Things to be Thankful For

      Pelicans at White Rock                                                                                        photo by Sandra Hicks

FYI...Sandra worked for DPARD at White Rock Lake.  She took this photo and shared it with me.  Sandra has passed away, but this is a good memory that I will carry whenever I think of her.  We shared a love of the lake and horses too. 

At times it seems that a list of things we are thankful for is what is needed, especially right now.  At other times, it is a helpful reminder to just get through another day.  We all have some things we are thankful for, truly thankful for...good health, family, friends, living where we do and more.

 Things I am thankful for:

* Finally getting it done...the book that is, it has been a long-time in the making and the time was right.  Turned out to be very true because George passed away soon after the first draft was completed.  He did get to read it and give it his stamp of approval.  For this I am very grateful.

* Thankful that George's wife, Shirley and I found the right person to help us in the endeavor to get this book out there so that everyone can connect with the beauty of White Rock Lake Park and its inhabitants.  Thank you Mary Beth!

* Big Spring and the Pembertons, so very thankful that both are now part of my life.  They are synonymous with the vast history of the Great Trinity Forest.

* The effort to preserve Big Spring in the Great Trinity Forest has accomplished many things, one of which is the environmental training of City staff which is indeed something to be thankful for.  Keeping my fingers crossed it sticks, but you can understand if I'm just a tad bit skeptical ; )

* Thankful especially for all of those who have stepped up to lead the way for preserving the natural open spaces left in our City for the next generations to enjoy and learn from.  The urban environment can indeed be green, sustain wildlife and natural areas. Remember when TPWD wanted to make the GTF into a state park?   Why can't we have the best natural park in the nation, especially since we have already been told it is an environmental wonder?

* Thankful that my son and I had a great meal at La Madeline's today with turkey and dressing.  Thank goodness they were open for us today.  I am so very grateful for that!  No dishes to wash, no food to cook, relaxing and great conversation.  Spending time with him is a joy!  He is one smart guy! Gee, wonder where he got it from.... ; )

Enjoy your day with your family and friends!  Don't forget to take that walk, it is a gorgeous day....see you out on the trail!

Making Nature "Better"?

Little Bluestem and Downtown Dallas                  Photo by Becky Rader

This seemingly disconnected image between Nature and the City has been a long standing factor, not only here but everywhere.  In the past 75 years we have grown from a country that was predominantly an agrarian society to one that is now an urban populated one.  We now have little connection to the natural world, as we once did just a short time ago. Yes, things have changed....but what have we lost?

In the constant rush to build it and they will come scenario, the value of natural open area is often ignored.  To a developer or an engineer, the land and the natural resources have no value unless there is a road or a building on it.  It is argued that this is part of economic development and I argue that without it there is a loss to our quality of life.  

I know many business people, lawyers, scientists, educators, bankers, and more that choose to spend their free time hiking trails, riding bikes, bird watching, and taking pictures of natural areas to de-stress from the everyday rat race.  Is this advantageous to the City?  You bet!  There are now studies that show a direct correlation in improvement of work or study when the availability of natural areas are offered and used.  These studies are not news to most educators that are connected with environmental education, for those of us in this field it is common knowledge.  But now we have those studies to back up what we already knew.

Richard Louv wrote a book that was published in 2005 that became a voice for this, " Last Child In The Woods".  A must read for anyone interested in the health and well being of our children.  The book became a sensation and has created an international following with nature clubs being established, and yes, even cities joining up to provide the best for our children.  It has become a movement, the Children and Nature Network or CNN, www.childrenandnature.org   The website is filled with the latest research and so much more.  And not only for children, his latest book, "The Nature Principle" is focused on the need for all of us, yes adults too, to have a connection to the natural world.

We have so much opportunity to be recognized as a City that realizes this is a value that cannot or should not be ignored.  The Value is in fact monetary, how much would it cost to re-create a system that cleans the water like a wetland, to try and create something that cleans the polluted air better than plants and yes, all plants clean the air and provide oxygen...not just trees, or to allow natural diversity which is necessary for a healthy ecosystem.  Each of these and more are part of the systems that are necessary for our health and well being; clean water, clean air, and open areas to allow diversity of plants and animals and places for us to walk...the bonus factor which leads to quality of life.

The City is taking strides to embrace this with the Trinity Project, but care needs to be given so that those systems that have been in place for centuries are still allowed to function.  Springs and wetlands are much more than beautiful places to visit and observe wildlife.  They provide clean water for the Trinity River which is used by millions of people and animals as their main source of water.  It is the source for the nurseries in the brackish waters of the estuaries at Trinity Bay in the Gulf which is the place for shrimp, fish, mussels and oysters to begin the cycle of life.  Care must be taken and responsibility for that begins here.

The open land itself serves as the place where rain water is absorbed into the ground, replenishing the groundwater and deep aquifers. Those sources provide the springs and creeks which flow into the river.  It is also the place where raptors and other predators hunt for their prey.  Open land with native flora and fauna is a place to connect with nature and teach our children to do the same.  Let's not destroy that which already exists to make it "better".  Nature has already accomplished that.

 

Why Should I Care?

 

 White Rock Prairie

It is a question that is asked frequently.  Why should I care?  Why should I care about what, you ask.  Well there are lots of things you already care about, your family, your friends, your job, how about where you live?  You do care about that don't you?  Part of that is caring about what is around you.

Would you like to live next to an industrial area, a busy shopping center or a quiet neighborhood.  How about a nice quiet neighborhood near a park?  With a pond and some trees.  And open space too so the kids can run and play.  How about that?  Does it make you care a little bit more?

These are things that we look for when we move to a new city or are looking for a new house.  At least we used to.  I know I did when I bought my house.  I care about where I live.  I care about the open areas because I like them and they are a place where I can get away, take a walk and relax.

