Preservation Society for Spring Creek Forest

September 1, 7:00 p.m. is our first regular meeting of the fall.
You sit comfortably and safely at home watching our speakers, Rick and Lisa Travis.  Beginning with a short lesson called “First Steps in Tree ID”, they focus on native north Texas trees that are most valuable to wildlife as haven, food source, and host plant.
 
Not only that, but Rick and Lisa volunteered to follow up the presentation by leading our 4th Sunday Nature Walk on September 27.  Come to the Preserve at 1770 Holford, 2:00 p.m., and learn how to ID native north Texas trees up close and in person.

     
 

 Rick has a Bachelors’ Degree in Forest Management and an MBA, both from Stephen F. Austin State University. Now retired from his business career, Rick is fulfilling a long-deferred desire for involvement in the environmental sciences. He is an active member of the Blackland Prairie Texas Master Naturalist Chapter, a member of the City of Frisco’s Urban Forestry Board, and a volunteer trail guide at several places, including the Heard Wildlife Sanctuary, the Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area (LLELA), and Frisco parks and nature trails.

   Lisa is a happily retired teacher and member of the Blackland Prairie Texas Master Naturalist chapter, class of 2018. She’s a nature educator at the Heard Sanctuary, a trail guide at LLELA, and a Project WILD trainer/facilitator. Lisa is an iNaturalist fanatic, with over 10,000 observations, and over 15,000 identifications made for others. She’s a volunteer curator on the site and presents iNaturalist training sessions for the community as well as for fellow Master Naturalists. She’s interested in all things nature, but her main focus is on plants, and especially tree

Link to Rick & Lisa’s tree brochure for the talk on trees Tuesday: Tree Brochure Printable.pdf

Native Trees of North Texas Video (1:45): https://www.dropbox.com/sh/apoa9d88w7yeq02/AABRPcXJ4w98zt6ZHf5dQBI1a?dl=0

Native Tree of North Texas Slide Deck: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yG59nt2CeUaSpZERWo5TlNnf9RjpzNjg/view?usp=drive_web

Trout Lilly in bloom

Trails

During the Covid-19 safety activities, getting outdoors can have positive effects on mind and body. Please get outside an enjoy the Preserve’s trails while still practicing social distancing. A map of the trails is available here. A map to the guided interpretive trail is available here.

Collections from the Field

Collections from the Field is a place-based community project that works at the intersection of art and the environment to offer a place for artistic contemplation, idea sharing, and reflection on the natural beauty of Spring Creek Forest Preserve located in Garland, Texas. This site functions as an online gallery space that emulates the creative storytelling of a field notebook to showcase art done by people like you that reflects the beauty, history, and ecology of Spring Creek Forest Preserve. View more at http://collectionsfromthefield.com/.

Monthly Work Session

Saturday, September 5, come to our work session at 1770 Holford. Just two hours in the cool of the morning – 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.  No problem staying 6 feet apart – there is plenty of space and it will make you feel like a new person to get out in the middle of nature and help the Preserve. However, face masks are required, at least while you check in. After that, if you have enough space, you can remove the mask.

We will break into teams and do several projects: weed the native plant garden, clean out some woody plants, and other projects to be determined by the 1st. Each team will have a knowledgeable volunteer so you know exactly what plants should be removed.
 
BRING WATER. Also, even in the heat, 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, this counts as Volunteer Hours on the Preservation Society for Spring Creek Forest project.

Future Work Sessions

  • Saturday, October 10, 2020
  • Saturday, November 7, 2020
  • December through August – information to come.

Keep America Beautiful “TrashDash”

Sunday, September 20, 2020, Keep America Beautiful is having a nation-wide pick-up-the-litter day.
Registration is free. Go to https://kab.org/.  Register, do your trash picking thing, take photos, and share your efforts with KAB on the big day! Let’s fill our newsfeeds with tons of litter-removing photos. Last year, 2019, 66 million pounds of litter and recyclables was collected.

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, September 27, 2020. 4th Sunday Nature Walk.  Leaders: Rick and Lisa Travis will ID native North Texas trees up close and in person.
  • Sunday, October 25, 2020
  • Sunday, November 22, 2020
  • Sunday, December 27, 2020. Leader: Stephanie Hanson – Collections From the Field
  • Sunday, January 24, 2021
  • Sunday, February 28, 2021. Leader: Tom Frey – 28th Annual Trout Lily Walk
  • Sunday, March 28, 2021. Leader: Terry Comingore – Weather and Climate
  • Sunday, April 25. 2021
  • Sunday, May 23, 2021. Leader: Judy Aschner – Insects in our Preserve
  • Important information: 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.

Speaker Series

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

  • Meeting Time: 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
  • Location:  information to come
  • Tuesday, September 1, 2020: Rick Travis – North Texas Trees
  • Tuesday, October 6, 2020: Becky Bender – Honey Bees
  • Tuesday, November 3, 2020: Gwen Eishen – Native Life Cycles
  • Tuesday, December 1, 2020: Holiday Party
  • Tuesday, January 5, 2021: Bonnie Bradshaw – Coyotes and Critters
  • Tuesday, February 2, 2021: Rob Kaaa – Critter Cams in the Preserve
  • Tuesday, March 2, 2021: Jessica Crowley – Frogs
  • 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.

iNaturalist – 5,000 observations for Spring Creek Forest and Park Preserve
Spring Creek Preserve has reached 5,000 iNaturalist observations! The most observed species is currently tied between two plants – Trout Lily and Mealy Sage. A big “Thank You” to everyone who has contributed both observations and species verifications.
 
Download and log-in to iNaturalist to check out the flora and fauna present in our Preserve. Then join this citizen scientist program so you can record observations of your own.

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