Wildlife

Tim Dalbey (& possibly Jim Flood) has graciously offered to take us on another field trip. This time to view the blooming Buckeyes along the Texas Buckeye Trail. They've offered to guide us Sunday, March 22 at 10am, weather permitting.

"The Texas Buckeye Trail is a natural surface nature trail that meanders into the Trinity River's hardwood bottomland forest. Trail destinations include the River Overlook and the Buckeye Grove. Both paths will lead you to the river's edge deep into the forest surrounded by mature Bur Oak, Cedar Elm and Pecan trees. This trail provides the hiker a true wild outdoor experience less than four miles from downtown Dallas!"

The hike will last 2-3 hours. Trails range from flat and easy to hilly and moderately difficult.  Bring a picnic lunch for later.

Wear hiking boots or sturdy walking shoes and a hat. Bring a small daypack with at least 32 oz of water and a trail snack or GORP (good ole raisins and peanuts).

All proceeds benefit Green Source DFW, Cedar Ridge Preserve and Explorers Academy, a nonprofit entity  founded to assist adverturers of all ages and economic backgrounds enjoy the outdoors. $20. 

RSVP: Wendel Withrow, wendel@withrowlaw.com, 214-287-1046. 

Earth Day Texas (formerly, Earth Day Dallas) is an annual, outdoor festival seeking to elevate environmental awareness and influence the way Texans think, live and work. The family-friendly and free-admission event allows leaders in the corporate, academic and non-profit worlds to unite and show Texans how green lifestyle choices can lower their cost of living, improve their health, and help save the environment.

The heart of the festival is the Eco Expo where exhibitors will use their presence to promote their achievements as green leaders, and teach attendees how to take environmentally responsible action by better utilizing available resources, switching to eco-friendly products, or joining their organizations.

The only thing Molly likes more than chocolate cake is to see a gigantic pile of privet, so lets give her her wish. You may come and go, work or goof off; you decide. Lunch and cake at Mijo's at 12:30.

What to Bring - work gloves and your favorite loppers, shovel, or gardening tools.

What to Wear - Long sleeves and pants, gloves, hat and a smile. 

Water, hot beverages, and snacks will be available.

O.S. Gray Natural Area has no restroom facilities, but Kroger is nearby

Info: friendsofosgray@gmail.com

Get back to nature with us on May 16 at The Nature Conservancy’s Clymer Meadow Wildflower Tour. This 1,400-acre preserve contains one of the last remnants of the Blackland Prairie, an ecosystem that once stretched from the Texas coast to southern Manitoba. Catch a glimpse of many rare plant species as well as three very rare prairie types, or bring your guidebook and turn an eye to the sky for birdwatching. Pack a picnic lunch and a beverage, and bring the whole family!

Info: Chan Glidewell at brice.glidewell@tnc.org. 

Directions:

The tour will start with the Clymer Meadow Preserve and include a trip to Tridens Prairie in Lamar County, near Paris, Texas. Clymer Meadow Preserve is located at 6210 CR 1140, Celeste, Texas 75423. Parking will be on the road verge and participants will walk a short distance to the tour starting point. Around 1pm and after lunch, we will caravan to Tridens Prairie Preserve, a strikingly different type of prairie near Paris.

Directions from Dallas via I-30: 

Plan to attend one or both of our seminars Saturday, March 21, at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center Auditorium (Building E), 17360 Coit Road, Dallas 75252. Click here for directions and a list of nearby restaurants. 

Plan to attend one or both of the following free seminars. Landscape designer and author Bonnie Reese of Beautiful Landscapes will be the speaker at both sessions. Attendees at each session will receive a copy of Ms. Reese’s book, “Common- Sense Landscaping” (hard copy or electronic version - limit one per household). Attendees can also enter a drawing for free bags of GreenSense organic fertilizer from Rohde’s Nursery and Nature Store. There will be 3 drawings per session. 

Water-Wise Landscape Design 101

9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Whether you have a new landscape or plan to update an existing area, it is critical to begin with a good design. This program teaches the principles of landscape design with an emphasis on how to create a beautiful landscape that will save resources - natural and financial! 

Fantastic Plants for North Texas

1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Join the Dallas Trekkers on March 21 for a true wild outdoor experience just 4 miles from downtown Dallas. Long pants and hiking shoes are recommended for hiking on the less traveled trails in the forest.

The hike starts in the beautiful manicured grounds of William Blair Jr. Park where your will find a fishing pond and a spectacular view of downtown Dallas. Start the walk with hike around the pond on a paved trail, take the optional Mural Loop, and then go over the levee to the Trinity Forest. Both the 5K and 10K routes explore the forest and area around a lake with a distinctive shape that local hikers have dubbed the Bart Simpson Lake.

The 10K route continues to the Texas Buckeye Trail. This paved and natural surface trail meanders into the Trinity River's hardwood bottomland forest and to the Trinity River's edge. The bottomland forest is full of mature Buckeye, Bur Oak, Cedar Elm and Pecan trees. With luck, the walk will coincide with the spring bloom of the white Buckeye flowers.

Start hiking: 8-11am, Finish: By 2pm

$3.

Info: DallasTrekkers.org or Dianne Duke, d.w.duke@live.com, 214-368-9730.

Craft food, drinks, music, live auction...and more. Special guests Angela Hunt& Wylie H Dallas

All proceeds will be used to support anti-tollroad candidates for the Dallas City Council. $50.

Presenter is Carole Clark.

Info: kayleetl@sbcglobal.net

Join a park ranger in art projects that help you learn about Texas and discover more about the land and wildlife you may see on a visit to a state park. Activities may include coloring, drawing and painting. Supplies are provided and all ages are encouraged to attend. Free with park admission. Info: 972-291-3900.