Past News, Events, and Field Trips
Parker County Poor Farm Tour
June 8, 2007 - Friday 10am-1pm
See prairie on Grand Prairie limestone outcrops
The Poor Farm is owned by Parker County is in planning stages for development for some type of preserve, nature park or a natural area with minimal development. It is a 256 acre property, with good examples of Grand Prairie limestone outcrops (50-60 acres of Little Bluestem-Indiangrass prairie), Western Cross Timbers ecosystems, seasonal creeks, one small pond, old fields and orchards, and disturbed areas along roadways. There are also gas wells on the property for the county, which hopefully some of the revenue will go back to the Poor Farm project.
From Weatherford, at the corner of I-20 and FM 51, go west on the access road to Tin Top Road. Home Depot is on the right. Turn left onto Tin Top Road and go south approximately 1 mile to Leea Ln on the left. Leea Ln deadends at the gate to the Poor Farm. Meet at the gate at 10:00am.
For more information, contact Jeff Quayle, 817-729-0283, s-quaylei@earthlink.net. Also see the Poor Farm web site.
Wildflower Tour of Bear Creek Ranch
June 9, 2007 - Saturday 10am-1pm
See tallgrass prairie and other habitat in the Fort Worth Prairie
Owned by the Dixon Water Foundation, the 1700 acre Bear Creek Ranch supports deep soiled tallgrass prairie, limestone glades, and streamside forest. Come see this spectacular part of the Fort Worth Prairie.
The Nature Conservancy's Jim Eidson will talk about natural history, and Robby Tuggle, ranch manager, will talk about sustainable grazing.
Located at 2701 Bear Creak Rd., Aledo, TX 76008. Click here for directions.
For more information, contact the Nature Conservancy's Jim Eidson, 903-568-4139, jeidson@tnc.org. Also see the field trip flyer.
Texas Prairie Coalition Meeting
June 25, 2007 - Monday 1pm
First TPC Meeting
The Texas Prairie Coalition (TPC)
is a group of private and public organizations and individuals active
in native prairie conservation, restoration, and/or education in Texas.
Meeting in Lewisville, TX north of Dallas/Ft. Worth. RSVP to Jason Spangler.
Field Trip to Henrietta Range
July 14-15, 2007 - Saturday and Sunday
Field Trip and Board Meeting
Board meeting on the 14th.
NPAT will visit Henrietta Range near Wichita Falls on the 15th.
RSVP to Ms. Kunda Lee Wicce.
Texas Prairie Conference
October 18-21, 2007 - Thursday to Saturday
The Blackland and Grand Prairies and Grasslands of the Edwards Plateau
Joint symposium of NPAT and the Native Plant Society of Texas in Georgetown, Williamson County. Great prairie speakers, field trips, vendors, and more! See the symposium web page for more information.
Falls County Prairies Field Trip
April 12th (Sat.) at 9:30amMarlin (Falls County east of Waco)
Visit three tallgrass prairie conservation easements (Lehmann Prairie, Wieting Prairie, and Drews Prairie) held by NPAT and Riesel Prairie which is owned by NPAT.
Meet in Marlin at 9:30 AM at the Dairy Queen (1427 Live Oak St) which is on the east side of Marlin close to the northwest corner of the intersection of State Highways 6 and 7. Click here for directions from Google Maps.
RSVP appreciated but not required to kunda_lee_wicce@texasprairie.org . If you are coming and don't RSVP, consider keeping this number with you: 512-669-6532 (mobile).
Meador Prairie Field Trip
April 19th (Sat.) at 9amSaint Jo (Cooke/Montague County west of Fort Worth)
See one of the largest areas of tallgrass prairie remaining in Texas! Bill Meador's prairies, totaling over 1500 acres, in the Fort Worth Prairie/Grand Prairie are used as low-input native hay meadows. We hope to see early spring prairie flowers such as Prairie Shooting Star (Dodecatheon meadia), Wild Hyacinth, Nutall's Camas, and others, and early native grass growth. Come see Bill Meador's terrific prairies on this special trip!
We will meet at the Dairy Queen in Saint Jo (309 S Broad St) at 9am. Click here for directions from Google Maps. Wear appropriate clothing, and bring water, sunscreen, and a snack.
Fort Worth Prairie Fest (Friends of Tandy Hills Natural Area)
April 26th (Sat.) at 11am-8pmFort Worth (Tandy Hills Natural Area)
From the Friends of Tandy Hills Natural Area: An outdoor festival to celebrate our connection to the natural world through Music, Art, Dance, Environmental Stewardship & Wildflower Tours. Free and Open to the Public!
Learn about Tandy Hills Natural Area & Prairie Preservation - one of the best places in D/FW to see prairie wildflowers! Entertainment (including live music), guest speakers, food and beverages, exhibitors, and more!
Go to the Fort Worth Prairie Fest web page for more information.
Simpson Prairie Field Trip
May 3rd (Sat.) at 9:30amCrawford (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 jason_spangler@texasprairie.org or 512-736-4199 for more information. Wear appropriate clothing, and bring water, sunscreen, and a snack.
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 kirsti_harms@texasprairie.org and/or pat_merkord@texasprairie.org. for more information and to RSVP.
Bear Creek Ranch Field Trip (DWF/TNC)
May 10th (Sat.), 10am - 1pmAledo (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
Nash Prairie Field Trip
May 17th (Sat.) at 10amWest 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. Click here to learn more about Nash Prairie.
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 jason_spangler@texasprairie.org or 512-736-4199 for more information. Wear appropriate clothing, and bring water, sunscreen, and a snack.
Clymer Meadow Field Trip (Nature Conservancy)
May 17th (Sat.), 10am -3pm
Celeste (Hunt County, NE of Dallas)
See the Nature Conservancy's event page for more details. Contact Jim Eidson, jeidson@tnc.org or (903) 568-4139 for more information and directions to the preserve.
Pittman Ranch Field Trip (DWF/TNC)
May 24th (Sat.), 10am - 1pmValley 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-2pmNear 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 reporter@uwmail.
Parkhill Prairie Field Trip
May 31st (Sat.), 10am - 2pmEastern 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 jevarnum@aol.com for more information. RSVP's are appreciated but not required.
21st North American Prairie Conference
August 4th-8th, 2008 (Mon-Fri)
Winona, MN at Winona State University
"The Prairie Meets the River" - Hosted by Winona State University, Winona, MN. See the conference web page for more information.
NPAT and TXSER Joint Conference - Grassland and Savanna Restoration
August 8-10, 2008Fort Davis, TX
Join us at the Texas Society for Ecological Restoration (TXSER) and the Native Prairies Association of Texas joint conference, to be held on August 8-10, 2008 at Sproul Ranch and Indian Lodge in Ft. Davis, Texas. The conference theme is Grassland and Savanna Restoration, however presentation topics are open to all areas of ecological restoration.
Optional field trips are scheduled for Friday, August 8th followed by an evening mixer. The Plenary Address and 24 presentations (15 minutes + 5 minutes Q&A) will be held Saturday, April 9th, from 9 am to noon, and from 1 pm to 5 pm, and Sunday, April 10th, from 9 am to noon. An optional Saturday evening dinner and social is also scheduled.
Conference updates and additional information about Texas SER may be found at the Texas SER website: http://www.ser.org/txser. Information about the Native Prairies Association of Texas can be found at the NPAT website: http://www.texasprairie.org. Click here to read the call for abstracts.
Hotel and bed and breakfast accommodations in the Fort Davis area can be found at: http://www.fortdavis.com/accommodations.html. Information about camping at Davis Mountains State Park can be found at http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us.