North Texas Master Naturalist…And that is just the point… how the world, moist and beautiful, calls to each of us to make a new and serious response. That’s the big question, the one the world throws at you every morning. “Here you are, alive. Would you like to make a comment?” (Mary Oliver, 1935 – )
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From Jim Varnum’s file “Jokes for and about gardeners…”
* Man: Doctor, I can’t stop singing “The Green, Green Grass Of Home.” Can you help me? Doctor: Ah yes, you appear to be suffering from Tom Jones Syndrome.
Man: Is it rare?
Doctor: Well, its not unusual…
* What do you call a bunch of rabbits in a row all hopping backwards?
A receding hare line.
A receding hare line.
* What do you get if you cross a four leaf clover with poison ivy ?
A rash of good luck
A rash of good luck
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Thanks to all the contributors who have shared the following terrific links and resources! Do you have a favorite book, movie, website, field guide, app, or other nature-related news or resource you’d like to share? Write a brief description and send it to nature_links@yahoo.com – we’ll help spread the word.
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Mark Your Calendars…
SAVE THE DATE! Sunday, November 13, 2016, 2-4 p.m. (come and go), the launch of the Interpretive Walking Trail at Spring Creek Park Preserve in Garland (1787 Holford Road between Arapaho and George Bush Tollway). The Preservation Society for Spring Creek Forest and the North Texas Master Naturalists will roll out a new Interpretive Nature Trail at Spring Creek Park Preserve. We hope you and your family will join us for a wonderful guided walk through the preserve. The new trail was developed by a team from the 2016 NTMN Class under the mentorship of advisors from the Society. To see the Interpretive Trail brochure, please visit:
https://springcreekforest.wordpress.com/interpretive-1787-holford-rd/
https://springcreekforest.wordpress.com/interpretive-1787-holford-rd/
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Botany: I wish I spoke that language! Who knew there was so much vocabulary involved in describing a simple leaf or flower? Thanks to Carol Clark for sharing the “Botany word-of-the-day” website – a fun, easy way to learn plant terminology…a little at a time. http://plant-phytography.blogspot.com/
Botany: I wish I spoke that language! Who knew there was so much vocabulary involved in describing a simple leaf or flower? Thanks to Carol Clark for sharing the “Botany word-of-the-day” website – a fun, easy way to learn plant terminology…a little at a time. http://plant-phytography.blogspot.com/
***
This from the state Native Plant Society’s newsletter…”We will be talking about experiences with native milkweeds during our “TXplants Twitter Tuesday” event to be held online 7 to 8 pm, Tuesday,
November 1. The Houston Chapter (Twitter handle @NPSOT_HOU) will be moderating this exciting first-of-its-kind online event. All members and people from other nature and environmental organizations are encouraged to join us online using the Twitter social networking platform during this event.” Learn more – including how to join the conversation – at http://npsot.org/wp/story/2016/9263/
This from the state Native Plant Society’s newsletter…”We will be talking about experiences with native milkweeds during our “TXplants Twitter Tuesday” event to be held online 7 to 8 pm, Tuesday,
November 1. The Houston Chapter (Twitter handle @NPSOT_HOU) will be moderating this exciting first-of-its-kind online event. All members and people from other nature and environmental organizations are encouraged to join us online using the Twitter social networking platform during this event.” Learn more – including how to join the conversation – at http://npsot.org/wp/story/2016/9263/
***
Fabulous fall color. Cut it down! Fall is a great time to identify one of our most serious invasive tree species, the Chinese tallow tree. With the unique leaf shape and the gorgeous fall color, it’s easy to see why this tree was brought in for the landscape trade…but when you know its nickname – The Tree That Ate Houston – you’ll see why it’s important to stop this invaders. Check out the profile for Chinese tallow on the LBJ Wildflower Center’s “Invaders of Texas” database…and while you’re there, surf through this terrific website – lots of valuable information here. Check it out at: Texas Invasives
Fabulous fall color. Cut it down! Fall is a great time to identify one of our most serious invasive tree species, the Chinese tallow tree. With the unique leaf shape and the gorgeous fall color, it’s easy to see why this tree was brought in for the landscape trade…but when you know its nickname – The Tree That Ate Houston – you’ll see why it’s important to stop this invaders. Check out the profile for Chinese tallow on the LBJ Wildflower Center’s “Invaders of Texas” database…and while you’re there, surf through this terrific website – lots of valuable information here. Check it out at: Texas Invasives
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Upcoming activities, October 1 – October 15, 2016:
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10.1.16
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10am-3pm
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Blackland Prairie Raptor Center – free “First Saturday” public event
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10.1.16
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9am-12pm
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Botancial Research Institute of Texas – Free “First Saturday” public event
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10.1.16
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10-11am
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Heard Museum: Amazing Monarchs
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10.1.16
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7am-11am: |
John Bunker Sands Wetland Center “First Saturday” birding walks:
Advanced birding “Walk & Talk” bird tour |
wetlandcenter.com
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10.1.16
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10am-12pm
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(LLELA) monthly guided hike
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?s to lcole@cityoflewisville ;
http://llela.unt.edu/ |
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10.1.16
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8:30-9:30am
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Arbor Hills Nature Preserve, Plano: Free guided nature walk (meet at Pavilions).
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Walk-ups welcome, advance registration encouraged: call 972-941-5403 (Plano Parks & Rec)
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10.2.16
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8-11am
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Connemara Conservancy (Allen) bird walk
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10.4.16
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7-8:30pm
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Preservation Soc. For Spring Creek Forest- monthly meeting – “Spiders!”
