Spring Creek Forest Preservation Society has some great activities scheduled for the remainder of January as well as for February. Mark your calendars!
January
Bird Walks led by Master birder Reba Collins – Saturday, Jan. 14, and Sunday, Jan. 15 – 1787 Holford Road
Find out what birds are in the preserve in winter. Reservations are required. Groups are limited to 10 people per walk because too many people scare away the birds. Email 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 Walk led by Dana Wilson – Jan. 22 – 2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. – 1770 Holford Road
Dana is known for her expertise in identifying plants. She works tirelessly to inform folks about the region’s treasures.
February
Speaker Series – Guest Speaker: Dana Wilson – Unique Wildflowers of the Metroplex – Tuesday, Feb. 7 – 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. – Zoom
The preserve is rife with amazing flowers almost all year. The citizen-science website, iNaturalist has over 1,000 species in the preserve recorded to date, including over 320 plant species. The plant most often recorded is the trout lily, with 71 people reporting it. But many plants have far fewer observations reported. Dana will talk about unique flowers, not just in the preserve, but throughout the metroplex.
Monthly Work Session – Saturday, Feb. 11 – 9 a.m. – 11 p.m. – 1770 Holford Road
Group will separate into teams. Each will have a knowledgeable volunteer. Examples of tasks are clearing trails, taking out invasive plants, opening the prairies and picking up trash. If the weather is questionable, check website or Facebook for updates.
- Bring water and bug repellant.
- Close-toed shoes are mandatory. Heavy work gloves, long pants and protective eyewear are recommended.
- If you have loppers and/or small tree saws, bring them – no power tools.
- All participants and the parents of minors must sign a Liability Waiver.
- Youth under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. No drop off/pick up for those under 18.
- Master naturalists – this may count as volunteer hours on the Preservation Society for Spring Creek Forest project.
4th Sunday Nature Walk – 30th Trout Lily Walk with Tom Frey – Society Members Only – Feb. 26 – 2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. – 1770 Holford Road
Tom Frey, regionally acclaimed naturalist and society mentor will be with us for the 30th year. Trout lilies are one of the first plants to flower in the spring. The tiny flowers are only in bloom from about mid-February through mid-March. Then, they disappear until next year.
To participate in the Trout Lily Walk – complete following steps by Feb. 18:
- Make sure membership is current.
- Must reserve a spot.
- If you are not society member, we will accept payment for new and renewing members. However, to be eligible for this walk, membership check and reservation must be received before Feb. 18. Print a membership form at org.
- RSVP: Marvin Rogers: 214-460-8485, mwrkit@att.net or Barbara Baynham: 972-495-3569, Barbara_baynham2005@yahoo.com
Arrive between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. Volunteers will be at the pavilion distributing information. Then, you’ll be sent along the clearly marked trail to the trout lily field. Tom Frey will be there to visit with participants. You will then walk to the next marked spot, where there will be another naturalist to explain that area’s significance. Naturalists will be at several stations along the trail from 2 p.m. until the last walkers go through.
This format helps solve the problem of not being able to hear because there are so many people in the line. It also allows everyone to go at their own pace. No one gets impatient waiting for others to catch up and everyone can spend as much time as they want at each station.
Future Speaker Series events – usually first Tuesday of each month:
March 7, 2023 – Jeff Sargent – Texas Prairies
April 4, 2023 – Stephanie Varnum – Native Orchids of Texas
May 2, 2023 – Jerry Alcorn – Bee
Future 4th Sunday Nature Walks:
March 26 – Bob Richie – Spring Edible Plants
April 23 – Ricky Linex – Riparian Management “Why Creeks Act the Way They Do”
May 28 – It might already be too hot! We’ll see.
Become a Member – The society is supported through memberships. Join now or give a gift membership. Download form: https://springcreekforest.org/join/. Membership cost is $20 for individual, $25 for family. Mail completed form to: Preservation Society for Spring Creek Forest, Attn: Treasurer, P.O. Box 450176, Garland, TX 75045-0176.
Donations help the society offer lectures, conduct habitat management workdays and offer nature walks. Mail tax-deductible donations to the address above.
To receive monthly newsletter: Barbara_Baynham2005@yahoo.com.
Photos provided by Spring Creek Forest Preservation Society.