NPAT Houston Chapter Meeting - January 25, 2012 - 6:30-8:30 PM

Location: Bayland Community Center, 6400 Bissonnet, Houston, TX 77074
Presentation: Conservation Easements by Dalmara Bayne Executive Director of NPAT

Agenda:
I. 6:30 to 7:00 PM Social & Refreshments

II. 7:00 PM Business Meeting:
      A. Report on Prairie Heritage Day
      B. Report on SOP Conference
      C. Announcements/Reports on recent Prairie Plant rescues
      D. Presentation and Vote on New Officers for 2012
          We have a complete slate of new officers for 2012 and we need everyone to come out and
          support them as we begin this year.
      E. Introduce Guest Speaker:
          Dalmara Bayne, Executive Director of NPAT

III. 7:30 – 8:30 PM Presentation:
      “Conservation Easements” –

      This is a program on what conservation easements are, how they work and how they can be used to acquire and save prairies.  This presentation is a MUST if you are concerned about saving prairies in the Houston area.  Don’t miss this presentation!

Texas Society for Ecological Restoration Annual Conference - Nov. 2-4, 2012

Houston Area Seed Collection Days

It’s seed collecting time again! Save the following dates to accompany Tom Solomon and other Texas Master Naturalists to collect prairie seeds in and around the greater Houston area.

  U of H Coastal Prairie - Tuesday November 15, 2011 from 8:15 am to 11:45 am
  Nash Prairie - Friday November 25, 2011 from 8:45 am to 12:00 pm

Additional details will be forthcoming from Tom Solomon.  Please inform anyone who might be interested but remember, parking is severely limited at the Nash Prairie, so plan on arriving early!

Sheldon Lake State Park Native Prairie Plant-a-thon! - Nov. 12th

When: Nov. 12th, 2011
Where: Sheldon Lake State Park, 15315 Beaumont Hwy., Houston, TX, 77049
Contact: 281-465-2800 x230 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Please RSVP for this event using the contact information listed above.

Texas Prairie Blaze - Annual Membership Meeting, Nov. 19th, 2011

Native Prairies Association of Texas
ANNUAL MEMBERS MEETING
Saturday November 19, 2011
Katy, Texas

You are invited to join the Native Prairies Association of Texas for the Annual Members Meeting. Come meet with our organization’s President, board members, Executive Director, and staff to talk about the current and future plans and projects of NPAT. This will be an opportunity for members and guests to meet others in the organization and to voice their questions, comments, and concerns.

Time: 5:30 p.m.
Location: Goode Co. Texas BBQ
8911 Katy Freeway in Hedwig Village
(I-10, between Campbell and Bingle, on the south side)
Upstairs balcony room

 

Urban Forest Stewards - Classes begin Nov. 5th

TreeFolks and the City of Austin teaming up to train a new crop of urban forest stewards to nurture and renew central Texas’ urban forest.

    This popular class is back to teach the essentials of caring for a very precious resource – TREES! Urban Forest Stewards will deepen their connection to the roots of their community by learning how to care for and grow the urban forest. Graduates will strengthen the community voice for urban forestry: they may join or start a new Adopt-A-Park group, increase their advocacy for the urban forest resource, become team leads on planting and maintenance days, or simply spread the word about proper tree care around their neighborhood.

    This 4 part class is taught by certified arborists, foresters, landscape professionals, and community leaders to teach you all about trees. Topics include: tree selection, placement and planting; tree care and pruning for both young and mature trees; tree identification; and how to work with partners to implement successful tree planting, maintenance and education events in your neighborhood.

Classes held first Saturday of the month, for four months at the Zilker Botanical Garden:
Garden Center Building, 2220 Barton Springs Road, Austin.

Saturdays from 10 am to 2 pm on November 5, December 3, January 7, and February 4
Registrants must be able to attend all 4 classes

Direct registration link: http://treefolks.org/2011/10/urban-forest-steward-series/
Registration also available through our homepage: www.treefolks.org

CEU’s will be available for ISA certified arborists.

