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CDRI Desert NewsFlash
March 2026
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Early morning in the Botanical Gardens. Photo by Faith Hille Dishron.
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We’re looking forward to welcoming you to CDRI’s annual Cactus & Succulent Sale starting on Monday, March 16! The gates open at 9:00 a.m. As always, there are no early sales.
The plants are beautiful! The claret cup cacti are filled with buds, which we hope, fingers crossed, will wait until the sale to open!
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Urgent message about the proposed Border Wall that will affect both Big Bend Ranch State Park and Big Bend National Park
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You have likely already read about the pending border wall that threatens to cross through Big Bend National Park. For everyone living in the Big Bend Region of the Chihuahuan Desert, it is a real threat. To all our readers, please, don't take the border issue lightly.
Iconic sites like Santa Elena Canyon are threatened. Big Bend Ranch State Park is also included in their plans. Details about a physical barrier were recently brought to light, coinciding with the removal of many environmental protections.
The following link provides more information.
The Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute’s (CDRI’s) position is defined below:
- We fully support the Chihuahuan Desert Region and oppose anything that disrespects, much less destroys the biome (flora & fauna) and the region – both of which are fragile and already under assault by mankind; and
- We support lawful and constitutional immigration practices and policy reform, using thoughtful, humane, lawful, and constitutional and cost-effective policies.
There are many reasons to oppose this wall, but one that will hurt everyone in the region is the impact on those who currently operate a thriving outfitter or river-rafting business in the Big Bend Region, as well as those who provide food and lodging for visitors.
For each of you who has experienced the beauty of this region, specifically within Big Bend National Park, driving along the River Road, hiking, rafting, and camping, please sign the petition (in the link below).
* Please share this information with your friends.
* Please contact your elected officials.
* And please help preserve the raw, natural beauty of the Big Bend.
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Jim Cornett -CDRI's
R. Conant Guest Lecturer
We’re looking forward to welcoming returning guest lecturer, Jim Cornett for the spring 2026 Roger Conant Distinguished Guest Lecture. Jim is one of our most popular speakers. His lecture is titled “Encounter with a Hungry Cougar,” where he will discuss his close call with a mountain lion/cougar in the Baboquivari Mountains of Southern Arizona.
Cornett is a desert ecologist living in Palm Springs, California (winter) and Park City, Utah (summer). He recently appeared on ABC’s Good Morning America, where he discussed the impact of climate change on Joshua trees. He is one of the West’s most prolific writers with forty-five books and dozens of scientific papers. His research projects have appeared in the Los Angeles Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Riverside Press-Enterprise, the Arizona Republic, and the Desert Sun, among many others. Cornett enjoys sharing his love of desert ecology through writing, teaching, and lecturing. He recently completed a visit to all nine of the world’s great deserts and is currently writing a book about his travels and research in each.
Several of Cornett's bestselling books are available in our Gift Shop, including The Chihuahuan Desert, Indian Uses of Native Plants,The Greater Roadrunner, and The Splendid Ocotillo.
His previous lectures covered the Greater Roadrunner and another on the relationship between Ocotillos and Hummingbirds.
The event will be held at the Crowley Theater in Marfa, Texas. The lecture will start at 7:00 p.m., with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. Beverages and light appetizers will be served. Free admission. Contact programs@cdri.org with your questions.
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Save the Date!
CDRI’s BBQ & Auction
Saturday, August 15, 2026
Tickets will go on sale on May 1.
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New plant signs are being installed.
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You can’t miss them! Scott Whitener, CDRI’s Site Manager, has installed about 200 of the 600 plant signs for the Botanical Gardens. The signs arrived last week, and are already making a huge difference in the overall appearance of the garden! Please share your thoughts with us about the signs on your next visit.
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“Miner Joe” Mussey
It is with a heavy heart that we share the news about the passing of Miner Joe. Joe Mussey was known to many visitors as the face of CDRI’s Mining Exhibit.
Graduating with a degree in Mining Geology from Texas Western College (“TWC,” later renamed University of Texas at El Paso “UTEP”), Joe worked in Alaska, Canada, and the southwestern United States in uranium, silver, lead, and gold mines. He eventually moved to Pecos, where he was employed as the Mining Geologist for Duval Sulfur Mine (Pennzoil Sulfur Company).
Joe and Joyce met in Pecos, where Joyce taught school and later was a school principal. They moved to Fort Davis after Joe’s retirement.
Joe’s first volunteer assignment at CDRI was to build the Geologic Timeline along the sidewalk at the Powell Visitor Center. Next, in 2000, he and his college friend, mining engineer Jack Burgess, set out to build the Mining Heritage Museum. Faced with resistance to funding the project, Joe decided they would finance the project themselves. So, from the first ore cart came donations, including specimens, equipment, and artifacts. Many friends from college helped build the exhibit and continued to volunteer to work at the site.
Over the years, Joe and Joyce presented geology programs for children and adults. Never ones to stop working, both Joe and Joyce continued to make improvements to the exhibit last fall.
There will be a gathering of friends on March 21, 2026, from 1:00-4:00 p.m., at the Alpine Funeral Home community room.
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Knowing that this day would sadly, eventually come, we created a great little video a few years ago starring Miner Joe. The video was created by Natalie Ruiz Davis.
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The above photos were taken by Mady Kitchens in 2017 when, as a student from Athens, Texas, she attended one of Miner Joe's presentations. Mady now works for CDRI.
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Josh Burns
We were saddened to learn of the passing of a dear friend, Josh Burns. Josh and his wife Betsy lived in Marfa for 20 years, moving a few years ago to Belen, New Mexico, to be closer to their daughter and grandchildren.
Josh, an avid birder, would visit CDRI weekly, where he observed, recorded, and shared information on bird activity. He was often seen walking through the grass, making notes in his notebook. He supported and contributed to comprehensive digital bird record efforts, including eBird, a project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Josh also donated a large collection of his favorite birding books to CDRI when he moved out of the region.
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Visiting Groups & Activities
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CDRI participated in the Water in the Desert Conference at SRSU in Alpine, Texas as an exhibitor. We also provided an early morning tour of the Botanical Gardens led by Jim Martinez, and a hike to Modesta Canyon led by Warren Shaul.
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Partnering with the Alpine Visitor Center, CDRI volunteer Warren Shaul led a morning tour of the Botanical Gardens for participants in the Alpine Wildlife Weekend program.
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Road Scholar visited CDRI twice in February. Both tours were led by CDRI's Head Gardener, Faith Hille-Dishron, and Host Camper volunteer Cherie Hawkins.
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Students and teachers from St. Dominic Savio Catholic High School, Austin, Texas, stopped for a quick lunch break before heading out on a hike to Modesta Canyon.
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CDRI’s Annual Seed Swap, held on the last Saturday of February, was a tremendous success! Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed seeds to share.
To all who took home seeds from the swap, we wish you a healthy and bountiful garden in 2026. Remember to harvest the seeds for your next year’s garden. You can also store and label any extras for CDRI’s 2027 Seed Swap.
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In closing, we wish you a fun and safe Spring Break!
We’re looking forward to seeing you at the Cactus & Succulent Sale!
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Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute, P.O. Box 905, Fort Davis, TX 79734
432.364.2499
www.cdri.org
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