Fair Park-How important is it to you?

                               Bronze Door-Hall of State                                   Photo credit/Becky Rader

Teaching moment: Looking at the picture above can you tell which industry from the 1930's (remember the building was completed in 1936) is represented? Good guess. Now what other items are represented in this---look closely.  Lots to see at this fabulous building that at the time it was finished was said to be one of the three most important places for Texas History, the other two? The Alamo and the San Jacinto Monument. Come by for a tour sometime...

Dallas is known for many things and in my humble opinion one of the best places we have to offer, but admittedly most neglected maintenance wise, is Fair Park. Some call it a City jewel others distain it as a relic of the past.

But whatever your opinion is, all of that is about to change. For the first time in a very, very long time the City has chosen to place Fair Park as a separate item in the upcoming 2017 Bond. Some people though are under the misconception that the money for Fair Park, $50 Million, is to go to the group that is awarded the Fair Park Management Agreement, this is not accurate.

The money will go to the immediate needs repair for many buildings and will be under the purview of the Dallas Park and Recreation Department. Several buildings have major flood damage from leaking roofs and condensation issues, others have critical electrical repair needs, structural stabilization, plumbing, chiller, mechanical equipment, heat pump replacement, etc.

This list is by no means carved in stone and is only in draft form. Perhaps this can be viewed as an incentive for whomever takes over management of Fair Park so that new occupants for the vacant buildings are a little more easily acquired. And yes, we need a real park at Fair Park.

Here is an article from the DMN about this issue: 
https://www.dallasnews.com/news/fair-park/2017/06/27/fair-park-need-50m-face-lift-dallas-city-council-let-voters-decide

Below is the Aug. 17th, 2017 Draft of the proposed use of the $50 Million allocated for Fair Park

Project Description                                                                                                   Amount
1. Hall of State-Exterior wall and plaza restoration; exterior drainage 
and lighting; repair or replace exterior doors and windows; other
architectural interior and exterior repairs; repair sump pump; other                             $14,410,000
plumbing repairs; address dehumidification issues; replace heaters and 
other mechanical repairs; electrical repairs; elevator; ADA; and other
necessary repairs 
2. Music Hall-Elevator; carpeting; replace old plumbing pipes; security;
ADA improvements and other necessary repairs                                                       $ 4,300,000
3. African American Museum-Resolve water intursion; repair interior finishes; 
flush condenser water system; complete mechanical and electrical repairs                  $ 2,000,000
4. Texas Discovery Gardens-Chiller                                                                         $    300,000
5. Food and Fiber Building-Structural stabilization; repair damaged finishes;
and other necessary repairs                                                                                      $ 1,500,000
6. Coliseum-Water infiltration; flooring; plumbing; electrical/mechanical;
 restrooms; and other necessary repairs; Phase 1 Restoration                                    $ 9,500,000
7. Tower Building-Water infiltration repairs; interior renovation; plumbing;
mechanical/electrical; and other necessary repairs                                                      $ 3,500,000
8.Centennial Building-Roof repair; interior; exterior; electrical/mechanical;
mural and bas relief conservation; and other necessary repairs                                   $ 4,400,000
9. Pan American Complex-Poultry-Exterior restoration, repair interior doors;
Sheep and Goat-Renovation of concrete columns and stucco; Police Mounted 
Unit-Repair concrete, stucco, doors, columns, ventilation for electrical and 
elevator rooms; Arena-roof and louver; and other necessary repairs                          $ 3,480,000
10. Science Place 1(Phase 1)-Water infiltration repairs; conduct mold
testing; replace plumbing fixtures and water heater; replace aged mechanical
equipment; security                                                                                                  $ 5,110,000
11. Aquarium annex- Roof repairs and complete facade repairs; replace
some interior finishes; replace plumbing fixtures; upgrade fire alarm system;
provide new security                                                                                                $    600,000
 12. Magnolia Lounge-Roof replacement; repair facade; complete minor 
interior work; replace heat pumps and FCU's; replace interior lighting;
install security system                                                                                               $    900,000

Total for Fair Park-Proposition J (Bond)                                                             $50,000,000

 




 

Memorial Day - May 29, 2017

Bluebirds on fenceposts                                         Becky Rader

Today marks a day of remembrance for those that have fought for our country, whether in action of wars and conflicts or by serving in a branch of the military. I visited Restland Cemetery today and placed American flags on my grandfather's grave, as mother always did.

I remember and honor my family members who have served. 

My late husband was in the Infantry, Cpt. Lester D. Rader, III, Airborne Ranger. Lester loved the military life and served his country well, giving it his all. He was stationed at Ft. Hood after graduating college. I remember Killeen well, all the speed traps too. He went to Ft. Bragg for winter Ranger school and returned as a Ranger, with walking pneumonia. Proud of his accomplishment! The entire 3/41 Battalion was sent to West Germany to a new base, Clay Kaserne near Osterholtz-Scharmbeck. I followed a year later. He, and others in the Battalion, were transferred to Baumholder, where we lived in NATO housing in Birkenfeld, near the base. It was great to live among others serving from so many different countries. After serving overseas, we were sent to Ft. Benning, GA., Home of the Infantry. It was at Martin Army Hospital that our son was born.

