Spring Field Trips and Events

Texas’ beautiful spring is here! Come out for the Burleson Prairie field trip and the Riesel Prairie work day! Check out the Fort Worth Prairie Fest in April and visit NPAT’s largest preserve in May.

Simpson Prairie Field Trip

Saturday, May 15th, 9:00am - 11:00am
Crawford, TX (McLennan County, south of Waco)

Come see spring prairie wildflowers and emerging native grasses at Simpson Prairie, a terrific tallgrass prairie remnant protected by owner Mike Williams and the Native Prairies Association of Texas (NPAT). Field trip leaders are owner Mike Williams and Lisa and Jason Spangler.  An optional nearby seed collection trip may follow (plants permitting).

Simpson Prairie is an outstanding example of rare Texas tallgrass prairie, of which less than 1% out of the original 20 million acres now remains. See an incredible part of Texas’ natural heritage in bloom after the abundant rain this winter and spring!

Mike harvests seed from Simpson Prairie and uses the seed when planting Laura Bush’s prairie at nearby Prairie Chappel Ranch. Mike will talk about his management and restoration at Simpson Prairie and his restoration work at Prairie Chappel Ranch as we walk the prairie and identify native plants.

We will meet at parking lot at the southeast corner of the main Crawford intersection (FM 185 and 317) at 9:00am, and we will car pool to Simpson Prairie from the parking lot. Click here for directions from Google Maps.

Please RSVP and provide contact information (phone number and email address) in case of a rain-out or other updates.  The field trip is limited to 20 attendees. Wear appropriate clothing, and bring water, sunscreen, and a snack (or have lunch in Crawford.)

RSVP to Lisa Spangler by emailing .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or calling at 512-736-5553.

Exploring Plants of the Blackland Prairie

With Jason Singhurst of Texas Parks and Wildlife

Saturday May 1, 9:30am to 12:30pm
Burleson Prairie, near Temple TX
Burleson Praire is over 250 acres of restored and remnant blackland prairie.  Bob and Mickey Burleson began conducting praire restoration on the site in 1969, and were founding members of the Native Prairie Association of Texas.  Come see the land which inspired them and explore the prairie in springtime. 
Jason Singhurst has served as a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department botanist/ecologist in Texas for the past 13 years. He has extensive field knowledge with rare plant species in eastern and central Texas. He has authored or co-authored over 40 scientific publications and in 2007 co-authored a book on Rare Plants of Texas.  He is also a board member of the Native Prairie Association of Texas.
This field trip will be a mix of on trail and off trail hiking and the ground may be bumpy and uneven.  This hike is open for humans of all ages although it is geared towards adults and older sub-humans, with those under 18 being accompanied by a parent.  Participants should bring water , snacks, and anything they need to be comfortable in the field. 
This trip is limited to 25 individuals. To reserve your space and receive driving directions, please email Daniel Dietz at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or call 512-731-2517.

Volunteer Work Day at Riesel Prairie

May 8, 2010 10:00 am.  If the weather or soil conditions are not favorable, May 15 is the alternate date.
184 County Road 149, Falls County, Riesel
Volunteers needed to care for Riesel Prairie - remove excess wild plum and eastern gamagrass plants, remove old sign, spray dewberries, and apply herbicide to sapling trees. Wear sun screen, insect repellent, work clothes, gloves, and (optional) wide brimmed hat. Bring a sack lunch and your favorite sharp shooter, hoe, rake, grubbing hoe, and string trimmer.  Water will be provided.
For more information and to sign up, contact James Alderson 254-721-6842.
 

Advanced Grass Identification Workshop

Introduction to Identifying Local Grasses [this class is full] With Tom Watson, retired university botanist and master naturalist

Date:  April 24, 8:30am to 4:00pm
Location:  Just west of Buda TX, directions sent upon registration
To register contact Daniel at 512-731-2517 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
 
Want to know those native grasses that you encounter along the highways, in the fields, and in your flowerbeds?  This class will help you confidently identify the more common grasses of the Hill Country in the vicinity of Austin and surrounding towns.  You will be introduced to the typifying features and you will learn how to use structural features to analyze and identify local species, as well as, how to distinguish grasses from similar plant families.  This will be a lecture (1 1/2 hr) followed by a field excursion in which you get hands on experience while enjoying the great outdoors.  This class is intended for those who have deeper interest in identifying grasses and will provide an introduction to grass structures as illustrated in the spring species.  A second class will follow later in the Fall for attendees of the Spring class in which the grasses of the Fall season will be studied in the field. 
 
The class is offered on Saturday, April 24, from 8:30 am until 4:00 pm (1 hour off for lunch) on one of the properties of the City of Austin Wildland Conservation Division properties just west of Buda.  The class is limited to 15 participants and you must pre-register by April 17.  By calling 512-731-2517 or emailing .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). 
 
Wear field clothes including sturdy, closed toed foot wear.  Bring a sack lunch, a drink, a pencil, a notepad, and a clipboard.   A loop (2 or three folding lenses – 10X) will be handy.  Radio Shack has the best loop for the money, costing about $9 if you want to purchase one there otherwise you may order from scientific supply houses online.  Also if you have a copy of “Grasses of the Texas Hill Country” by Loflin & Loflin please bring it with you so you can get some practice using the book and learn to use it more efficiently.  The loop and grass book are NOT required but they will enhance your learning experience.
 
This class is sponsored by Hays County Master Naturalists and the Native Prairie Association of Texas and will be conducted by Tom Watson, a retired Botanist, Master Naturalist, and WCD Land Steward.

Prairie Fest

April 24, 2010, 10 AM - 8 PM
Tandy Hills Park
3400 View Street, Fort Worth
Free and Open to the Public
This is an outdoor festival to celebrate our connection to the natural world through music, art, dance, environmental stewardship & wildflower tours.
Tandy Hills Natural Area is a 160 acre indigenous remnant of prairie located in the heart of Fort Worth, Texas. The land was obtained by
the City of Fort Worth Parks Department in the 1960’s and designated a natural area in 1987. The park is managed by the Fort
Worth Nature Center and Refuge.
For more information go to www.tandyhills.org/prairiefest.htm

Maddin Prairie Preserve

Breeding Bird Survey and Open Preserve Day

Date: Saturday May 22, 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Location: Colorado City, Texas
For more information, contact Kirsti Harms at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or call 512-296-9160.
To learn more about NPAT’s Maddin Prairie Preserve.

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