Mrs. Lippard is a fantastic choice for our Teacher of the Year at Coolidge because she works so hard to help each of her students feel seen and loved. She not only teaches the academic skills they need to succeed but also the social and emotional skills they need for life. She is also a wonderful friend to the teachers and staff and will offer help and encouragement in any way she can.”
Teaching is not only Lippard’s passion, but it’s in her blood. “I come from a long line of teachers, and I wanted to be a teacher since I was a child,” Lippard said. “My mother was a wonderful teacher and a great inspiration to me, and I longed to be a teacher just like her.”
After pursuing other passions, such as an in him daycare, she felt directly called to teaching, “I opened a home daycare so that I could stay home with my children. That was the push I needed to see that I was born to be a teacher. It is funny how God uses life’s events to get you back on the track he ordinally created you to be on. I loved being with all the children that I cared for in my home and after a couple of years, I knew I wanted to do more. I was ready to go back to college and get my teaching degree. It has been the best decision I have made,” she said.
“I love watching children of all ages grow in their learning.” Lippard has experience teaching students in pre-k through third grade.
“My greatest accomplishments as a teacher have been learning from my own two girls that struggle with dyslexia,” Lippard said. “I don’t have all the answers but walking alongside them as we try to figure it all out has helped me become a better teacher.”
“As a Pre-k teacher, I am honored that I get to be one of the first educators to help build a strong foundation that will help them be more successful for their Kindergarten year. Each teacher should be a building block for the next one because ‘teamwork makes the dream work’.”
Lacye Russell (OBA) – Oklahoma Middle Level Art Teacher of the Year
Lacye Russell started teaching at OBA in the fall of 2016. She teaches art for grades six through 12, as well as yearbook, photography, AP drawing and AP art and design. Before her time at OBA, Russell taught at Mid-South Community College and Oklahoma City Community College. She was a drawing and foundations instructor at both Oklahoma Christian University and the University of Central Oklahoma from 2007-2016.
Lacye knew she wanted to teach art from a very early age based on her time in the mall community of El Dorado, Arkansas. “For a small community of around 20,000 people, we had an amazing arts presence. My elementary school brought in artists-in-residence from our local arts center and working with those artists instilled a love for art early on. I also grew up taking both private art lessons and at the local art center, the South Arkansas Arts Center. By 4th grade, I knew that I wanted to be an art teacher. My goal never changed. Stephanie Busbea, Melinda Cameron-Godsey, Helene Lambert, Marie Bukowski, and Peter Jones are just a few of the art educators and art professors that had a major impact on my life. Honestly, I wanted to be just like them (and still do),” Russell remembered.
“Building relationships with students is one of my main reasons to teach,” Russell said. “All of my art students have a huge piece of my heart and are like an extension of my own family. I know not every student will leave OBA and become a professional artist or even study art collegiately, but my goal is for them to appreciate the arts.”
Last year Russell was named the Oklahoma Middle Level Art Educator of the Year. “I was very honored to receive the Middle School Art Educator of the Year for Oklahoma because I had to be nominated by another art educator,” Russell said. “For another art educator to acknowledge my passion for both my classroom and art students, and to recognize the grit and talent of my OBA students’ artwork is an incredible feeling. It is extremely humbling.”
OBA Headmaster Andrew Wilkins stated, “Lacye finds the educational sweet spot of challenging and supporting students to achieve beyond what they believe are capable. She can educate a student as far as God has gifted them.”
Kalli Mason – Chisholm Elementary Teacher of the Year and District Teacher of the Year
Kalli Mason attended Chisholm Public Schools from pre-K through 12th grade. After graduation, she went on to receive her associate degree from Northern Oklahoma College and then earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education at Northwestern Oklahoma State University.
She started her teaching career in Texas while her husband was finishing his master’s. She has been teaching at Chisholm Elementary for the past six years. For the first five years, Kalli was teaching fourth-grade science and social studies. This year she made a change to teach fourth and fifth-grade special education.
