| March 2025 Events –
Speaker Series –
Michael Smith, Mindfulness in Nature
Date: Tuesday, March 04, 2025
Time: 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Location: Currently meeting on Zoom
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89187002517?pwd=Ujc1UTEyVjNNbDhUUFJYMjFCV2lNdz09
Meeting ID: 891 8700 2517
Passcode: 212786
Michael will talk about how time spent in nature affects our minds and bodies. He will describe mindfulness and why it is valuable. Michael will also lead the nature walk on March 23.
He will tell us about his visits to memorable places all over Texas. For a couple of years, he and photographer Meghan Cassidy traveled to the Big Thicket, the prairies and woodlands in North Texas, the Big Bend, Caddo Lake, and other locations, photographing and writing about practicing mindfulness in these wild places. From these travels he created the book Mindfulness in Texas Nature (Texas A&M University Press, 2024).
Michael is a retired Psychological Associate, writer, and naturalist. He has written three books; two of them on the subject of herpetology and natural history and the third on the practice of mindfulness in various natural places in the state of Texas. He also writes for Our Lives in Nature (https://livesinnature.com) and for Green Source DFW (https://greensourcedfw.org).
His books are: Herping Texas: The Quest for Reptiles and Amphibians (coauthored with Clint King); The Wild Lives of Reptiles and Amphibians: A Young Herpetologist’s Guide; and Mindfulness in Texas Nature. All three are published by Texas A&M University Press.
Note: Also on March 4, Society Members that attend the Zoom meeting will vote on incoming Executive Committee members.
2nd Saturday Work Session The 7th Annual Death to Privet
Date: Saturday, March 8, 2025
Time: 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Location: 1770 Holford
The 7th Annual Death to Privet is at 1770 Holford this year. We have changed locations because…thanks to the dedicated effort of our fabulous volunteers, the privet at 1787 is currently wiped out. So, we are attacking the privet at 1770. Rather, we are re-attacking. Some years ago, several stands of privet were cleared from the trail at 1770. We were thrilled to find that a Trout lily colony had been hiding in the area, waiting for enough sunlight to emerge. Now, the berries by that privet have sprouted into new, small bushes. Let’s get those taken out before they spread more seeds!
We break into teams and 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 Information: Each work session begins with a safety briefing.
- BRING WATER and bug repellant.
- Close-toed shoes are mandatory. Heavy work gloves, long pants, and protective eyewear are recommended for your protection from poison ivy and thorns.
- If you have them, bring loppers and/or small tree saws. (No power tools.)
- All participants and the parents of minors must sign our Liability Waiver.
- Youth under 18 must be accompanied by an adult; no drop off/pick up of those under 18.
- For Master Naturalists, this may count as Volunteer Hours on the Preservation Society for Spring Creek Forest project.
4th Sunday Nature Walk
Michael Smith – Mindfulness in the Preserve
Date: Sunday, March 23, 2025
Time: 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Location: 1770 Holford
According to Michael, a mindfulness-based walk in nature is apt to be slower and quieter than the average hike! It also will rely less on cameras and community science apps like iNaturalist.
We will walk for short distances, noticing all that we can and welcoming our experience with all the senses. We will stop at intervals and talk briefly about what we noticed. And, we will take note of how much we were able to let go of distracting thoughts and how such things as “beginner’s mind,” gratitude, and affection might apply to what we experience.
We hope you will join us!
Black and yellow garden spider (Argiope aurantia)
Dallas County Open Space
Offers Guided Walks
Did you know that 2 sections of our Preserve are owned by the Dallas County Open Spaces (DCOS) program? The Spring Creek Forest Preserve at 1770 Holford and the Spring Creek Park Preserve at 1787 Holford are 2 of the 21 preserves owned by Dallas County. Most, including ours here in Garland, are managed by the host city via an agreement between Open Spaces and each city.
The twenty-one DCOS preserves total 4,166 acres throughout the county. Whether you want to go on an adventure in Garland, Cedar Hill or somewhere in between, there are opportunities for hikers, bikers, kayakers, and visitors looking for a reprieve from the noise of daily life. Find more information at www.dallascounty.org/departments/plandev/openspaces/.
DCOS has recently started a volunteer program and is also offering guided walks at some of the preserves, including our own Spring Creek Park Preserve. (Note: the Society is a participant of the DCOS volunteer program.) Find information about this at https://dallascountyparks.galaxydigital.com/#.
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