Cultivate your Backyard Birds

Docents of Zilker Botanical Garden
present
Cultivate your Backyard Birds
with Jane Tillman
Chair of the Travis Audubon Urban Habitat Committee
National Wildlife Federation Habitat Steward Host since 2003
Capital Area Master Naturalist
Austin Butterfly Forum member

When: Saturday, October 29, 10:00-11:30 am
Where: Austin Area Garden Center, Zilker Botanical Garden (CLICK HERE FOR MAP)
For more information call: (512) 970-3405

Who is that perched on your bird feeder? What can you do to help birds live to sing another day?  If you want to get acquainted with common backyard birds that are here year round and common winter visitors that are arriving on the north winds, this class is for you. Basic bird identification will be covered along with ways to make your yard/greenbelt/local park more attractive to birds. Join us for this fun and informative program!

“Preserving Family Lands and Rural Heritage” - Nov. 11th

NPAT Houston Chapter meeting - October 26

When: Oct. 26, 2011, 6:30 PM
Location: 6400 Bissonnet, Houston, TX 77074 (Click HERE for map)

Agenda:
6:30-7:00 PM – Social – Bring a Snack!

6:30-7:00 PM – Set up Plants for Viewing – Plants will be provided but you may bring additional prairie plants for viewing by others – set-up and labeling is during this time

7:00 – 7:30 – Reports
• Prairie Heritage Day– We need volunteers! Report-Cheryl Sedivec
• CPP/NPAT Conference – Plan to Attend! Report by Susie Doe
• NPAT Membership Meeting Announcement – NPAT’s Annual Membership Meeting will be held during the CPP/NPAT conference - Details will be announced – Report by P. Merkord
• Update on prairie brochure
• Plan for November & December Meetings
• December election of officers

7:30 – 8:15 – How to Recognize Remnant Prairies Part II: Grass & Forb ID
• Hands on viewing of Native Prairie Plant Specimens with Tips on ID – specimens will be in groups, some invasives will also be displayed

8:15 – 8:45 “Mystery Plants Contest” – Prizes for Winners
• Reminders for Next Meeting
• Adjourn

8:45-9:00 – Clean Room and Be Out By 9:00 PM!

NPAT Houston Chapter Meeting - Sept. 28th

When: Sept. 28, 2011, 6:30 PM
Where: 6400 Bissonnet, Houston, TX

Agenda:

6:30-7:00 PM – Social – Bring a Snack!

7:00 – 7:30 – Reports:

• Prairie Heritage Day – Cheryl Sedivec
• CPP/NPAT Conference – Susie Doe
• NPSOT Conference – Lan Shen

7:30 – 8:45 - Business Meeting:

• Decide on name for brochure: Coastal Prairies: A Guide to the Grasslands of Greater Houston Area (proposed name for guide submitted by Jaime Gonzalez)
• Decide on counties to be canvassed for brochure and significant prairies to include
• Make a list of things to be included in a description for each location
• Ask for Volunteers to Write Descriptions for Nash Prairie, Armand Bayou, San Jacinto Monument, Galveston Island State Park, and Brazos Bend State Park & Bring to next meeting
• Announce Next Meeting: Oct. 26: Program will be: How to Recognize Remnant Prairies Part II: Grass & Forb ID; Will be A Hands On ID Session with actual plants and ends with a “Mystery Plants Contest” (by Pat & Glenn Merkord)
• Any New Business or Reminders
• Adjourn

8:45-9:00 – Clean Room and Be Out By 9:00 PM!

Sign up for the State of the Prairie Conference Now!

JOIN US FOR THE 3RD ANNUAL STATE OF THE PRAIRIE CONFERENCE BUILDING PRAIRIES FROM YOUR BACKYARD TO THE BACK 40 NOVEMBER 18-19 IN HOUSTON!

