Carolyn Klein started at Houston Audubon in Spring 2024 as our Natives Nursery Team Lead. She recently retired from 24 years of teaching high school environmental science courses and was excited to join the Houston Audubon flock. Carolyn grew up as a military kid and got to live in many parts of the US as well as Uruguay and Germany. After graduating from the University of Michigan with a degree in natural resources, Carolyn and her husband Bob moved to Houston. They raised their twin sons on the west side of town and knew Edith L. Moore was a special spot for wildlife. Her family has always enjoyed camping, hiking and biking together. Read on to get to know Carolyn.
1. What is your favorite bird?
Although it’s not exotic, I get warm fuzzies when the Carolina Wrens visit our backyard. They just have so much personality! Up on the fence, their voices so much bigger than their bodies, they announce their news to us. They bob up and down with their tail feathers angled up to the sky. How can you not enjoy the show?
2. What was your first experience connecting to nature (that you can remember)?
The woods behind my childhood home in Virginia were an entire kingdom for me and my friends. We’d run out the back door after breakfast and only come back home for lunch and dinner when Mom rang the big brass bell. We built forts, explored streams and climbed trees. I can still remember the smell of that beech/maple forest.
3. What most excites you in your role?
I am so thrilled when our native plants are picked up by people who understand their value. I am most excited to be part of city-wide restoration efforts on any scale, from large city properties to individual yards. Creating wildlife habitat within our city restores some of the natural balance to biodiversity, the water cycle, our air quality and our microclimates. Creating access to nature spaces for more Houstonians gives us more peace, community and health. When plants from the nursery are picked up, it’s like they’re finding their forever home. Maybe this is what folks at the SPCA feel like when cats or dogs are adopted!
4. Who is someone you admire and why?
Doug Tallamy and his idea of a Homegrown National Park are such an inspiration! He is a national advocate for planting natives in our yards. He estimates that if everyone converted half of their yards to native plantings, we could recover an incredible amount of biodiversity and slow climate change measurably. Not everyone has a yard, but what an opportunity for those of us who do. Working at the Edith L Moore Native Nursery provides me the chance to participate in this achievable and significant goal.
5. What did you want to be when you were young?
All that time in the woods made Forest Ranger my obvious choice. I wanted to do something that would protect the woods that I loved. I wanted to spend my days outside. Funny how life often takes an unexpected turn. After a full career as a teacher (mostly indoors) I am finally in a position related to land management. Working with our fantastic volunteers on Wednesday and Friday mornings has given me the opportunity for the outdoor job I dreamed of as a kid.
6. If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would it be?
Hiking in mountains with my husband, grown kids and their families. We’d explore waterfalls and forests and spot wildlife. We might have a misadventure, like getting caught in a sudden downpour and sharing tree shelter with a ptarmigan (true story!) We’d end the day with a dinner around the campfire telling jokes and planning the next adventure.
7. Would you rather ride a bike, ride a horse, or drive a car?
My husband and I love to bike. It’s just the right pace for exploring: slow enough to really look at things, but fast enough to cover significant ground in a day. Our favorite rides are in downtown Houston and San Antonio. We love to see new urban developments that bring nature in closer contact with people.
8. What’s your favorite movie?
One of my favorites has to be The Princess Bride. Anybody up for a quote-along movie night?
9. If you could join any past or current music group which would you want to join?
Sign me up for ABBA because I already know all the lyrics. I bet you do too! If you’re going to be in a band, there should be a lot of sequins and matching outfits. Plus, if I’m in a group I have a chance to follow someone else’s dance moves and look like I know what I’m doing. Get your Dancing Queen on!
Be sure to say hi to Carolyn when you’re picking up your plants at the Edith Moore Natives Nursery!
Houston AuduBlog 