Gardening

Interested in bees?  In beekeeping?  Come on over to the December 13 meeting of the Blackland Prairie chapter of Texas Master Naturalist.  BPTMN offers a program will feature experienced beekeepers from the Collin County Hobby Beekeepers Association, one of the most active beekeeping groups in the nation.  Kaylynn Mansker, recent Texas Honey Queen, will talk about the family approach to backyard beekeeping.  A.P. Warne, a past President of the Beekeeping Association and a small-scale honey producer, will describe the challenges that bees and beekeepers face today.  And Becky Bender will highlight planting and conserving native habitat for honeybees.  Local honey will be on hand for tasting and purchase.

Indian Trail Chapter of the TX Master Naturalists Meeting

Presentation  Invasive plants may spread from yard and garden into the neighborhood and further.  An area may look lovely, covered with flowers or blooming in our front yards; but, many imported plants have a dark, aggressive side, escaping from the garden to run amuck in parks and native areas.  With no controls or adversaries to halt them, they may take over the forest or prairie, completely dominating the native plants.  Rio Brazos Master Naturalist Marilyn Sallee will focus her presentation on invasives in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Chapter web site - http://txmn.org/indiantrail 

Join Texas Master Naturalist and Environmental Scientist, Rich Jaynes, to explore and understand the management plans for the four habitat areas of the Connemara Meadow Preserve - a riparian zone along Rowlett Creek that is important as a wildlife corridor; the floodplain grasslands and wetlands in the lower meadow, the hedgerows along perimeter and interior fence lines established during agricultural use, and upland grasslands are located in the upper meadow which has a terrace system from earlier agricultural use.  The walk is planned to take about two hours.  All ages are welcome.

Please RSVP to RSVP@connemaraconservancy.org 

As populations increase and water supplies decrease, the awareness of water conservation is steadily rising.  Rainwater harvesting is an ancient technique for providing water to humans, gardens and livestock used across the planet since the dawn of time.  Contemporary generations take the rainfall for granted and treat runoff as a problem instead of an asset. Harvested rainwater provides water for our growing demand and also mitigates stormwater issues. Dr. Dotty Woodson, Extension Program Specialist - Water Resources will be teaching about the understanding the overall water cycle and looking at the effects of rainwater harvesting on the environment.

To register - visit http://dallas.tamu.edu/courses/nov-10-2011-rainwater-harvesting/ 

Note:  There are two identical workshops on November 9 and 10.  The November 9 workshop will be held at Texas TAMU Agricultural Research & Extension Ctr.

The Texas Watershed Steward program is a free, one-day educational workshop designed to help watershed residents improve and protect their water resources by getting involved in local watershed protection and management activities.

The workshop will provide an overview of water quality and watershed management in Texas. It will primarily focus on water quality issues in the City of Dallas Watersheds.

Pre-register for the workshop by going to: http://tws.tamu.edu 

Note:  There are two identical workshops on November 9 and 10.  The November 10 workshop will be held at Trinity River Audubon Center.

The Texas Watershed Steward program is a free, one-day educational workshop designed to help watershed residents improve and protect their water resources by getting involved in local watershed protection and management activities.

The workshop will provide an overview of water quality and watershed management in Texas. It will primarily focus on water quality issues in the City of Dallas Watersheds.

Pre-register for the workshop by going to: http://tws.tamu.edu 

Screening of the movie "Grow!" by Slow Money, a non-profit dedicated to building and supporting the local sustainable food system. Free but donations requested.

Grow! is a great introduction to local farming issues and why people choose to farm, the rewards and the sacrifices. Two film makers spent an entire growing season with 20 farmers and two apprentices on 12 different farms in Georgia. This is their story.

There is parking located along Jefferson which is surprisingly quiet after 6pm as well as two lots close to the theater. The first one is located in the Bank of Texas in between Zang and Madison along Centre street. The second lot is located behind the theater on Sunset avenue also between Madison and Zang. This is generally an overflow lot that we use for valet services when needed, Jefferson is usually sufficient for most performances.

Walk through Twelve Hills Nature Center with Master Naturalist Dan Northcut and learn about the Blackland Prairie Ecosystem.  Look at plants indigenous to this area and some that invaded; see what survived the summer heat and what works well in home landscaping.

Location: North Oak Cliff at 817 N. Mary Cliff Road, Dallas TX 75208
Questions and to RSVP: contact Marcie Haley  marcieh@gmail.com  214-941-6069
Webpage: www.twelvehills.org