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https://springcreekforest.wordpress.com/
meets at the N. Garland Branch Library |
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10.4.16
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7pm
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Native Plant Society (Collin Co.): Native Grasses
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10.5.16
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9-11:30am
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LBJ National Grasslands (Decatur) birding excursion
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RSVP and get exact meeting location: startaglino@me.com; 940.210.9120
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10.5.16
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7-8:30pm
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NTMN monthly meeting: Why You Should Love Fungi
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www.ntmn.org
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10.5.16
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7-8pm
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Arlington Conservation Council: 5 Ways to Price (Pay for) Greenhouse Gas Emissions
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10.6.16
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7pm
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Native Plant Society (Tarrant Co.): Show & Tell and “Plant Exchange” Game
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10.7.16 – 10.9.16
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Texas Assn. for Environmental Education conference: Environmental Literacy – Success Through Partnerships
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10.8.16
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10-11:30am
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“Monarchs & Milkweeds” at Oak Point Center, Plano (for children 5+)
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10.8.16
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8:30-10:30am
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Invasive Plant species walk
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Foxboro Park, Richardson (2600 N. Plano Road)
http://www.cor.net (under Park and Recreation – the Events tab) |
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10.8.16
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9-10am10-11:30am
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Hagerman NWR:
Butterfly garden walk; “Butterflies” with Laurie Sheppard |
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10.8.16
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1:30-4pm
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Heard Museum
“National Fossil Day” Celebration |
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10.8.16
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2-3:30pm
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LLELA tarantula adoption & release event
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https://llela.unt.edu/calendar
REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. To register or for more information, e-mail dwetherbee@cityoflewisville.com or call 469-635-5482. |
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10.8.16
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8-9 am
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PTAS – Heard bird walk with Gailon Brehm & Rodney Thomas
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10.8.16
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9-11am
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Preservation Soc. For Spring Creek Forest: monthly work session.
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https://springcreekforest.wordpress.com/
1787 Holford Road (west side of Holford, square parking lot), Garland. |
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10.8.16
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7:30-10am
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LLELA bird walk (all ages and skill levels welcome)
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10.8.16
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7:45-9:45am
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LLELA migratory bird banding
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Registration is required online at bit.ly/CoLRegistration. Search for activity code 800005. For further information, contact lcole@cityoflewisville.com, or call 972.219.3550.
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10.8.16
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9am-12pm
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Bioblitz at Harry S. Moss Park, Dallas
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10.8.16
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9am-12pm
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TRAC – 2nd Saturday workday
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10.8.16
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8am-12pm
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FTLOTL – second Saturday spruce-up
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10.9.16
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8:30-11am
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Workday at 12 Hills Nature Center, Oak Cliff
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www.twelvehills.org
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10.10.16
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Native Prairie Assn. of Texas (Ft. Worth chapter): Topic TBA
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10.11.16
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7-8pm
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Blackland Prairie Texas Master Nat. monthly meeting: chapter planning session
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http://bptmn.org/
meets at the Heard Museum |
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10.11.16
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7-8:45pm
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LLELA-sponsored “iNaturalist Basics” training
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Lewisville Public Library. 1197 W. Main St. Free, but space is limited and REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED by e-mailing dwetherbee@cityoflewisville.com or calling 469-635-5482.
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10.11.16
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6:30pm
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Native Prairies Assn. of Texas (Dallas chapter): Working White Rock Lake with Dallas Parks and Recreation
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10.13.16
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7:30pm
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Ft. Worth Audubon:
Candid cameras for conservation: monitoring wildlife populations with game cameras. |
Room 100 of the Research and Education Building at the University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd.http://www.fwas.org/showthread.php?2808-2016-2017-Program-Guide
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10.13.16
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8am-12pm
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Texas Water shed Stewardship Workshop
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http://tws.tamu.edu/workshops/upcoming-workshops/
Myers Park and Event Center, 7117 CR 166McKinney, TX 75071 |
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10.13.16-1016.16
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NPSOT Annual Symposium, Glen Rose.
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This year’s theme: Conservation & Climate Change.
http://npsot.org/wp/symposium2016/tentative-schedule-2/ |
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10.14.16
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9am
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Ft. Worth Audubon special event
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Dedication of Trail on Greer Island, Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge to Margaret Parker. A short guided bird walk will follow the dedication.
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10.15.16
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10am-12pm
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Mosquitoes & North Texas Awareness
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Coppell Biodiversity Education Center
http://coppellnaturepark.org/center.php |
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10.15.16
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10-11:30am
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Hagerman NWR: butterfly walk & pollinator watch
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10.15.16
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10am
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John Bunker Sands Wetland Center: Bunker’s Pond Trail Walk
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10.15.16
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10am-12pm
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John Bunker Sands Wetland Center: Monarchs on the Move
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10.15.16
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9:30-10:30am
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Heard Museum Third Saturday Nature Talk: Fossils
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10.15.16
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10am-12pm
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Dallas Co. Lepidopterist’ meeting
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Butterflies Unlimited butterfly farm (a.k.a. Dale Clark’s home) in Glenn Heights (southern Dallas County); see website prior to meeting for directions: http://www.dallasbutterflies.com/
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Jim’s This & That is a personal communication, begun by avid naturalist Jim Varnum, which strives to fulfill Jim’s vision of connecting individuals interested in the natural world — primarily in the Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas area — with each other and with resources to increase an appreciation of nature. If you have comments and questions about its content, or wish to receive – or not receive – Jim’s This & That
e-mails, please contact nature_links@yahoo.com.
e-mails, please contact nature_links@yahoo.com.