October 2023:
Both the Speaker Series and the
Sunday Nature Walk –
Kimberlie Sasan, All about Galls
Galls are odd growths on trees or bushes. The gall is an example of a plant-animal relationship. More than 2,000 types of insects and other organisms can cause abnormal plant growths. They may be found on any part of a plant—buds, leaves, flowers, twigs, under the bark, and even on the roots.
Kimberlie Sasan is a Texas Master Naturalist and Master Entomology Specialist who enjoys volunteering in a wide variety of nature activities.  She has been documenting moths and other creatures in her Keller backyard for over six years where she has identified over 300 species of moths. She has a passion for photographing insects and studying their life cycles. An iNaturalist user since 2015, Kimberlie has made over 29,000 observations.

Speaker Series
Date: October 3, 2023
Time: 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Location: Zoom

Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89187002517?pwd=Ujc1UTEyVjNNbDhUUFJYMjFCV2lNdz09

Meeting ID: 891 8700 2517
Passcode: 212786

Sunday Walk:
Date: October 29, 2023
(Yes, for October, the walk is moved to the 5^th Sunday because of scheduling conflicts.)
Time: 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Location: 1770 Holford Road 
  
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Special City Event –
7^th Annual Tri-City Trash-Off

Date: October 7, 2023
Time: 9:00 – noon
Location: 1770 Holford Road
Please reserve your spot: Register today for your preferred jobsite!

Questions? Call 972-205-3583 for more information.

Keeping our waterways beautiful takes a community effort. Join more than 300 volunteers from Garland, Rowlett, and Dallas to clean up 22 sites surrounding or connecting to Lake Ray Hubbard from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 7. Our own Spring Creek Preserve is one of the Garland locations that will have a clean-up team because Spring Creek flows into Rowlett Creek, which flows into Lake Ray Hubbard.
Volunteers of all ages and abilities are invited. This is a great event for groups and families! After the workday, volunteers are treated to lunch, music, games and giveaways as we celebrate together.
There are multiple Garland and Rowlett cleanup locations that you can choose from when you sign up.
Go directly to your chosen location on clean-up day and we’ll be waiting with supplies and a free gift bag for each volunteer! Come dressed to work in the elements: boots, pants, sleeves and sun protection are recommended. Bring your water jug!
Afterward, go to the Hella Shrine Event Center for a free lunch, music, games, and prize drawings.
Keep Garland Beautiful is one of the sponsoring partners.

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Monthly Work Session
Date: October 14, 2023
Time: 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Location: 1770 Holford Road
We break into teams and each team has a knowledgeable volunteer, so you know exactly what to do.
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:

• BRING WATER and insect 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.

Become a North Texas Master Naturalist

A Master Naturalist is in a community of volunteers dedicated to caring for our natural resources. You will connect with a community of people that enjoy nature and the outdoors. You will learn more about our natural environment in the North Texas area from experts in their fields. And you will help others learn to love and value our natural environment. There are many Chapters in various regions around the state. The Texas Master Naturalist Program is coordinated jointly by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

The North Texas Master Naturalist Chapter is accepting applications for the 2024 Class  through October 31. Classes begin January 30, 2024.
Information on how to apply is at www.NTMN.org.

November 2023
Speaker Series –
Tyler Hedlund speaks on Orthoptera –
Hopping Across North America – grasshoppers, katydids, and crickets of North America

Date: November 7, 2023
Time: 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Location: Zoom

Come learn about Orthoptera! The grasshoppers, katydids, and crickets of North America (north of Mexico) present a highly diverse species assemblage. The presentation will cover taxonomy, identification, ecology, and more! While the presentation will cover most of North America, there will be a focus on the Texas fauna.
Tyler has a Master’s degree in Entomology from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, where he worked on ticks and tick-borne disease. He discovered the allure of “hoppers” while working at the Illinois Natural History Survey after getting his degree and hasn’t looked back. He currently works for the US Department of Agriculture, first as an Area Identifier in Laredo, TX, and now as a Plant Health Safeguarding Specialist in Champaign, IL.

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Monthly Work Session
Date: November 11, 2023
Time: 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Location: 1787 Holford Road
We break into teams and each team has a knowledgeable volunteer, so you know exactly what to do.

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4th Sunday Walk –
Dr. Tiffany Lipsett shows us
Family Time in the Forest
Geared toward families with kids ages 4-10
Date: November 26, 2023
Time: 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Location: 1770 Holford Road
Explore the sights and sounds of Spring Creek Forest Preserve with activities and a guided walk geared toward families with children ages 4-10.  Dr. Lipsett has extensive experience working with youngsters and this walk is geared toward showing children and their parents how to have a fun experience in our Forest. There will be several activity stations highlighting something special about the Forest.
In addition to more than 20 years of experience in education and the sciences, she is a trained conservation biologist and earned her advanced degrees from Texas A&M University. She celebrates her upcoming 20^th year as a North Texas Master Naturalist. She researches various plant species to uncover the perfect combinations for local ecosystems. She advises residential clients, offering creative ideas and frameworks to seamlessly integrate native plants into their yards while designing captivating landscape habitats. Additionally, she collaborates with schools in the area, consulting on outdoor play spaces and developing educational nature and arts curricula to foster a deeper connection between students and the natural world.

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Special Event
Bird Walks with Reba –

Dates: Saturday, November 25 and Sunday, November 26
Location: 1787 Holford Road
Time: 8:00 – 9:30 a.m.
What birds are in Spring Creek Park Preserve in late fall after Thanksgiving? Come for a morning walk and find out. Reba is a Certified Birder and is known throughout the metroplex for her skill in identifying birds. She is a Master Naturalist and on the boards of our Society and Keep Garland Beautiful.