Parkhill Prairie Field Trip

May 31st (Sat.), 10am - 2pm

Eastern Collin County (NE of Dallas)

Join Master Naturalist and former NPAT board member Jim Varnum for a tour of the Parkhill Prairie for native grasses and wildflowers, grassland birds and butterflies. See native and restored prairie locaitons and gilgais. The tour includes a short stop at a nearby bison ranch for further information about life on the early prairies in North-Central Texas.

Parkhill Prairie is a 436-acre native blackland prairie preserve in eastern Collin County. Over 200 plant species were observed and identified in 2006-2007. Native grasses include little bluestem, big bluestem, eastern gamma grass and yellow Indiangrass. Wildflowers on the prairie include prairie parsley, Rattlesnake master, milkweeds, Indian plantain, coneflowers, Mexican hat, prairie clovers, Texas giant sage, several paintbrushes, and prairie celestials. Parkhill Prairie is the home of the Parkhill Prairie crawfish (Procambarus steigmani).

Parkhill is easily accessible from IH-30 in Greenville and US 75 in McKinney. Visit the park web site for directions. The tour is approved advanced training for Texas Master Naturalists. Bring cameras and binoculars, sun and insect protection, water and snacks.

Contact Jim Varnum at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) for more information. RSVP’s are appreciated but not required.

Pittman Ranch Field Trip (DWF/TNC)

May 24th (Sat.), 10am - 1pm

Valley View (north of Dallas/Ft Worth)

Sponsored by the Dixon Water Foundation and The Nature Conservancy.

Join The Nature Conservancy’s Jim Eidson and ranch manager Robby Tuggle on a tour of a working ranch which supports a spectacular part of the Grand Prairie.  Owned by the Dixon Water Foundation, this carefully managed ranch is an example of the prairie as it was encountered by the early settlers.  Rare and beautiful wildflowers are expected!

Directons: At Valley View and IH 35 go west on FM 922 to FM 373.  Go north on FM 373.  Ranch gate is marked, and we will be waiting for you.  Click here to see the field trip flyer for a map and futher information.

For further information, contact: Jim Eidson, 903-568-4139

Fort Worth Prairie Park Field Trip (GPRC)

May 24th (Sat.), 10am-2pm

Near Crowley (SW of Fort Worth)

From the Great Plains Restoration Council:

Great Plains Restoration Council (GPRC) is working to protect 2000 acres (the former Rock Creek Ranch) of the biologically rich remaining Fort Worth Prairie Ecosystem as an anchor of urban tallgrass prairie wilderness, ultimately leading to a larger network of core wildland reserves and biological corridors connecting this lush remaining Fort Worth Prairie with the Western Cross Timbers. The State of Texas General Land Office owns the property and is seeking to sell it to developers.

Please RSVP by May 14th to Eileen Porter .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or 817-596-5567.

Clymer Meadow Field Trip (Nature Conservancy)

May 17th (Sat.), 10am -3pm

Celeste (Hunt County, NE of Dallas)

The Nature Conservancy hosts a wildflower tour and dedication of a new prairie remnant at Clymer Meadow, the largest preserved Blackland Prairie remnant!

See the Nature Conservancy’s event page for more details. Contact Jim Eidson, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or (903) 568-4139 for more information and directions to the preserve.

Nash Prairie Field Trip

May 17th (Sat.) at 10am

West Columbia (Brazoria County, south of Houston)

Come visit Nash Prairie, over 300 acres of the best coastal prairie in existence!  The prairie is owned by the St. Mary’s Episcopal Church and the West Columbia Hospital District. 

Rev. Peter Conaty, his wife Susan, and botanist Dr. David Rosen (who has conducted studies of the prairie) will lead the tour and tell us about the history of the prairie, the church’s stewardship of this special piece of Texas, and the native plants that call it home.

We will meet at Nash Prairie at 10am.  From West Columbia, go on east on State Highway 35.  Turn left onto CR 25 and proceed north.  Nash Prairie is approximately 6.5 miles past front gate of Columbia Lakes on the left.  Park along CR 255 which is to the right of the prairie.  Click here for directions from Google Maps.

RSVP appreciated but not required.  Contact Jason Spangler at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or 512-736-4199 for more information.  Wear appropriate clothing, and bring water, sunscreen, and a snack.

Bear Creek Ranch Field Trip (DWF/TNC)

May 10th (Sat.), 10am - 1pm

Aledo (west of Ft Worth)

Sponsored by the Dixon Water Foundation and The Nature Conservancy.

Join The Nature Conservancy’s Jim Eidson on a tour of a working ranch which supports a spectacular part of the Ft. Worth Prairie.  Owned by the Dixon Water Foundation, the 1700-acre Bear Creek Ranch supports limestone glades, deep soiled tallgrass prairie, and streamside forest.  Rare and beautiful wildflowers are expected!

Physical address: 2701 Beak Creek Rd., Aledo, TX 76008.  Click here to see the field trip flyer for a map and futher information.

For further information, contact: Jim Eidson, 903-568-4139.

Maddin Prairie Preserve Breeding Bird Survey

May 10th-11th (Sat.-Sun.)

Colorado City (Mitchell County, west of Abilene)

See original and restored, mixed-grass prairie, grassland birds, Texas horned-lizards, a prairie dog reintroduction, and butterflies/insects while helping with surveys at Maddin Prairie Preserve!

Contact .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) and/or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). for more information and to RSVP.

Simpson Prairie Field Trip

May 3rd (Sat.) at 9:30am

Crawford (McLennan County, south of Waco)

Come see spring prairie flowers at Simpson Prairie, a terrific prairie remnant in the Grand Prairie near Crawford/Valley Mills protected by owner Mike Williams and NPAT!  Mike harvests seed from Simpson Prairie and uses the seed when planting Laura Bush’s prairie restoration on the Bush ranch.

We will meet at 9:30am at the bank parking lot in the northeast corner of the intersection (317 and 185) in Crawford.  Click here for directions from Google Maps. 

RSVP appreciated but not required.  Contact Jason Spangler at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or 512-736-4199 for more information.  Wear appropriate clothing, and bring water, sunscreen, and a snack.

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