Mason stated, “This has been my favorite year in my career so far. It is an unbelievable honor to receive this award because I am surrounded by incredible educators who make a difference in our student’s lives every day. I am thankful that I am able to spend my days doing what God has put me on this earth to do.”
One parent described the impact Mason made for her son. “Kalli went above and beyond for my son when he was in fourth grade. He was diagnosed with Charcot Marie Tooth disease in June of 2019. We had no idea what school was going to look like, but she made it more than amazing for him that year.”
“He lost the privilege of doing things that every kid gets to do all the time, such as skating, jumping rope, running, jumping on trampolines, and bounce houses. Every time the kids in the school got to do one of those things she made sure to find a different activity or way to reward him, since he too had earned whatever the activity was.”
“Now that she is a special education teacher, she is touching the lives of so many students. She is touching the lives of children and truly leaving a lifelong impact.”
Amy Barnes – Chisholm Middle School Teacher of the Year
Amy Barnes is a middle school science teacher at Chisholm. During her five and a half years with the district, she has also coached volleyball, basketball and track.
Barnes started her teaching career a little later than most. After graduating from West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas with a degree in biology, she thought a career in the medical field was her future.
While in school, Barnes took a few education classes to have as an alternate option, which ended up being her true passion. She grew up in a household of educators and had several family members who also followed that path, and they always told her that she was meant to be a teacher. She just wasn’t sure at the time.
After a few years of working within several elementary and middle schools doing different jobs, she decided to spend nine years at home raising her children. Amy and her husband, Brett, have two children, Brylee and Brayson, who attend Chisholm.
Barnes stated, “I have loved every year of being in the classroom. The relationships I have built with students and the joy of seeing them grow in their education makes it all worth it.”
Barnes was nominated by three different teachers for Teacher of the Year. One nomination stated, “Amy is a go-getter inside and outside of the classroom. She manages to balance academics with athletics without fail. She goes above and beyond for her students.”
The nomination continued, “When it comes to academics, she takes the time to ensure that her students are prepared and are learning even when she is worn out from giving so much to her athletes. If a student is not performing to the best of his/her ability, she is always willing to pull him/her aside to chat about what it would take to be successful in his/her learning. She is patient and understanding with her students and is always willing to go above and beyond for each one of them.”
Jim Ebel – Chisholm High School Teacher of the Year
Jim Ebel grew up on a farm in North Dakota. After high school, he served in the Army for 12 years in medical services. He has many hobbies including boating, skiing, riding his motorcycle, jogging, and has a side hustle of restoring old vehicles. Mr. Ebel is married and has four children.
Teaching runs in Ebel’s family – his mom, grandma and aunts were all teachers. Mr. Ebel worked as a nurse in Minnesota for three years and found his way to St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center in Enid for another five years.
Mr. Ebel continued his education at Northwestern Oklahoma State University obtaining both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in history. Ebel taught history for ten years at Longfellow Junior High, one year at Waller Junior High and is completing his ninth year at Chisholm High School.
Co-worker Gary Hula said, “Mr. Ebel strives to make connections with each of his students. Whether it is talking about movies, cars, sports, or even Pokemon characters, Mr. Ebel goes the extra mile to get to know his students to establish a rapport to facilitate his teaching.”
Hula shared a situation illustrating Ebel’s ability to engage with students. “One of our students was having trouble with his car. This student obtained advice from Mr. Ebel, who has a wealth of knowledge about vehicles,” Hula said. “I overheard Mr. Ebel say to the student, ‘If that doesn’t work, give me a call, and I will come over and help you out’.”
“That is a reflection of Mr. Jim Ebel and the type of person and educator he is. Not only does he devote time to students within the classroom but also outside the walls of Chisholm as well.”
