Our mission: To protect the future of Spring Creek Forest and Park Preserves, the Society will engage community members in hands-on conservation volunteerism and offer educational events highlighting the importance of safeguarding this natural treasure that is in Garland, Texas.

Monthly Meetings & Guest Speaker

Date: Tuesday, January 3, 2023
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: Ricky Linex

Topic: Riparian Management “Why Creeks Act the Way They Do”

Riparian management means managing the land that is impacted by a creek or river. It is often designated flood plain. Our entire Preserve is riparian land. We are lucky to have Spring Creek as the foundation of our Preserve. It has water year-round and is one of the cleanest creeks in Dallas County. Starting up in Frisco, it meanders south through Collin County to Dallas County. About where it reaches Lavon Highway and the George Bush Tollway, it merges into Rowlett Creek, which then flows into Lake Ray Hubbard.
Ricky Linex retired in 2021 as a wildlife biologist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service and works as a range and wildlife consultant. With NRCS Linex worked 52 counties in north central Texas covering the Rolling Plains, Cross Timbers, Blackland Prairie and Post Oak Savannah vegetational regions. He worked 38.5 years with NRCS in Goldthwaite, Snyder, Abilene, and Weatherford. He is the author of Range Plants of North Central Texas, A Land Users Guide to Their Identification, Value and Management, a plant identification book for Texas. Range Plants was recognized in 2015 as an outstanding publication by the Texas Chapter-The Wildlife Society, the Native Plant Society of Texas, and the Texas Section-Society for Range Management.

Interesting speakers lined up for the 2022-23 year

February 7, 2023 – Dana Wilson – Unique wildflowers of the Metroplex
March 7, 2023 – Jeff Sargent – Texas Prairies
April 4, 2023 – Stephanie Varnum – Topic to be announced
May 2, 2023 – Jerry Alcorn – Bees

Congratulations to our board president, David Parrish!

          On October 18 at the Garland City Council meeting, the city of Garland’s Environmental and Community Advisory Board (ECAB) recognized David for his environmental work in the Garland community. David was presented with a well-earned Special Recognition Award.
          David wears many hats – he is our Society president, a member of North Texas Master Naturalists with an outlandish number of volunteer hours recorded, the Chair of the Garland Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, and incredibly much more. We are so lucky to have him for our president!
          Thank you, David, for your continued leadership and for your commitment to the natural world.

Parking at Halff Park – new rules include towing

          Garland Parks and Recreation Department installed new parking signs at the Halff Park at Ranger Drive parking lot regarding parking during the school day.

          Any cars parked at Halff Park during the school day for over 3 hours will be towed. So, when you are visiting the Preserve on a school day using Halff Park as your base, make sure you return to your car within 3 hours.

          This is to discourage students from Naaman Forest High School who are parking there for free, rather than buying a student parking sticker. So many students try parking there for free that there are no spaces left for park visitors. The hotels and other businesses in the area already have similar rules. Enforcement started on October 17.
          The restriction on time and the towing possibility is only for the Halff Park parking lot. You can park at the 1770 and 1787 Holford Road parking areas all day until the park closes at midnight.

Special Events

Start the New Year Right Nature Walk

Date: Sunday, January 1, 2023
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Location: Halff Park on Ranger Drive
Our leader is David Parrish. (Maybe that name sounds familiar. LOL See above.) The trail leading from Halff Park takes us through some of the biggest trees in the Preserve. This is also the most wild section. After walking a few yards into the forest, it is hard to believe that civilization is just a few steps away.

Bird Walks led by Master Birder Reba Collins

Saturday, January 14 and Sunday, January 15
Time: 8:00 – 9:30 a.m.
Location: 1787 Holford Road, Garland, TX.
What birds are in Spring Creek Preserve in winter? Come for a morning walk and find out.

For each day, 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.

4th Sunday Nature Walks

January 22, 2022: Dana Wilson shows us how to identify trees in winter
Time: 2:00 p.m. – 3:30
Location: 1770 Holford

Dana is known throughout north Texas for her expertise in identifying plants and works tirelessly to inform folks about the treasures we have in the region. She worked for the National Audubon Society for the openings of Trinity River Audubon (Dallas) and Dogwood Canyon Audubon (Cedar Hill). Her long-time love of plants led her to her current job at North Haven Gardens.
She is a member of the North Texas Master Naturalists (class of 2001), the Native Plant Society of Texas, and has been on the boards of our Preservation Society and Texas Discovery Gardens.

Next

December – No walk. See above Special Events for Jan. 1
February 26, 2023 – 30^th Annual Trout Lily Walk Tom Frey
March 26, 2023 – Bob Richie – Spring Edible Plants
April 23, 2023 – Ricky Lines – Riparian Management “Why Creeks Act the Way They Do”
May 28, 2023 – It might be too hot already. We’ll see.

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, January 14, 2023
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 11:00
Location: 1770 Holford

We will work on the Trout Lily Trail.
(Note that starting January, we are establishing each work session on the 2^nd Saturday of the month.)

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.

February 11, 2023, 1770 Holford, 9:00 – 11:00
March 11, 2023, 1787 Holford, 9:00 – 11:00
April 8, 2023, Halff Park on Ranger Drive, 9:00 – 11:00
May 13, 2023, 1787 Holford, 9:00 – 11:00 with a Bring-Your-Own-Picnic at 11:00

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

Preservation Society for Spring Creek Forest