My husband's father was KIA in Korea, Lester D. Rader, Jr. His father never saw his son and yet I know he would have been proud.

My husband had several of his family members serve, including an uncle and several cousins.

My father served in WWII and in the Korean War, Melvin Howe. After WWII service in France and Germany he came back to Texas and completed his degree at SMU, thanks to the G.I. Bill, where he met my mother. He had stayed in the reserves and was called back in for the Korean war. My father never spoke of either war until I married Lester and we were stationed in Germany. My parents came to visit and I learned much about my father's time spent there. He was awarded a Purple Heart for his service.

My father's dad, George Howe served in WWI in the Infantry. Other than that I do not know much. He never talked about it that I can remember. He was a great man who made his own way.

My mother's dad, Dr. A. W. Brazda, served in both WWI, in the Army, and WWII, in the Air Force. There was a need for medical professionals during WWII, so my grandfather re-upped and was sent in, he was in his 40's. He was one of the first surgeons to land on the beaches during the Normandy invasion. He stayed in the reserves after the war and had just retired right before his unexpected death.

These are the memories I have of the service that my family gave to our country. Some gave their lives and all served their country well.

May your day be one of remembrance and gratitude. 

All Gone

The book is sold out and will not be re-published at this time. Please ignore the order link. Trying to get that removed.

Thank you to all of the people who had an interest in George Boyd's exemplary nature photography and my work on our joint effort in "Nature's Images of White Rock Lake Park."

It was a pleasure to meet several of you and I know that George would have enjoyed that also. He was someone that had the ability to converse with anyone. Plus he loved to share his pursuit of the wonders of the lake. He was a dogged activist on all matters of nature and chose to use photography as his method of spreading the word.

Working with his wife, Shirley, has been one of the greatest and most enjoyable occurrences to have happened in my life. We worked together to get the book published and to find that perfect fit for our self publishing endeavor. That was an experience! Many friendships were made in the process and will continue.

It is sad to have this finished, but if we decide to get back out there in some manner YOU will be the first to know.

I will still post about my interests in Dallas, though not frequently, as you might have noticed. Lots happening...maybe you will get the short and to the point version as one of my favorite bloggers, Seth Godin, does.

Thanks again to all of you and stay tuned! Life is an adventure and we are on this road together : )

Hello again. I know, where have I been? If you follow on the FB you will know I have been around, just not so inclined to be a consistent blogger. Oh well, all I can say is that it has been very busy since April.
What has happened in that time frame? Well, let's see April was busy, May was wet, really wet, there were elections and run-offs, and now it is nearing the end of summer.

                                                                  White Rock lake flood 2006
Can we complain about the heat yet? Go ahead. Just remember what we were all thinking about a few months ago when winter decided to finally show up in January. And then a late cool spring and the frog choking rains! Some think it broke the drought. Hmm, let's figure this out. We live in a drought state so I figure that we should all realize that we are always going to be in drought most of the time and some of the time we won't be. Seems that would be the logical way to look at things here in Texas.


And surprise! We are back in a drought according to the meteorologists. Were we ever out of it? Only for a month or two. Drought state. So what can you do to adapt? All the standard recommendations, which by the way, we should all be following to the letter all the time, not just when someone says to. The pioneers knew how to survive here, but we have become used to turning on the tap and watching the water flow. Spoiled, we are.                                                                                  

Conservation measures:
Water the yard, if you must, once a week or less. Water deeply, no run off.
Plant indigenous native plants or those that are drought tolerant.
Use a soaker hose along the foundation of your house.
Take short showers.
Full load when washing laundry and dishes.
Wash car at a car wash, or wait for it to rain like I do.
Turn off water when brushing teeth.

You know the drill. We live with drought, that will never change,only when we are temporarily blessed with rain. Give and take. Rain and drought.

We are so far removed from that connection to the land that we have lost the ability to see and forgotten the knowledge of how we should care for the place we live. Time to learn all over again.

              Norbuck Prairie                                                                                                          B.Rader
 

What Once Was Lost

    Prairie Fest May 5, 2004                                                                                 Photo by Becky Rader

I came across this photo and decided to share some of the uphill and downhill moments of preservation projects. At the time I was a member of the local chapter of the Texas Master Naturalist Program and was  the second chapter President and also served on the Board for 5 years. This was the 5th year for Prairie Fest, which was held annually from 2000-2005, to bring attention to the Blackland Prairie remnants around White Rock Lake.