Coastal Prairie Partnership and Native Prairie Association of Texas are proud to announce the 3rd Annual State of the Prairie Conference to be held in Houston, TX from Nov. 18-19 at the Houston Zoo’s Brown Education Center, followed by field trips to prairie remnants all over Houston. Each year this event attracts the sharpest minds in prairie conservation from Texas, Louisiana, and the Midwest to spark lively conversations and provide practical, real-world solutions to restore, conserve, and educate about local prairies for multiple uses.

We’ll have presentations and field experiences that focus on prairies and cattle production, landscaping with prairie natives, ecotourism, biodiversity, prairie wetlands and more. So if you are a rancher, conservationist, landscape architect, educator, naturalist, or just curious about building build prairies in rural or urban areas, this event is for you!

What: 3rd Annual State of the Prairie Conference
When: November 18-19, 2011
Where: Houston Zoo’s Brown Education Center - November 18. Various locations around Houston - November 19.
How Much: $50 for indoor session at Houston Zoo (student rate available) on November 18 and $10 - $25 for November 19 Field Experiences.
Registration: Full details and registration available at www.coastalprairiepartnership.org

 

Tandy Hills Litter Stomp and Creek Bed Exploration

Don Young writes:

The 1st Neighborhood FALL LITTER STOMP
Saturday September 17th, 9am to 12pm

We have an amazing opportunity RIGHT NOW because the drought has dried up the creek. That means, we can walk the creek beds (neat!) and clean up the cups, cans and crud that will (when we eventually get rain) be washed all along the creek’s path through THNA and into the Trinity River.

WHEN & WHERE:
Meet at Stratford Park picnic table at 9:00 AM this coming Saturday, September 17. 2288 Chelsea Road @ 4000 Meadowbook Drive. Park on Chelsea Rd.  (Stratford Park is on the eastern border of Tandy Hills)

WHAT:
Spend the morning adventuring and making a difference.
It will be fun, and you’ll see bits of the Natural Area that you have possibly never seen before.

BRING:
The City of Fort Worth is providing Bags, Gloves, and a couple of “Little Grabbers”.
If you have Gloves or Grabbers, you may want to bring them along.

WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU?
A tee-shirt!
A Certificate of appreciation (woo!)
And a sense of accomplishment on your next visit to Tandy Hills/Stratford Park.

RSVP & ADDITIONAL INFO:
Contact: Jen Schultes
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Official city web page

Travis Country Prairie Campaign Underway! Pledge Your Support Today!

With your help, we can save a remnant prairie in the heart of Austin!

    The Native Prairies Association of Texas has launched a pledge campaign to purchase a 12.45 acre remnant prairie in Travis Country; located in south Austin and one of Austin’s first green developments.  This excellent example of remnant savanna grasslands is currently owned by AISD but is in imminent danger of being sold for development.  Urban representations of this ecosystem are rare and necessary to water quality, habitat, and would provide a great outreach-educational opportunity.  Please help preserve this example of one of the most imperiled ecosystems in Texas!  Click the following link for more information and a printable pledge card:

http://traviscountryprairie.blogspot.com/

NPAT Houston Chapter Meeting - August 24th

Hello Houston Area Prairie Enthusiasts,

Summer vacation is about to come to a close and it is time for our next HNPAT meeting.  Our meeting is the same time and place, August 24th at 6:30PM to 8:30PM, Bayland Community Center, 6400 Bissonnet, Houston, Texas.  Jaime Gonzalez will be our guest speaker with important information on how our organization can cooperate and work with the Coastal Prairie Partnership and an update on what this organization is currently doing.  Please come and support efforts in the Houston Area to preserve, restore and educate about our coastal prairies.  There are many important events coming up including the CPP/HNPAT conference in November, the NPSOT conference in Houston and Prairie Heritage Day in November.  Come and find out how you can volunteer and help with these events. 

Remarkable Riparian Summit - Oct. 6th, San Antonio, TX

Where:
Blue Star Contemporary Art Center
116 Blue Star
San Antonio, TX 78204
Driving Directions

When:
Thursday, October 6, 2011
9 AM to 4 PM CDT

Mark your calendar to join us for a gathering of passionate riparian people!  The Remarkable Riparian Summit presents a new opportunity to Map the Future for Functional Creeks & Rivers in Texas.