It goes without saying that all five of these teachers are more than deserving of these awards they have received. All five of them give their all to represent their schools with such great merit. Enid is extremely grateful for the commitment and devotion they show their students day in and day out. Teaching is definitely not the easiest career choice, but these teachers above prove that it is worth it just to be able to change the lives of their students.
Author: Joy Harjo Reviewed by Chloe Fuksa, Putnam Six Bookstore
This month’s review, in a nod to National Poetry Month, is of Weaving Sundown in a Scarlet Light, a collection of poems from ground-breaking Oklahoman Joy Harjo. She served as the United States Poet Laureate for three terms, from 2019 to 2022, and was the first Native American to be named to that role. Published in November 2022, this latest book features 50 poems to mark Harjo’s 50 years as a poet, as well as notes at the end to explain the history of each one, its context and how it came to be.
Overall, this collection covers such an extensive range in many areas. The themes and emotions span from grief and fear to grace and love, from music and sunrises to imagination and change, while the words are sometimes rich and ornate, sometimes mainstream and casual. Some of the poems are less than a page long, just a couple of sentences, while others are short paragraphs that cover three or four pages. Through them all is the very strong influence of the American Southwest and Harjo’s Native American heritage.
If you find poetry intimidating – this reviewer will freely admit to it – this book would be a great way to stretch your comfort zone. What I found to be most helpful was reading a poem the first time through, then reading its corresponding note at the end, then reading the poem through a second time. It forces your mind to slow down and really absorb the words, while the notes help you draw out the meanings and the message. Weaving Sundown in a Scarlet Light is a really beautiful work of art that readers can return to time and time again.
Visit us in Sunset Plaza or call 580-297-5089 to get your copy of Weaving Sundown in a Scarlet Light today!
Author: Megan E. Freeman Reviewed by Chloe Fuksa, Putnam Six Bookstore
April is National Poetry Month, so there’s no better time to pick up Alone, the middle grade debut novel of author Megan E. Freeman. Alone, a 2023 Oklahoma Sequoyah book, is a novel-in-verse, meaning it is a complete story, just told in poetry form. The book comes in right at 400 pages, and while that may seem daunting, it can easily be read in just a couple of sittings given the style of writing.
Maddie is a 12-year-old girl in Colorado who has played her divorced parents off each other in order to have a secret sleepover. Her friends end up being unable to make it, but Maddie still goes to her grandparents’ vacant apartment. When she wakes up the next day, she is entirely alone. There has been a mass evacuation event overnight due to an imminent threat, but Maddie slept through it and each of her parents think she is safe with the other one. Before long, Maddie doesn’t have cell service, internet access, running water, or gas and electricity. She does at least have a super sweet dog, George, though, for a companion. For well over three years, they must survive, through blistering hot summers and freezing cold winters, scavenging for food and water and supplies from houses and stores. Maddie is forced to mature very quickly, but even with the dangerous looters and wild animals, it’s the loneliness that is the biggest threat.
The one complaint with Alone is that the ending comes much too quickly and doesn’t offer anywhere near enough of an explanation. The story as a whole though is absolutely engrossing. You can easily forget where you are and what day it is. The style of the book means you’ll be flipping pages pretty quickly already, but the suspense will have you turning them even faster. Overall, Alone is a wonderful female-led survival story that shows kids that courage and perseverance can overcome even the toughest challenges.
Visit us in Sunset Plaza or call 580-297-5089 to get your copy of Alone today!
You are experiencing upper abdominal pain. Is it just a stomachache or something more serious like a gallbladder attack?
To understand gallbladder issues, we spoke with Dr. David W. Shepherd, MD, General Surgeon with St. Mary’s Physician Associates.
Q: What are the signs of possible gallbladder disease?