We had a good turn-out in spite of the cold that day with Buffalo Soldiers from the10th Cavalry Unit and representatives from one of the Air Force Battalions based out of Wichita Falls. Their longhorn was a mascot and fund raiser for the battalion. He was pretty darn awesome, but let's just say when he didn't want to work, he wouldn't. The Buffalo Soldiers mentor boys and brought a group with them who really liked that longhorn steer, despite the fact that he was laying down on the job ; ). There were many others there to share their knowledge and passion for the prairie.

What brought all of this about was a drive by the lake in 1998 and watching the wildflowers being mowed down. Just about had a wreck. You see that is the absolute worst time to mow, while they are blooming, because they have not had a chance to set seed yet.  I decided to make a few calls once I reached home. Turned out that became about 10 calls because I was passed along the chain, no one wanted to talk about wildflowers. Not important you know.  I was finally passed to a gentleman, Larry Smith with DPARD who knew exactly what I was trying to say. He agreed that it was the wrong time to mow, but there had been other phone calls about the "weeds" so he had been told to get the mowers out. My response was that some education needed to take place, he agreed and that is where it began. After a very long year, oh yes, one whole year of talking and presenting to lake organizations, neighborhoods around the lake, city staff and bringing in groups of botanists and scientists to confirm what I saw and knew was prairie, this project was accepted by DPARD and taken on as one of the first chapter projects by the NTMN. Dr. Kip Kiphart was a partner on this project.

The presence of wildflowers around the lake had long been recognized and even pointed out on a map that was created by the ADVOCATE magazine in a booklet about the lake. So how was it determined to be an actual area of long lost prairie? That is where the plan began. It was decided that there would be no mowing in certain areas for at least a year, some areas two years, to see what came up. How was this decision determined you ask? Again going to the neighbors and groups, letting them know what was going to occur and having the group of scientists and other experts on board. Who were they you ask? Dr. Ken Steigman formerly with the Heard Museum-now director at LLELA, Dr. Lou Verner-TPWD, John Davis-TPWD, Jim Eidson-TNC, Barney Limpscomb - Bob O'Kennon - George Diggs all with BRIT and co-authors of Shinners and Mahler's Flora Of North Central Texas, Jim Apkin -botanist, Jeff Quayle-botanist, Jim Varnum-botanist, for starters. There have been others that became interested along the way, but this was the original group.

OK, so what happened when there was no mowing? First of all you have to understand that since the beginning of this park there has been mowing, that was why erosion terraces had to be built on the slopes by the CCC. You mow it, it rains and on those slopes around the lake erosion happens, not much vegetation to slow down the water so the terraces were built. But still able to survive somehow was this incredible seed bank and root system in the soil of the original prairie that had existed there for hundreds of years. Aw cum on you say, really? Yes, really. What grew in the next couple of years was astounding...Little Bluestem, Indian Grass, Eastern Gamagrass, Sideoats Grama, Purpletop....all native prairie species of grasses. And so much more, over 330 plant species identified so far. It was like a totally changed landscape, not just in the vegetation category, but also wildlife.

Raptors were returning to the lake. There had been some through the years, but now there was an incredible upswing in the number of sightings and nesting that was occurring. Members of the local Audubon chapter took notice. Eastern Bluebirds returned, bluebird houses were donated and placed by WBU with DPARD approval. There are now Bluebirds nesting in tree cavities around the lake every year, along with other cavity nesters, woodpeckers and owls. The number of  bird species identified at the lake has increased from around 250 and now is in the 320 range, if not more.

Where there is tall grass there are critters eating the seed and plants. Critters like rodents, no not the ones that live in buildings, field mice and rats, rabbits, box turtles, insects, raccoons, possums, and skunks, following them are the predators; lizards, snakes, raptors, coyote and bobcat. You can place the raccoon, possum and skunk in both categories by the way. They are omnivores. All have adapted to living within the urban surroundings because of the tall grass and riparian areas we have in this park.

How is this all managed...that is one of the biggest challenges faced.

Stay tuned....more to come.

Has it really been an hour since I posted that you should go to this blog and read about my response to this article http://www.dmagazine.com/…/2…/april/six-best-hikes-in-dallas

Good grief how Facebook makes the time fly. It is all the election, street repair, neighborhood, White Rock Lake, Trinity Project news that gets me so very distracted, steamed up and more and the time gets away from me.

