Preservation Society for Spring Creek Forest

Guest Speaker

Tuesday, March 2, 2021 7:00 p.m.
Location: Zoom in and sit comfortably and safely at home watching our speaker. 
Link: TBA
Meeting ID: TBA
Passcode: TBA

Jessica Crowley – Frogs
          

Get outside and walk during Covid restrictions

  • Important information: Avoid groups, wear mask as needed.
  • The natural-surface trails are not stroller-compatible; everyone must be able to walk approximately 1 mile. Clothing: Even in the heat, wear long pants and sturdy shoes (no sandals) for your protection from poison ivy and thorns. Apply insect repellent. Bring water. .
  • Our guided walks every 4th Sunday of the month are fun, family walks, appropriate for anyone who wants to enjoy a guided walk in the Preserve.

Collections From The Field

An art project encourages people of all ages to get outside and create art inspired by Spring Creek Preserve. While exploring the trails at the preserve, find inspiration in nature and create art using any medium. Then submit your art by either posting a photo or document of your art on social media with the tag #collectionsfromthefield or emailing a photo or document of your art to collectionsfromthefield@gmail.com.
 
For information about weekly prompts and to view the curated gallery, go to CollectionsFromTheField.com and follow the project on Facebook (Facebook.com/collectionsfromthefield) or Instagram (Instagram.com/collectionsfromthefield).
 
Initiated by Stephanie Hanson, a Garland resident and college senior, Collections From The Field provides the opportunity to find new ways to look at the world. Hanson says, “This project hopes to offer the idea that sometimes building a relationship with the landscape through art is a first step towards creating an ethic of care that will help us tackle the environmental issues we face today.”
 
Please follow all CDC recommendations and guidelines, as well as City of Garland regulations regarding visiting city parks and protected lands.

Speaker Series

Monthly Public Speaker Series: the 1st Tuesday of the month from September to April.   These are the Spring plans.

  • Meeting Time: 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
  • Location:  information to come
  • Tuesday, April 6, 2021: Kevin Rudy – Texas Snakes
  • Summer break
  • For Master Naturalists, this often counts as 1 hour Advanced Training, but check the MN schedule to be sure.

Do you have suggestions? If you have ideas for speakers or topics for future programs, please email your suggestions to Becky Sans, beckysans7@gmail.com.

Monthly Work Sessions

Saturday March 6

Come to our work session at TBA
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
          We will break into teams and do multiple projects. Each team will have a knowledgeable volunteer so you know exactly what to do.
          This is still the season when we can most aggressively attack invasive privet because privet is evergreen while most understory plants in our forest are deciduous. Therefore we can easily identify the privet.

  • No problem staying 6 feet apart – there is plenty of space. It will make you feel like a new person to get out in the middle of nature and help the Preserve. Face masks are required, at least while you check in. After that, if you have enough space, you can remove the mask.
  • BRING WATER. Wear heavy work gloves, long pants, protective eye-wear, and sturdy shoes (no sandals) for your protection from poison ivy and thorns.  If you have them, bring loppers and/or small tree saws. And, don’t forget, face masks are required.
  • All participants and the parents of minors must sign our Liability Waiver.  All minors 16 yrs. and younger must be accompanied by an adult.  For Master Naturalists, normally this counts as Volunteer Hours on the Preservation Society for Spring Creek Forest project, but check your MN chapter current guideline
  • Upcoming dates:
    • Saturday, April 10, 2021
    • Saturday, May 8, 2021

4th Sunday Nature Walks

Time: 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
The locations of 4th-Sunday Nature Walks will vary throughout the Preserve depending on the subject of the walk. Be sure to check the latest announcements.

  • Sunday, March 28, 2021. Leader: Terry Comingore – Weather and Climate
  • Sunday, April 25. 2021. Leader Kevin Rudy
  • Sunday, May 23, 2021. Leader: Judy Aschner – Insects in our Preserve

Bioblitz at the Preserve

To celebrate Parks Week, we will hold a Bioblitz May 1 and 2. We invite you to come help identify as many species as possible at the Preserve. Don’t know one plant from another? That is OK. You will use the free iNaturalist app to take pictures of plants, insects and animals and the app helps identify the item instantly. This Citizen Science activity helps us identify organisms which are essential to our ecosystem. The goal is to record a variety of species, so find organisms that look interesting to you, take a couple of photos using the app and turn them in.  It is best to take two pictures from different angles if possible. Make sure you pictures are in focus!
 
In advance, go to iNaturalist to download the free app to your cell phone and/or computer. You must be 13 or older to have an account.  To read about how it works before the event, go to iNaturalist.org.
 
If you would like help getting started, we will have a representative available between 10:00 and 12:00 both days at the 1770 Holford Road parking lot. But plant identifications can be made on your own throughout the day and anywhere in the Preserve. The more variety that is recorded on the iNaturalist site during those two days, the better.
 
Join us to help increase the biodiversity count at the Preserve, have fun, and learn about the Preserve.
 
Location:  1770 Holford
Date: May 1 and 2
Time: 10 a.m. to 12 noon if you need help.

Do you have suggestions? If you have ideas for speakers or topics for future programs, please email your suggestions to Becky Sans, beckysans7@gmail.com.

Society MembershipMembership: Join Us Today! Download our membership form: https://springcreekforest.org/join/

Monthly Email: To subscribe please contact:
Barbara_Baynham2005@yahoo.com

Make a donation! Your donation helps the all-volunteer Preservation Society for Spring Creek Forest offer public lectures, conduct habitat management workdays, and offer public nature walks. Please mail your tax-deductible donation to: Preservation Society for Spring Creek Forest, Attn:  Treasurer, P.O. Box 450176, Garland, TX 75045-0176