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