So back to the great article by Bill Holston, a friend and fellow lover of all things nature. He had some great walks outlined for all of you to experience and some are my favs too, especially Cedar Ridge Preserve which was the Dallas Nature Center. Great trails and views. I walked there many times when Dr. Geoffrey Stanford was alive and was introduced to so many aspects of the environment just by listening and learning from him.
audubondallas.org/cedarridge.html

Another is the Scyene Overlook where I walked first with Ned Fritz and followed with many others. Ned was amazing. The man walked and talked so fast that you literally almost had to jog to keep up with him and hear what he was saying. amazing man who defended the GTF for years and was invaluable in saving the Big Thicket Preserve in East Texas from clear cutting.
http://www.dmagazine.com/publications/d-magazine/2012/may/10-top-trails-for-hiking-and-biking-in-dallas?single=1

Other places I explore are Breckinridge Park and the Spring Creek Nature Area in Richardson. Wonderful diversity of native plants to see and also after rains good wildlife tracking opportunities. Both are easy to get to and are not hard to navigate.
http://www.cor.net/index.aspx?page=39

If you have not been, you need to get down to see the Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center in Cedar Hill. This is the perfect time to go, the Dogwoods are in bloom. What is so fascinating is that this is a relic population of Dogwoods that are growing out of the chalk rock. Most Dogwoods are in need of acidic soils to be healthy and grow well, not these. Plus the birding and other native plants are awesome there, a place where east meets west as far as flora/fauna are concerned. There is a fee here, but well worth it.
http://dogwoodcanyon.audubon.org/visit-us

Another fav is the John Bunker Sands Wetland Center...great boardwalk in the one of the wetland cells and  trails to Bunker's Pond too. Talk about the diversity of wildlife...wow! Beautiful place that has a lot of meaning for me. Fee here also, but go! You will be amazed!
wetlandcenter.com

Other places I walk....and you have to realize, this is not for exercise, too much distraction for me because I am always looking at plants or tracks or scat or something else that keeps me from continuing a steady pace. Anyway that other place is White Rock Lake. Off the concrete trail are some great places to really see things like the Old Fish Hatchery area, Flag Pole Hill, and Norbuck. A few other places I know of but then you would know too much and there would be more people and I will just remain quiet and let you find those places for yourself.
http://www.dallasparks.org/235/White-Rock-Lake

Enjoy the exploration.

Spring Thaw

I don't know about you but I am more than ready for the spring thaw.

                               My backyard Mexican Plum 2012                                   Photo by: Becky Rader

It has been cold and gray here long enough, at least for me. Ready for that sunshine to come back and with it the warm air. And yes, I am fully aware that I will change my tune soon enough, don't we all?

With the changing seasons, activities pick up and the calendar fills. Same is true this year. This weekend on Saturday, March 14, Shirley Boyd and I will be at the Bath House Cultural Center for an exhibit focusing on Birds! We were invited to attend and will have a table setup from 7-9 pm during the artist's reception to sell the book, cash or check only please. Order from the blog page if using credit cards. The book is full of photos by George Boyd, who documented the flora and fauna at the lake for 30 years. Many of the images are of birds that he captured in flight, feeding, nesting or just relaxing. Beautiful. Come by to see us and say hello.We would love to see you there.

Our next event will be at the Prairies and Native Plants Day hosted by the North Texas Master Naturalist Chapter. It will take place on Saturday, May 2 from 10-3 at the Bath House Cultural Center.

In other news, Big Spring, located in the Great Trinity Forest, now has a management plan and activity will begin on invasive species removal and planting of native milkweed that was rescued from a site that was destroyed. The NTMN and the shareholders involved with the Spring will be busy next week assisting LAERF and TWM to work in the area around the spring.

On Saturday, March 28, I will lead a walk in Richardson to view the newly purchased addition to Spring Creek Nature Area. It encompasses areas that I knew as a child and visited during Girl Scout day-camps that took place there during the summer months. Beautiful area that has changed due to spread of non-native landscape plants. We will discuss those issues and walk with Roger Scott, Asst. Director of Richardson Parks and Recreation. This is a part of a wonderful program they have called Richardson Urban Naturalist Program. Join us if you can. The walk begins at 9. See below:

                 Richardson Urban Naturalist Program sets spring calendar

Five walks are planned for the spring as the City of Richardson revives its Urban Naturalist program. Each walk is $5 for adults 18 and older plus $2 for non-residents. Pre-register by calling Heights Recreation Center (972-744-7850) or Huffhines Recreation Center (972-744-7881) or go online to www.cor.net/parksonline. 

No drinking fountains or restrooms will be available on the west side of Breckinridge Park, so plan accordingly. Feel free to bring water bottles, snacks, notebooks, binoculars or cameras. Long pants and sturdy  shoes are also recommended. Each walk is restricted to 25 participants and children are encouraged to attend but must be accompanied by an adult.

 VALUE OF NATURAL OPEN SPACE

We all recognize that a walk out-doors is beneficial to our well being in so many ways. In doing so, we have established our own individual values on open space areas for giving us these opportunities. But what is the real value of preserving natural open space areas in perpetuity in a busy urban environment? We are fortunate in Richardson that the City Council has recently approved a significant expansion of Spring Creek nature Area with the acquisition of the woods at Renner Road and Plano Road. 

Becky Rader, a natural area consultant and previously the lead naturalist for the Dallas Museum of Natural History, will lead us on a tour of the newly acquired natural space around the Spring Creek Nature Area. She will explain how the expansion will provide greater public access and increased wildlife viewing opportunities, resulting in a greater connection to our natural world here in our urban environment.

