Monthly Meetings & Guest Speaker
Date: Tuesday, October 5, 2021
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. Camelia Maier, Topic: Plant Based Pollinators
Dr. Maier will discuss plant pollination, which is essential to our existence. Pollination is vital to creating and maintaining the habitats and ecosystems that the world relies on for food and shelter. Imagine living in a world without flowers or fruit or even coffee!! I bet that got your attention!
Dr. Maier once led students in a study of the life cycle in our own colony of Trout lilies in the Forest at 1770 Holford. She has published many studies on pollination in scientific journals and she is passionate about developing sustainable gardens using native plants that enable habitat, water conservation, and education. She has taught on topics related to ecology, environmental science, and plant biology. She is also is a past President of the Native Plant Society of Texas.
Interesting speakers are lined up for the 2021-22 year
Tuesday, November 2, 2021 – Rachel Richter, Topic The Dynamics of Urban Ecosystems
Tuesday, January 4, 2022 – Matt Grubisich, Garland Parks and Recreation Department and A Walk with the Parks Director
Tuesday, February 1, 2022 – Tom Frey, History of Spring Creek Preserve
Tuesday, March 1, 2022 – Ignasio Pujana, Paleontologist – Fossils Around Spring Creek
Tuesday, April 5, 2022 – Carol Clark, Spring Creek Wildflowers
Special Events:
Help Birds during Fall Migration: Participate in “Lights Out”
This is a a Texas and national effort
Every year, billions of birds migrate north in the spring and south in the fall. The majority of them fly at night and use the night sky to navigate. However, as they pass over big cities, they can become disoriented by bright lights and sky-glow. This often causes them to collide with buildings and windows, or to get confused and fly in circles until they are exhausted. Turning off lights helps birds move through safely.
According to research by Cornell Lab of Ornithology and their alliance with many organizations such as the Dallas Zoo and the Perot Museum, “Texas is globally important for birds. Approximately 1 of every 3 birds migrating through the U.S. in spring, and 1 of every 4 bird migrating through the U.S. in the fall, or nearly two billion birds, pass through Texas. Protecting birds in Texas promotes conservation of bird populations across the Americas.”
Dallas has declared 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. between Sept. 27 and Oct. 17 as “Lights Out Nights”. And Fort Worth, downtown businesses are taking part in Lights Out from Sept. 5 to Oct. 29.
Households are being urged to take part in Lights Out Texas too. Everybody can take action to save birds. It’s simple, all you have to do is turn off all non-essential lighting from dusk to dawn or at least from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.
11th Annual Christmas is for the Birds
Date: Saturday, December 4, 2021
Time: 10-11:30 a.m.
Location: 1787 Holford
More information later, but this is a fun event for pre-school and elementary-school children. We help them make bird feeders out of peanut butter, bird seed, and pine cones and then hang the feeders on Preserve trees. We plan short nature hikes. And the kids can run and yell in their outside voices and get smeary with peanut butter. They love it.
4th Sunday Nature Walks
October 24, 2021 : Dr. Tiffany Lipsett
Time: 2:00 p.m. – 3:30
Location: 1770 Holford
Leader Dr. Tiffany Lipsett will lead us into the forest on a Family Nature Hike.
Dr. Lipsett has more than 20 years of experience in education and the sciences. She is a trained conservation biologist and continues her lifelong study of botany, environmental science, and best educational practices. She earned her doctorate from Texas A&M University and also has a Master of Education in Science Education from Texas A&M. She is a Texas Master Naturalist and is currently executive director of the Native Plant Society of Texas.
Next
- Sunday, November 28, 2021. Leader: Rich Jaynes – Grasses in the Park Preserve.
- Sunday, December 26, 2021. No walk: See January 1.
- Saturday, January 1, 2022. We know it’s not Sunday, but it’s the New Year Walk. More to come.
- Sunday, January 23, 2022. Leader: Rob Kaaa – Invasive Plants in the Forest
- Sunday, February 27, 2022. Leader: Tom Frey and others – 29th Annual Trout Lily Walk
- Sunday, March 27, 2022. Leader: Ignasio Pujana – Fossil Hunting and the UTD Drone team
- Sunday, April 24, 2022. Leader: Matt Grubisich – Trees of Spring Creek Preserve
- Sunday, May 22, 2022. Leader: Carol Clark – Spring Creek Wildflowers
Health Benefits from Forests
Most of us sense that taking a walk in a forest is good for us. Now, research shows that visiting a forest has real, quantifiable health benefits, both mental and physical. Even five minutes around trees or in green spaces may improve health. Think of it as a prescription with no negative side effects that is also free.
Exposure to forest and trees:
- Boosts the immune system
- Lowers blood pressure
- Reduces stress
- Improves mood
- Increases ability to focus, even in children with ADHD
- Accelerates recovery from surgery or illness
- Increases energy level
- Improves sleep
*Source: NY Dept. of Environmental Conservation
Monthly Work Sessions
Saturday October 9
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 11:00
Location: 1770 Holford
We will break into teams and each team will have a knowledgeable volunteer so you know exactly what to do. For this event, it is 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. 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
Next
- Saturday, November 6, 2021
- Saturday, December 11, 2021
- Saturday, January 8, 2022
- Saturday, February 5, 2022
- Saturday, March 5, 2022
- Saturday, April 9, 2022
- Saturday, May 7, 2022
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.
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