My background was always connected to the outdoors.  Walking to the lake with the family on Sundays.  Playing outside and going down to the creek to explore, looking for fossils and fools gold.  This was my beginning to want to learn more.  Asking my father about the trees and wildflowers we saw on our family walks.  My mother pointing out the birds and butterflies.  I began caring about what I saw and was learning.  Especially when I saw places disappear.

Imagine, if you will, a place any young teenage girl, well a lot of them anyway, could walk across the street and be in a pasture full of wildflowers, grasses, trees and oh yes, horses!  That was so fantastic to be able to have that right across the street from where my parents built our house.  Little did I realize that this would seal the deal for me.  It wasn't just the walks to the lake from the first house we lived in.  It was this next connection that made all the difference.

At this prairie, which I had no clue what it was then, it was my awakening to the natural world around me.  This was a huge piece of land smack dab in the big city with meadowlarks, quail, foxes, roadrunners, raccoons, hawks, owls, rabbits and more.  For those of you familiar with our city it was the piece of land bordered by Lovers Lane, Skillman, NW Hwy and Greenville.  The corner of Greenville and Lovers Lane had a small driving range where a famous golfer once worked...Lee Trevino.  The rest of it was wide open space with creeks, tanks, and trails.  It was called Lovers Lane Stables.  A fabulous place where I spent many long hours watching wildlife, learning about wildflowers and yes, riding horses.   It was the bestest place on earth.  It was here that I decided I would learn everything I could about horses and what they needed.  Good pasture with native grasses, clean water, trees for shade - it all seemed amazingly simple.  At least back then it seemed that was enough.

After a few years of this heaven the flagging stakes began to appear.  I was of the age now where college was looming on the horizon and choices needed to be made.  Which direction would I go - veterinarian, agriculture---horses you know, or teaching.?  And why were all of these stakes being put through my stables?  What was happening to my paradise?  Then the road-graders showed up and section by section the stables began to disappear.  Owners had to find other places to board their horses. Not easy in a city where land is for development and not valued for open space. As I watched this happen and saw the wild creatures run for their lives, trying to cross busy roads, looking for another place to survive it was all too much.  I knew which direction would eventually be mine.  I care.

A Close Look at the Hall of State Doors

Symbols

Every time I enter this iconic building I notice something new.  But perhaps my favorite work of art in this beautifully constructed building begins with the bronze doors under the Tejas Warrior sculpture.

There are five pairs of doors which open from the rotunda entry way into vestibules leading into the Hall of Heroes.  The doors contain symbols designed by Donald Barthelme, the architect/designer of the Hall of State.  Each of the sections contained in the sculpted door panels is a symbol of the industries that made Texas what it is, leading up to the year of the Centennial, 1936.

Above is the most recognized one for many who visit the building. It represents the ranching industry which carried the backbone of this state's economy for decades.  The ranching industry is still significant, but no longer is the predominant industry.  

You will notice that the representative steer is not a Longhorn.  It is a Shorthorn or a Hereford, breeds that were introduced to replace the legendary Longhorn, a hardy breed that traveled the cattle drive trails providing wealth for many. 

The Rattlesnake is symbolized, common on ranches and a part of life in the country, even today.  

The zig-zag line above and below the steer head represents barbed wire.  The closing of the open range.  There were even range wars over this, disagreements over closing off open land and dividing it up into smaller parcels which limited the access to grass and water for the huge free-roaming herds cattle.  

So much history here that is a part of who we are and how we came to be in this state.  But looking up at     the Tejas Warrior we should not forget that for at least 10,000 years there were others here before us.  Lessons still to be learned, and history not to be forgotten.

Eagle in the Sky

Eagle in the Sky

There has been a miraculous return of Bald Eagles to Texas.  Not so long ago they were on the Endangered Species List due to the use of DDT which created havoc among the bird population.  It is a long story, but one that had a remarkable outcome displaying the tenacity and endurance of our national bird.

This image was taken by George Boyd in 2010 at Sunset Bay which is located at White Rock Lake in Dallas, Texas.  A beautiful place and one that is known to attract a diverse abundance of wildlife in a highly populated urban environment. 

This year another Eagle has made an appearance at the lake.  Maybe one day we will be privileged to have a pair and nesting occur.  In the meantime....

Recent news from the John Bunker Sands Wetland Center, located in Seagoville, is announcing the return of the Bald Eagle pair that had made a home in a high voltage electrical tower.  Over the last few months that nest was moved to a safer structure and the wait was on for the return of the eagles to see if they would successfully move.  After a few hesitant starts at the old site the pair has taken up residence in the new location.  All can now breath a sigh of relief.  : )  This was a successful endeavor by all who made it happen!

The Center has a web-cam where you can watch the Eagles as they prepare to start another family.  Should be fun!  Check out this link to see the action there:      www.wetlandcenter.com 

Greetings!

White Rock Lake

                                                                            

There's no place like home, is there? My home town may be bigger than yours, but it's still home, and I love its history, its location and all the events and places that have gone into making it what it is today. I'm passionate about the importance of understanding the unique natural treasures the the earliest inhabitants found when the city was being settled, and equally passionate about preserving those treasures for all of us to love and enjoy.

Unfortunately, it can become awfully easy to sacrifice our heritage as we build our magnificent home town. My hope is that we can have the past, the present and the future coexist harmoniously for decades to come.

I've spent a lifetime as an educator, a naturalist, a writer, and most of all, an advocate for our wonderful city. From the beautiful natural habitats around White Rock Lake to the restoration of historic buildings and neighborhoods in the city, I always enjoy exploring and learning.

I hope you'll enjoy my journeys with me, and even better, come JOIN me in keeping Dallas...well, DALLAS!.

My home town!