March 28, 9-11 a.m.

Course Number: 82484

MEET AT FOXBORO PARK

Here is the link for all the Spring walks planned in Richardson...bottom of first page.
https://www.cor.net/modules/showdocument.aspx?documentid=12328

There is also a fabulous newsletter that goes out to those interested in our natural areas, Jim's This and That.

Jim's This and That for March 1, 2015
{ National PI day on the 14th }

Jim's This and That is a personal communication to individuals interested in the natural world -- primarily in the Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas area.  If you have comments and questions about its content or wish to receive or not receive Jim's This and That e-mails, please e-mail to

 jevarnum@aol.com

Most of the activities are free and the list is long on opportunities and places to see things in the WILD. Shocking? Not so much if you are familiar with all that our area has to offer and it is a lot. Get out there and learn, see the beauty we have that is not fertilized or groomed to perfection, listen to the sound of birds and water in a forest with the creek flowing by.

We have forgotten so much about the natural beauty that we actually have here. Time to start a new trend and get out there and enjoy it all. Pick one from Jim's list and start there. It is easy, make it a habit and join us in celebrating the arrival of Spring! : )


In memory of our crazy happy dog who passed on Monday....
Montgomery came to us as an abandoned 6 month old pup left in the backyard when his owners moved. My son named him after General Montgomery due to his look of an English Border Collie. He had smarts and talent. He was the best escape artist out there. He passed still wagging his tail at the age of 15. We will miss his happy go lucky attitude....always smiling.

More Books!

 

Another run of the book has now been proofed and ordered. This is a self published endeavor and only a few are ordered at a time. Shirley Boyd and I are learning the ropes with the help of Mary Beth Smith. It has been enlightening how it all works.

We will have 100 books available and the delivery date is Feb. 25!!! If you would like a book and missed out on the December order this is your chance! Once the shipment arrives, we will mail your book to you.

Remember that the first run sold out quickly due to the pre-order special and the book signing event at Wild Birds Unlimited, which we greatly appreciated.

We already have some orders for the next shipment. Get yours in now...order information is here. Look up on the bar...find it? Good : ) More information on ordering larger quantities can also be found there.

If you are interested in a program pertaining to the book and would like books available for signing, please contact me.

Thanks to everyone for your interest!
Becky

Here We Go Again

                                                                                                             www.flickr.com

An example of what is occurring in the Great Trinity Forest. Seems exaggerated...perhaps not.

What has happened to the appreciation for Nature? It seems that there is an ever increasing perception that nature is composed only of concrete trails with grass and trees.

There is yet another occurrence of habitat destruction in the Great Trinity Forest...now numbering so many that I have lost count. This place that has been recognized as priceless and one-of-a-kind is being torn apart in the City's quest to make it known they are BIG with the only 6,000 acre urban forest in the city.

Well make that < 6,000 acres now after thousands of trees, several prairies and numerous wetlands have been destroyed. And the tales of mitigation? Don't worry, you will never see the outcome of that in your lifetime. It has taken hundreds of years and in some instances thousands of years for these places to be formed. It is not possible that they can be recreated or replaced in just a few years.

An example and fact of this is the Leopold Prairie in Wisconsin. This is from the Aldo Leopold Archives from the University of Wisconsin Digital Collection.  http://uwdc.library.wisc.edu/collections/AldoLeopold

Aldo Leopold is considered by many to have been the most influential conservation thinker of the 20th Century. Leopold's legacy spans the disciplines of forestry, wildlife management, conservation biology, sustainable agriculture, restoration ecology, private land management, environmental history, literature, education, esthetics, and ethics. He is most widely known as the author of A Sand County Almanac, one of the most beloved and respected books about the environment ever published. The Leopold Collection houses the raw materials that document not only Leopold's rise to prominence but the history of conservation and the emergence of the field of ecology from the early 1900s until his death in 1948.

To access or cite this collection:
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/AldoLeopold  

In his book, A Sand County Almanac, he describes the effort of restoring his Sand County farmland back to the natural environment that had once existed which included forested areas and open meadows or prairie areas. After 30 years of working to re-introduce species, planting by collected seed or transplanting, using different control methods for combating unwanted species, and attempting to re-create the biodiversity that existed before, he came to the conclusion that it would never have the biodiversity it had before the land was cleared for farming. The project continues to this day.

Now we know that part of what Also Leopold discovered was due to the lack of soil micro-organisms or mycorrhizal organisms that we continue to study and discuss today. When the soil is turned over or damaged through other means and exposed to the air these essential soil organisms die. This creates an environment which makes it very difficult for restoration to succeed.