Hosted by the Nueces River Authority (NRA), the Summit will kick off with presentations by the National Riparian Service Team who will focus on the importance and ecological values of riparian resources, share their experience from other states, and provide an overview of the riparian movement shaping up around the country.

Sky Jones-Lewey, NRA’s Resource Protection and Education Director, will highlight the Riparian Landowners’ Network program with an overview of the principles and practices that led to a successful effort in the Nueces River basin.

Following a provided lunch, the afternoon will center on facilitated roundtable discussions that will contribute to the development and growth of a thriving riparian movement in Texas. The resulting ideas, strategies and actions will be compiled in a proceedings document for distribution to agencies, educational institutions, and policy-makers around the state.

The Remarkable Riparian Summit is a free event thanks to our sponsors:  Dixon Water Foundation, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, River Systems Institute at Texas State University, LCRA, SARA, GBRA, Guadalupe Blanco River Trust, John Newman Family Charitable Trust of the San Antonio Area Foundation, Shield-Ayres Foundation, Save the Laja, Inc. honoring Susan Porter Smith, Braun & Gresham, Land Water Sky, Texas Riparian Association and Hill Country Alliance.

The event is free, but space is limited.

Be Remarkable & Register Today.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!

By Popular Demand:
Riparian Workshop on Oct 5

If you’ve been unable to attend one of NRA’s Riparian Work-shops or simply want to hone your riparian understanding, the San Antonio River Authority is hosting a special one-day workshop presented by NRA’s riparian teaching team. The workshop is Wed, October 5, 9 am to 4 pm, in the SARA Board Room, 100 E. Guenther, SA 78204. Click here to register for this pre-Summit workshop with Laura Waldrum, SARA Community Relations Coordinator.

One-Hour Webinar

Another way to brush up on riparian principles and values is through a one-hour webinar, Understanding Your Remarkable Riparian Areas led by Sky Jones-Lewey, part of Texas Wildlife Association’s Wildlife for Lunch webinar series. Click here to view the webinar.

PROJECT BLAZING STAR WORK DAYS SLATED FOR JULY 16 (Houston - Hermann Park)

What: Whistlestop Prairie Work Day
When: July 16th, 8am - 11am
Where: Whistlestop Prairie, Hermann Park, Houston, TX

Chris Gray, Texas Master Naturalist, will lead volunteers in a work day at the Whistlestop Prairie in scenic Hermann Park this Saturday, July 16th from 8 am - 11 am. This work day is part of Project Blazing Star, a project focusing on restoring three locations in historic Hermann Park.  Volunteers are needed to remove invasive species from this new, highly visible pocket prairie. Volunteers are encouraged to bring their own gloves, water, and hat.

PRAIRIE RESTORATION AT HOUSTON AUDUBON’S HORSESHOE MARSH ON JULY 21 (Bolivar Peninsula)

What: Horseshoe Marsh Bird Sanctuary Work Day
When: July 21st
Where: Horseshoe Marsh Bird Sanctuary, Bolivar Peninsula (see below for sanctuary and meeting location)

Tom Solomon and other Texas Master Naturalists will lead a July workday at Horseshoe Marsh Bird Sanctuary near Port Bolivar (about 3 miles north of the ferry on the west (left) side of Route 87) from 9 am to noon on July 21. Sandwiches will be available before the ride home.

Volunteers will leave from southeast Houston by carpool from Home Depot (El Dorado & I-45) departing promptly at 7:30 am traveling to HEB (Texas 646 and I-45) where we will depart at 7:50 AM.  Activities will include planting a small quantity of 1-gallon containers in fairly sandy soil using watering protocol.  The major activity will consist of bumping up seedlings into 1- gallon containers in preparation for a fall planting. This will be accomplished on tables underneath tents to minimize sun exposure.  Please contact Tom Solomon if you plan to attend so sufficient materials (as well as food) will be available.