A: Gallbladder disease is one of the most common diseases seen by general surgeons. Most people associate gallbladder attacks with a sharp, right-sided abdominal pain. That is true, but typically severe attacks are preceded by many months or even years of more subtle symptoms. Most individuals incorrectly label their gallbladder attacks as “heartburn, reflux, indigestion or upset stomach.” Typically, mild gallbladder symptoms are associated with a sense of bloating, fullness or mild discomfort that starts 20-30 minutes after eating and lasts 30-60 minutes. This is usually felt in the upper abdomen or below the right ribs. Symptoms tend to occur after eating fatty or greasy foods, but can occur after any meal as the disease worsens over time.
Q: When should someone experiencing symptoms head to the emergency department versus trying to treat with over-the-counter (OTC) medications?
A: It is common for people to treat their symptoms with over-the-counter antacids, though these are generally ineffective. Mild attacks usually resolve on their own within 30-60 minutes. One should report to an emergency department when pain is severe, prolonged or associated with nausea and vomiting.
Young black man having pain
Q: How is gallbladder disease usually treated?
A: There is only one successful treatment for gallbladder symptoms and disease: the gallbladder is removed surgically. In most cases this is done laparoscopically, using very small incisions. Laparoscopy has revolutionized gallbladder surgery. Most patients go home the same day and recover in one week.
Q: Can gallbladder disease be treated without surgery?
A: Regrettably, there are no successful treatments for gallbladder disease other than surgical removal. Many treatment options other than surgery have been tried, but none have proven as effective as removing the gallbladder. People often decrease the fat in their diet in an attempt to avoid or delay surgery. This can result in improvement, but it’s usually only temporary and the symptoms eventually return, prompting the need for surgical removal.
Q: What can individuals do to prevent having gallbladder issues, such as diet and exercise?
A: There is no easy recommendation to completely avoid gallbladder disease. Women are three times more likely than men to experience gallbladder symptoms. Risk factors for gallbladder disease include obesity, pregnancy, increasing age and participation in weight-loss programs. A healthy diet and lifestyle are a good idea, but they have not been shown to eliminate gallbladder risk.
Abdominal pain in woman with stomachache illness from menstruation cramps, stomach cancer, irritable bowel syndrome, pelvic discomfort, Indigestion, Diarrhea or GERD (gastro-esophageal reflux disease)
Q: Are gallbladder problems hereditary?
A: Gallbladder symptoms often run in families. There may be some element of hereditary disease, but they also may share a similar diet and lifestyle.
Q: Where does Dr. Shepherd perform gallbladder surgery?
A: Dr. Shepherd performs gallbladder surgery at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center. In most cases, the removal uses a robotic, laparoscopic approach. This advanced surgical technology helps to minimize risk to the patient.
For a referral to a St. Mary’s Physician Associates general surgeon, call (580) 249-3898 or go online to stmarysphysicianassociates.com.
Individual results may vary. There are risks associated with any surgical procedure. Talk with your doctor about these risks to find out if minimally invasive surgery is right for you.
Physicians are on the medical staff of St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center, but, with limited exceptions, are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center. The hospital shall not be liable for actions or treatments provided by physicians.
For language assistance, disability accommodations and the nondiscrimination notice, visit our website.
The Lady Trojans played their final game in the final year of the state tournament games played in the Big House. The team fought through the Regional and Area Consolation Championship at the Stride Center. The 2023 team finished with the most wins in a single season in OBA history. Four-year starters and seniors, Clara Caldwell and Leah Titus, were the leaders of a talented team, alongside three sophomores who joined them in the starting lineup. Caldwell and Titus excel in more than just basketball. Titus is a four-year All-Conference softball player and Caldwell was already a state champion in track and tennis and has been on two volleyball state tournament teams.
The journey to the Big House did not start at the beginning of the season. The journey started in sixth grade for Caldwell and Titus. Playing basketball throughout middle school and high school, they are no strangers to overcoming adversity. They learned a lot of lessons being 14-year-old starters, and they lost more games than they expected as sophomores due to injuries. Caldwell had two concussions her sophomore year and a broken arm that affected her senior volleyball season. Titus tore her ACL before sophomore year in summer softball and had a hard time recovering. It was difficult to gain back physical confidence to assertively compete. Caldwell and Titus both reflected that sports were taking hold of their identity and becoming too important. Their injuries became a catalyst for personal change. It was a reality check for the girls and put basketball in its proper role in their lives.