Now to get back to the latest in the saga of the Great Trinity Forest. This incident has recently taken place at the McCommas Bluff Preserve area, an area that is part of the natural preserve systems of lands set aside for protection by the City. Interesting how this now falls under Planning and Development, that is disturbing.
Here is the lovely page for you to take a look:
https://www.dallascounty.org/department/plandev/trails/tapp_philosophy.php
And the Preserve now compromised:
https://www.dallascounty.org/department/plandev/locations/09-mccommas-bluff.php

 

  www.mowildflowers.net

Example of what is now gone....

What has been brought to our attention, by the writer of Dallastrinitytrails, is the complete destruction of an area that was once a remnant of a seasonally wet prairie with Indian Paintbrush and Little Bluestem grass. Remember the discussion above on soil chemistry? The late Dr. Geoffrey Stanford, of the Dallas Nature Center...now Cedar Ridge Preserve, conducted research on Indian Paintbrush and was one of the first to discover the symbiotic,otherwise known as root semi-parasitic, relationship it had with grasses, in particular Little Bluestem. He also discovered other varieties of Indian Paintbrush that were unknown. Indian Paintbrush is extremely difficult to grow and re-establish and will be impossible with the area completely turned into nothing but bare soil criss-crossed with heavy equipment tracks in preparation for more construction. No more beneficial soil micro-organisms.

This preserve also contains an extremely important plant community of Trout Lilies, Palmetto and Texas Buckeyes, all in the vicinity of each other. All photos below from the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Image Gallery in Austin, Tx. Left to right, Trout-Lily or Dog's Tooth Violet, Palmetto, and Texas Buckeye.

          
          Photo credit:Brenda K. Loveless              Photo credit: Campbell and Lynn Loughmiller          photo credit: Brenda K Loveless
                           
This place is remarkable and possibly the only of its kind with this specific plant community. To have this priceless area in direct connection with this destroyed prairie remnant warrants an immediate response from us all. And the City was alerted to this over a year ago.....

Check out the before and after pictures of the McCommas Bluff Preserve area at Dallastrinitytrails.blogspot.com

This place cannot be re-created and was destroyed for trails?

Which would you rather do?

Ride a bike on concrete

                                 bicyclegermany.com
or

Hike and ride on dirt paths through the Great Trinity Forest


                                                                                          llaboutroswell.com

And see

Only grass and trees
or
Wildflowers, wildlife, wetlands and true habitat?

Let me know...........the short message is, "once it is gone, it stays gone."  Better hurry up to see it now.

It Is All In The Past

Have you ever wondered about the City's past, I mean a really long time ago, before it was settled, before the area was explored by the Spanish and French over 500 years ago....I mean a really, really long time ago, like oh, say, 146 million years???? Take a walk back in time...........

For example:
Did you know that this part of Texas was once part of the sea and that Mosasaurs and Giant Sea Turtles (Protostega) swam here? During much of the Cretaceous geologic period, from 146 million years ago to 65 million years ago, a shallow sea split the North American continent.....going right through what is now Texas. Huge reptiles, like the Mosasaur and Protostega, lived in that sea and dinosaurs walked next to it. Their fossils, that have been preserved for millions of years, now provide a background of our past and a source of unending educational research opportunities to understand that time in our Earth's history. It's a fact, as you can see from these photos from the Dallas Museum of Natural History, now the Perot Museum of Nature and Science.

                                Mosasaur                                                      Protostega        http://www.northtexasfossils.com/

The Mosasaur was discovered in Rockwall County, and the Protostega was found when a farmer not far from Dallas,drove his tractor over it, then realized he had struck something rather large. Viola...Protostega was found. If you look in the creek bottoms around here you are bound to find fossils of oysters and other bivalves in the limestone. My brother and I found them all of the time as kids when we explored creeks near White Rock Lake. No living oysters around here anymore........

This past week I had the pleasure of attending a presentation by two SMU students who were giving a synopsis of their projects in the Great Trinity Forest. Both did exemplary research, one on the succession of trees in the forest, and the other a study of the mammals living in the forest. The site for the studies was the Trinity River Audubon Center (TRAC) which is located on the old Deep Woods landfill, a notorious toxic dumping site. Both studies are of vital interest due to the fact that some of the area was untouched by the now cleaned up landfill providing a good comparison to the reconstituted land around the center itself. 

Both presentations ended with declarations of the fact that the GTF is an undeniably important location for continued scientific study and that great care should be taken to protect this valuable asset for our City. Sound familiar? Afterwards we were invited to a private tour of the Shuler Museum where we were taken by Dr. Louis Jacobs, President of Southern Methodist University's Institute for the Study of Earth and Man, to see some new discoveries, but especially to see the old fossils found in the gravel pits from the early 1900's that were located along the Trinity from Big Spring to TRAC, where the Horse Park and Golf Course are being built by the city. 

Why would this be important?  Because knowledge of the past is a part of the education process so that we can use best judgement on land use and future development. The sight of fossils from near the very site of the Horse Park was amazing. The old gravel pits had been a wealth of information pertaining to the period of the Pleistocene when saber toothed cats, camels, horses, mammoths, and more roamed this part of the world.

