Liz Masur
“I am a 61-year-old retired teacher and newly elected member of the City of Lawrence Common Council. My husband, Jim, and I moved to Indiana with our three daughters almost 30 years ago. The whole family has always enjoyed being outdoors, whether it’s planting a garden, swimming at the neighborhood pool, biking/hiking/running at Fort Benjamin Harrison State Park, or sitting on our porch on a summer evening watching fireflies.
We have supported HEC ever since a volunteer knocked on our door, over 20 years ago, and asked us to help HEC help otters…how can you not love an organization which looks out for otters?! I support HEC because it stands up for Indiana’s environment. It lobbies for clean water and clean air, and it tirelessly works to defend Indiana wetlands from the building industry.”
What do you like most about living in Indiana?
“I love going out in our yard, which is in a suburban neighborhood, and checking on our native pollinator friendly plants and the insects, birds, and mammals which they nurture. In the winter I delight in the chickadees chattering as they balance on the purple coneflowers and nibble at the seeds; and in the spring I look for violets and mayapples. This year I can’t wait to see if the Virginia bluebells planted last year are spreading, and if the pawpaw saplings survived the winter. I anticipate the hummingbirds enjoying the lobelias and cardinal flowers, and keeping my eyes peeled for hummingbird moths. Maybe an opossum will scuttle along, on the outside of the fence, or several pileated woodpeckers will hammer away at a dead limb on the walnut tree. A barred owl will hoot. The sassy little red squirrels hassle the bigger fox squirrels. Red-winged blackbirds converse, bluebirds zip around, and the prehistoric looking rattle-snake masters attracts wasps. Once the common milkweed has grown, I will gently flip over leaves, hoping to spy monarch butterfly eggs.”
What gives you hope about the future of our planet?
“In our suburban neighborhood quite a few of the homeowners have realized that their landscaping practices need to change, and common milkweed is flourishing in many yards, along with other native nectar flowers. People are recognizing that we can think globally and act locally, that planting some natives and reducing the turf grass in their yard makes sense economically and environmentally. Also, aesthetically!”
Tell us one unusual or interesting fact about yourself that most people probably don’t know.
“When we lived in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan I was employed as the Brule Bear, the mascot for the Ski Brule ski resort. I got to ski around in a bear costume and hand out candy to kids.”
Do you have a favorite quote?
“Margaret Mead’s “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
What’s your favorite Indiana animal?
“I can’t choose one! Otters, red squirrels, opossums…Okay, I will go with opossums…they eat ticks, and they are so silly looking.”
Describe how you became interested in native plants.
“In April of 2020 I read an article in the Indy Star about plummeting monarch butterfly populations and how turf grass is basically a green desert, a monoculture which provides no nourishment and habitat for insects, which are the foundation of the circle of life. The article explained how absolutely vital native pollinator friendly plantings are for insects, and I decided that helping pollinators by planting native flowers was something I really wanted to do.”
Please tell us anything else you think might be good to include.
“For an early birthday present I was given a battery-operated saw. I cannot wait to use it to cut down any Japanese honeysuckle I encounter in our neighborhood!”