As four-year starters, Caldwell and Titus have had seven years of teammates. On the court, we only see the shining stars of the team, not the grind of practice or the hard conversations in the locker room. Now, with their time to be senior leaders, they were very intentional, even prayerful, with the type of team leaders they wanted to be for their younger, talented sophomore and freshman teammates. Caldwell and Titus wanted to be different kinds of team leaders, ones that genuinely respected, listened, and even learned from the younger players. They knew they had the talent to have a really good season, and their senior leadership style could make it special or derail it. Caldwell and Titus did whatever the team needed to win, whether it was to lead the team in scoring, dominate in rebounds, guard the other team’s best player, set great screens for teammates, dive for loose balls or make the hockey assist. Leah especially knew the right words to say at just the right time to calm and challenge the younger players in just the right way. They said of this season: “This was our favorite season, success or not, we had a lot of fun with our teammates who became friends.”
Congratulations Lady Trojans on a fantastic season and many lifelong memories!
According to its website, the Grand National Gun Club is “dedicated to involving the youth of Northwest Oklahoma in the sport of shooting, gun safety, hunting safety and to offer the citizens of Enid, Garfield County and Northwest Oklahoma a quality shooting range facility for sport shooting.”
Previously the Enid Elks Gun Club, in 1997 the GNGC purchased the building and began renovations. Located just a few miles north of Enid on Highway 81, the club now has a large dining area/reception area, multiple big screen televisions and some memorabilia from previous members and/or events.
The club hosts instructors who train Garfield County 4-H shooters and sponsor both Spring and Fall 4-H regional shoots involving generally 150 shooters or so. In addition to these shoots, the club offers a site for Hunter Safety Courses put on by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife and supplies the instructors for the same.
The club has been involved with the National Rifle Association, sponsoring multiple events including the “Women on Target” event.
If you weren’t aware, the Gun Club is also open to the general public each Wednesday afternoon/evening from April to October. The clubhouse can be leased to host events as well. To shoot, you bring your own gun and shells (or they typically sell shells inside the clubhouse), hearing protecting and eye protection. The Club has several trap houses for those of you who like to shoot trap with voice command clay pigeon releases. It also offers skeet and 5-stand (my favorite).
So as the weather continues to warm, might be time to get out and knock down some clays. Shoot for practice; shoot for fun it doesn’t matter. It’s hard to be a good friendly competition with your friends (or your children if you are me) as to who is the better shot. See ya on Wednesdays!
Until next time friends, keep the barrels and let the pigeons fly. . .
Victorian Gardens were all in vogue from 1837 until 1901, during the reign of Queen Victoria. The Golden Years of the mid-Victorian era from 1850 until 1870 were led by increased industrialization, growth in the national income, peace at home and abroad. With all the social and economic advances, the British had more leisure time on their hands than ever before. With all the changes taking place, middle-class families didn’t have to focus on gardening only for food necessities. They could use some of that extra time to create beautiful gardens with aesthetic visuals.
Horticulture and plant collecting were favorite and serious occupations. Collectors sought out rare plants, keeping journals and records of their location and distribution. They particularly loved anything novel and exotic. Any botanical explorations or plants carried home from faraway places became status symbols of Britain’s evidence of worldwide influence and wealth. Many of the plants we still use in our own landscapes were brought from the tropics to North America and Europe – orchids, monstera and other aroids, bougainvillea, begonias, crotons, daturas, frangipani, erythrinas, bird of paradise and acacias. The royal waterlily from the Amazon, Victoria amazonica, with its 18-inch flowers and 5-foot leaves, was an exciting find. Plants, especially lilies, began coming in from Japan in the early 1860s and rhododendrons were brought from the Himalayas. New species of plants even came from China and other parts of the Orient, which at that time were off-limits to foreigners.