Imagine seeing the lower jaw from a new species of saber toothed cat that was unearthed in what is now referred to as the Pemberton pit. As the http://dallastrinitytrails.blogspot.com/2014/02/big-spring-in-snow-dallas-great-trinity.html has stated before, this was a spectacular discovery. Simply amazing and makes me wonder why on earth the consideration of scientific discovery was not pursued and developed upon by the City. Imagine the benefits to the education of school children, continued research by college students and dedicated scientists when these discoveries from the past could have led to a museum/interpretive center that included an active paleontology/archeology dig site? 

Sustainable development goes hand-in-hand with educational opportunity.

Dr. Louis Jacobs holding the Pemberton Pit saber toothed cat lower jaw              

dallastrinitytrails.blogspot.com

Re-Creating the Most Endangered Ecosystem in North America

Lawns Gone Wild

www.huffingtonpost.com

The total area of American lawns is approximately 50 thousand square miles, about the size of New York State. To keep it well watered takes about 200 gallons per person per day, and nearly a third of all residential water use...

Something to consider...
The section of the article referring to the use of lawn space as restoration possibilities for the tall grass prairie are right on, especially since the 12,000,000 acres of Tall Grass/Blackland Prairie that once existed in Texas are now less than 1/10 of 1% or <5,000 acres.

For those in the Dallas area and the massive Trinity project....let's think about restoration of that prairie component right here between the levees. It can be done.

The City and Corps, along with TPWD and other partners, could assist with the development of seasonal wet prairies that can withstand flooding and drought. There could be mowed trails, instead of concrete, for walking though the wildflowers and tall grasses, watching butterflies and hummingbirds, kestrels and hawks swooping to catch their next meal, environmental education opportunities would abound and more...can you just imagine what that would look like every spring/summer/fall? A changing seasonal palette of color. Gorgeous...who needs to drive to the Hill Country when we would have that in our own backyard? And it all would be beside the Trinity River. This would drive eco-tourism, a $16B industry in the state according to TPWD, and become an economic factor all the while improving the local environment and restoring what was here for thousands of years, but has almost disappeared.

 

                  Imagine the beauty of the prairie that the early Texans saw to the horizon    Photo by NPAT

The benefits for adding back to the most endangered ecosystem in North America would be a significant bonus. Right now TPWD is working with land owners and municipalities encouraging them to consider the enormous benefits of native tall grass prairies for water retention, drought tolerant native plants, importance for pollinators, endemic birds that require grasslands to survive and thrive, wetland birds, clean air, water filtration and so many more benefits that would justify a project such a this.

It could be that sea of grass and wildflowers, or a ribbon of it, that those first Spanish and French explorers saw when they came through this area over 500 years ago. Something to consider and just imagine the possibilities....

 Blackland Prairie remnant/Dallas         photo by Becky Rader

 

The USACE has extended the deadline for comments on the final EIS statement for the Dallas Floodway/Trinity River project. Make sure that you send in your comments before Feb. 2.

"In response to resource agency request for additional review time, USACE has prepared a 15-day extension notice for the Dallas Floodway Project Final EIS Notice of Availability." Send your response to marcia.r.hackett@usace.army.mil

Borrowed this one from yesterday to post here on the blog. Great comeback.

They are back in our area too! Check out the live camera at JBS Wetland Center.

Today our Throwback Thursday post takes us to 1963, when there were only 417 nesting pairs of bald eagles in the lower-48 states. Once on the brink of extinction, here’s the remarkable comeback story of our national bird: http://bit.ly/1sDnrRc

We are Making History!

Big Spring in the Snow - DallasTrinityTrails.blogspot.com

I really can't watch anymore....come on Cowboys!

Better do this and get the mind off the game.

We are making history! How is that you ask?

If you have been keeping up with the blog, though I have been rather slow in writing, you have seen information about Big Spring. Yes, a Spring that still flows in Dallas. Books have been written about the number of springs in Texas, but this area was not covered well due to the fact that too many springs here were already gone and others were unknown or had been forgotten.

Oh no, I saw the final score. Good try guys...

So back to the history making part. If you live in Dallas you will be aware of the Preservation for historical structures and places like Fair Park for all of the fabulous art work and buildings, love that place! But never has a place without structures been designated an Historical Landmark, until now, well almost.

For the past 2 years we have been working to establish long lasting recognition for Big Spring due to its historical connection with Dallas. Margaret Beeman Bryan and John Neely Bryan, credited with the founding of Dallas, lived there after the Civil War. Margaret sold it to the Pemberton family. Billy Ray and Zada Pemberton still own part of that land today. The Spring section was purchased by the City of Dallas (COD) from another part of the Pemberton family. This important connection makes it a place to be preserved and protected.

