Announcement

GPARD Surveys heading your way…

          You might not be aware, because we don’t mention it nearly often enough, the Society is dependent on the Garland Parks and Recreation Department. As a volunteer group doing projects on city and county property, GPARD advises on and approves every activity we propose. Our work with the department is based on an agreement created waaaay back in 1989; and the agreement won’t expire for another 60ish years! The Society and GPARD have a long history of trust and being in sync about what needs to be done in the Preserve.

          The above information is all lead-in to tell you that GPARD has partnered with a business professor at UNT to do a user satisfaction survey and therefore you might receive 3 emails from GPARD starting mid-July. Now you won’t be confused and wondering why you received the surveys. We hope you will participate.        

Monthly Meetings & Guest Speaker

Date: Tuesday, September 6, 2022
Time: 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Location: Zoom – https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89187002517?pwd=Ujc1UTEyVjNNbDhUUFJYMjFCV2lNdz09

Meeting ID: 891 8700 2517
Passcode: 212786

Guest Speaker: Dr. Jaime Baxter-Slye

Topic: The Pollination Prairie: How Undergraduates Reconstructed a Texas Native Prairie and How You Can Too

Dr. Jaime Baxter-Slye is an ecologist that works at the University of North Texas as an Advanced Environmental Research Institute Scholar in the Department of Biological Sciences. She supervises the Biology Ecology Laboratory and Environmental Science lab courses for undergraduates.

She is the advisor for the UNT chapter of the Society for Ecological Restoration, a member of the UNT Bee Campus committee, Tree Campus Committee, Bird Campus Committee and belongs to the Trinity Forks Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas.

She and her students have worked to reconstruct a native Texas prairie called the UNT Pollination Prairie located on the UNT campus.

Her hobby is iNaturalist where she discovers new species at home/work and identifies cousins of known taxa. She uses iNaturalist as a teaching and learning tool in the classroom. Professor Baxter-Slye has over 11,500 observations of 2200+ species and 18,000+ identifications.

The focus of her research is urban prairie habitat conservation and undergraduate success. 

Look for interesting speakers are lined up for the 2022-23 year

Tuesday, October 4, 2022 – To be announced

Special Events

An Evening with Moths – an event for the whole family

Saturday, July 23 
Time: 8:30 p.m. until we get tired
Location: 1770 Holford Road

We will set up several stations with light-sheets on which the night insects, including moths, will land. Our experts will be on hand to identify and point out the amazing intricacies of each species. We will also probably see a snake or two traveling through the area, so everyone is instructed to be alert and only look at our marvelous creatures, so they aren’t injured.  

Bird Walks led by Master Birder Reba Collins
Saturday, November 26 and Sunday, November 27
Time: 8:00 – 9:30 a.m.
Location: 1787 Holford Road, Garland, TX.
What birds are in Spring Creek Preserve in late fall? Come for a morning walk and find out.

• For both days, reservations are required. Groups are limited to 10 people per walk because too many people scare away the birds. Contact Reba at rcollins20@verizon.net to reserve a spot.
• Bring binoculars. Dress for the weather. If it has been raining, rain boots may be appropriate.

Christmas is for the Birds – 12th Annual
Saturday, December 3, 1787 Holford, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
          This is a super-fun event for pre-school or elementary school children. Bring them to the Park Preserve where they make biodegradable bird feeders out of peanut butter and bird seed, then they hang the feeders in our forest. Yes, be prepared to get a bit messy.

4th Sunday Nature Walks

September 25, 2022: Tom Hendrick – Geocaching
Time: 2:00 p.m. – 3:00
Location: 1787 Holford

Tom Hendrick will take us Geocaching in the Preserve, including “how-to geocache” for those who need it. Tom has been geocaching since 2013 and has found geocaches around the world (17 countries, 41 US States).

The Society is hosting this walk to support of the new Garland History Geo Tour that launches September 17 in downtown Garland. The Geo Tour is a family friendly experience that will take you on a history filled adventure around the city. You will explore Garland’s historic downtown, many of Garland’s parks, our own Spring Creek Preserve and other historically significant locations across the city.

Next

• Sunday, July 24, 2022. No walk – too hot!
• Sunday, August 28, 2022. No walk – too hot!
• Sunday, October 23, 2022. Halff Park at Ranger Drive – Bill Holston will take you on a hike through the Big Trees
• November 27, 2022, 1770 Holford – Eva Gardiner helps you find The Fungus Among Us
• December – No walk.

For a fun walk on your own, try our Self-Guided Interpretive Trail at 1787 Holford Road that was created by the North Texas Master Naturalist chapter in Dallas. Follow the trail markers and read about the significance of the area on your iPhone or on the downloadable flyer. https://springcreekforest.org/interpretive-1787-holford-rd/ 

Monthly Work Sessions

Saturday, July 9, 2022
Time: 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 Note time change to try to beat the heat.
Location: 1770 Holford

For last-minute information, check Facebook or our website for updates, including dates and locations which may change because of conditions. We don’t want anyone working in the forest or on the prairie if there is a chance of lightning strikes.

As usual we will break into teams. Each team has a knowledgeable volunteer, so you know exactly what to do. You could be clearing trails, taking out invasive plants, opening up the prairies, even picking up trash. For last-minute information, especially if the weather is questionable, check our website or Facebook page for updates, including dates and locations which may change because of conditions. We don’t want anyone working in the forest or on the prairie if there is a chance of lightning strikes.

• Safety Materials: Each work session begins with a safety briefing. BRING WATER. Even in the heat, wear heavy work gloves, long pants, protective eyewear, and sturdy shoes (no sandals) for your protection from poison ivy and thorns.
• If you have them, bring loppers and/or small tree saws.
• 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, this may count as Volunteer Hours on the Preservation Society for Spring Creek Forest project.

Next

• Saturday, August 6, 2022 8:00 – 10:00
• Saturday, September 10, 2022

General Preserve Information

The above activities are specific to the Preservation Society for Spring Creek Forest.
For general Preserve information, please call Garland Parks and Recreation Department, 972-205-2750.
Dog Policy
On-leash dogs are welcome in our Preserve. However, note that it is illegal to have off-leash pets in Garland parks. Please call 972-205-3570, option 1 to report off-leash animals. Also, please deposit pet waste bags in the trash bins in each parking lot; do not leave bagged pet waste beside the trail.

Collections From The Field

An art project encourages people of all ages to get outside and create art inspired by Spring Creek Preserve.
For information and to view the curated gallery, go to CollectionsFromTheField.com and follow the project on Facebook (Facebook.com/collectionsfromthefield)  or Instagram (Instagram.com/collectionsfromthefield).
 

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