While this influx of new plant species was very exciting, many of these foreign plants became invasive in their new climates and locations, crowding out native species of flora. Invasive plants are non-native (exotic or alien) to the ecosystem that they occupy and their existence in that ecosystem causes harm. Some, such as the Eastern red cedar are also a wildfire hazard in our state. Invasive water plants like yellow iris clog waterways and can crowd out our native water plants. Some of these exotic plants can be very lovely such as Japanese honeysuckle, but are nearly impossible to eradicate. Included on the invasive list of plants are the Callery or Bradford Pear which has escaped into wooded areas throughout the state.
When considering a new plant for your landscape, look for native versions instead of those introduced from other countries. An excellent example is planting American wisteria (Wisteria frutescens) instead of Chinese (Wisteria sinensis) or Japanese wisteria (Wisteria floribunda). Additionally, before you take a start of a pass along plant from a friend, note how it grows in their garden. Then do a quick online search to ensure it is not considered an invasive plant. Your best bet to prevent introducing an invasive species to your garden is to select native Oklahoman plants. Additionally, these plants seldom need extra care as they evolved in our extreme Oklahoma climates and adapt to our weather. For a list of native plants that are great for your garden, check out the fact sheet E-1052 Oklahoma Proven: Plant selections for Oklahoma available at the OK State Extension Office available at the Garfield County Extension Office or online at https://extension.okstate.edu/search.html.
Hey y’all and welcome back to Teen Scene in ENID MONTHLY. Did you know about 80% of Americans have at least one sibling? Well, now you do!! April 10th is National Siblings Day so I thought I could tell you a little bit about my brother and sister. Let’s go!
My brother, Baylor, is 18 years old. He is a freshman at Oklahoma State University. My favorite thing to do with him is blast music in his truck and go to stores or places. He would always introduce me to new music that I still listen to. One of my favorite memories is one time he let me hang out with him in his room for hours and we just played video games, talked and listened to music. If you can’t tell we listened to music ALLLLLL the time. I asked Baylor what he liked to do with me and he said: “My favorite thing that we would do together is whenever you would call me begging to come pick you up and take you to the store or to get food. I acted like I hated it but I actually didn’t. It made me happy to see you.” Whenever we were younger he would be so mean and never let me hang out with him and it would make me so sad but as we got older he started to hang out with me more and we became really close. I don’t get to see him very often anymore since he does live in Stillwater now, but I make the most out of it when we go down there to visit. I miss him every day since he’s gone to college so I just FaceTime him whenever I’m bored to check in and say hi.
My sister, Olivia or Livy as everyone calls her, is 8 but will be 9 on April 3rd!! She is a 3rd grader at Hayes Elementary. My favorite thing to do with her is art projects, playing card games, and dance!! She is one of the most artistic kids I know so she’s always down to do art whenever you want. Every time I’m at my mom’s house the first thing she says to me is “sissy wanna see what I made?” and it is always something new every time. She can literally take a piece of trash and turn it into a new gadget. One of her favorite card games is UNO so we always play. If you asked her she would say I cheat, but I don’t I’m just really good at it!! I remember we played so many games one night and our mom told her that it was time for bed but she begged her to play one more game. Let’s just say I won ;). Livy does gymnastics so she asks me to help her with her skills. We like to dance to music all the time and learn new TikTok dances. My favorite memory is whenever she tries to wrestle with me. She for real thinks she can beat me up but she never does! I can’t wait to see when she is bigger than me if she can actually take me down. I love her so much and I’m going to miss her a lot whenever I go off to college.
Thank you for reading this month’s article. I hope you enjoyed it!! I would love to hear about your sibling so email me at tweensceneenid@gmail.com also email me if you have any questions, comments, or ideas for upcoming articles! I hope you have a great April and a happy Easter!! See you next month!! <33333333