               Billy Ray Pemberton, Jill Jordan COD, and MC Toyer, descendant of the Beeman family

                                                                                                      photo by dallastrinitytrails.blogspot.com

We asked the COD how to make that happen and with the help of Mark Doty, senior planner for City of Dallas Historic Preservation, the Dallas Landmark Designation is in the works of being finalized. This is a new approach for the Department and the City to recognize that there are very special areas of Dallas, sans buildings, that should be recognized for their place in our history. It has also been speculated that the Spring Sam Houston visited, recorded in his journal on his way to Byrds Fort to sign a treaty with the Indians, was in fact Big Spring. History here in the Great Trinity Forest.

We are working with the City and LAERF to make sure that this place will be here for all of us to enjoy and that we will continue to learn about the history, both the natural history and settlement history, of this beautiful place. We call ourselves the Pemberton Preservation League, a loosely formed group of individuals that have degrees in areas ranging from Archaeology, Paleontology, Wildlife Biology, Education, Finance, Engineering, Construction and more. Some are retired but many are not. Some have military backgrounds. The common thread is the connection with the land and the desire to preserve our history. On we continue to make it happen.

Finally Arriving!!!

                                                                                                                                                                                              

The book that is.....

The release for the book will take place at the Wild Birds Unlimited Store on Mockingbird@Abrams this Saturday, December 20th, from 12-2.  Shirley Boyd and I are both so excited that it is finally happening.

George worked at this store during his "retirement" and Ron has been gracious enough to allow us to be there to share the book with you.

The book is a compilation of 30 years of photographic documentation from George Boyd of the Flora and Fauna around White Rock Lake that represents the urban flora and fauna of this region.  It is not a guide book of the various and numerous species, but is instead an introduction to the necessary requirements for the survival of all species found in our region.  Habitat is the most important criteria for that survival.

It was the intent of the authors that children, students and adults that are interested in learning about the living beauty of the lake have a book that can guide them on the best places to view and recognize the wildlife, help them learn how to protect the habitat and to become good land stewards of our lake and park. 

Hope to see you there!

6333 E. Mockingbird Ln. Ste 101
Dallas, TX  75214
(214) 821-7400
wbuofeastdallas@sbcglobal.net
http://eastdallas.wbu.com/

The Art of Nature

    Sunrise                                                                                                                                                                                    Photo by Becky

This last week was a whirlwind of exciting events including the visit to Big Springs with Dr. Andrew Sansom.  A friend wrote about it on his blog and I really couldn't add more, other than my own perspective watching this occur and being a part of it.  See his blog here. http://dallastrinitytrails.blogspot.com/2014/12/texas-water-conservation-in-focus-at.html

A few from the group of supporters for the preservation of Big Spring met with Dr. Sansom before his program at TRAC for the Annual NTMN Awards Meeting.  The attention, suggestions, advice, and so much more could not have been more appreciated by our group.  This man graciously gave his time and expertise to us so that we can continue to do the best for the preservation of the Spring and the area around it.  There is much more study and hydrological research to be done to make sure that this site is protected and continues as a living symbol of the early settlement history of Dallas.

So how does art fit into this?  It was all around us while we were there.  The changing colors of the foliage, sunlight reflecting off the water, leaves floating on the surface of the spring fed pond, the trickle of the water as it flowed from the upper pond to the lower before it flowed to Bryan's Slough then on to White Rock Creek and the Trinity, eventually making its way into the Gulf of Mexico.  The sound was mesmerizing.  Add to that the voices all around us of the birds, it was nearing twilight and they were having the final say-so before the last of the daylight left them in the enveloping darkness.  There was a slight chill to the air and the sounds it carried brought a sense of peacefulness, as if in the serenade before nightfall we were being thanked for what we are trying to do.  My interpretation....

                                          Eastern Bluebirds on Cedar Fence                                      Photo by Becky

Artists have interpreted nature since man began drawing on cave walls the animals they saw and hunted.  We try to replicate the sounds of nature with musical instruments, which brings to mind the music from "Peter and the Wolf".  Poetry and songs are written that include nature, 'I think that I shall never see...' and 'from the mountains, to the prairies, to the oceans white with foam'...... and some buildings are constructed so as to bring nature within, compliments of the great architect, Frank Lloyd Wright.

In spite of the industrialization, the constant covering of the land with concrete and metal we still seek to find our solace and reason for being through our connection with nature.  The natural world transfixes us when we take the time to watch the darkness of the night sky surrender slowly across the horizon to the breaking dawn.

I cannot imagine being without this connection to the natural world around us.  When you look for the art of nature you will be surprised at the places you will find it and how often you will see it.  It is all around us.

Two examples from the Hall of State fabulous collection of art work.  These were designed by the John Livers Lighting Company and represent the native flora of our state, a stylized Yucca bloom stalk as a finial on one of the exquisite floor lamps and Prickly Pear cactus and grasses on the famous Longhorn Sconces at the Great Hall entrance.  Beautiful!

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!