America’s Grasslands Conference - August 15 - 18

The National Wildlife Federation and South Dakota State University are pleased to announce our upcoming conference: “America’s Grasslands: Status, Threats and Opportunities,” to be held in Sioux Falls, SD August 15-18. The conference will bring together biologists, policy experts, ranchers, federal and state agency staff, representatives of elected officials, and conservationists for a two days to discuss the latest information on the status, threats and opportunities related to North American grasslands in order to raise the national profile of this endangered ecosystem and inform those interested in developing a roadmap for its conservation. The event will be immediately followed by a “Grasslands Policy Summit” on August 18th sponsored by the National Wildlife Federation, Ducks Unlimited, The Nature Conservancy, and World Wildlife Fund.

The conference starts on Monday afternoon, August 15th, with an optional field trip to EcoSun Prairie Farm and an evening welcoming reception at the Sheraton Conference Center in Sioux Falls.  Tuesday and Wednesday are dedicated to a series of symposia discussing selected topic areas, including grazing and grasslands, grassland restoration and management, energy development, climate change and grasslands, and federal policy. The conference will be followed by a policy summit on Thursday, August 18th.  The goal of the policy summit is to brainstorm strategies to elevate national interest in and conservation of North American grasslands.

For more information about this conference, CLICK HERE.

Land Conservation Tools to Aid Farmers and Ranchers - October 21

Who: Connemara Conservancy
What: Land Conservation Tools to Aid Farmers and Ranchers Workshop
When: October 21st, 2011
Where: Family Life Center of the Bonham First United Methodist Church, 200 W. 8th Street, Bonham, Texas 75418

    Texas is losing productive agricultural land, ranches, open spaces and wildlife habitat faster than any other state in the nation.  To help farmers and ranchers keep their land intact and pass it on to the next generation, the Connemara Conservancy Foundation is hosting two “Land Conservation Tools” workshops in North Texas during 2011.  The first seminar was held in Denton on March 4th and was well attended by area farmers and ranchers.  Our second workshop will be held at the Family Life Center of the Bonham First United Methodist Church, at 200 W. 8th Street , Bonham, Texas 75418 on Friday afternoon, October 21st from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 pm.  Thanks to our generous sponsors, there will be no charge for landowners to attend this workshop.  However, we do request that you pre-register to assure sufficient space and handout materials.

    Many landowners are concerned about conserving those special natural features on their family-owned lands and maintaining the productivity of their properties – even after his or her ownership comes to an end.  They also are concerned with the economics and increasing tax burdens associated with land ownership, including the potential impact of estate taxes on their heirs.  This three-hour seminar is designed to provide farmers, ranchers and other landowners with effective tools and resources to help them deal with the issues inherent in passing family land on to future generations and improving their lands. 

WORKSHOP TOPICS:
•Tools to Aid Landowners in Protecting Their Properties and Saving Taxes
•Conservation Easement Basics: Landowner Considerations and Costs
•Income and Estate Tax Implications of Conserving Land
•USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Programs
•Landowner Perspective on Donating a Conservation Easement

To register for the workshop in downtown Bonham, please call Connemara Conservancy at (214)351-0990 and leave your contact information, or go online to our “Get Involved - Attend an Event” page at www.connemaraconservancy.org

Urban Wildlife Workshop - June 25th, 10 a.m.; Austin, TX

Janelle Dozier writes:

Birds, Bees, Butterflies and More!
Ever wondered what you could do to attract more hummingbirds to your garden?  Or wondered how you could raise a few caterpillars so your children could watch them transform to butterflies?  Have you ever thought it was not possible because your yard is just too small?

The Mueller Landscape Interest group can help with its workshop about “Tiny Urban Wildlife” this Saturday.  Meet on the lake side of Mueller Central at 10:00 a.m.

Come hear about Urban Wildlife Habitats from James Stewart, City of Austin Parks Department. Learn what our tiny residents need to live, grow and raise their young.  Also learn about special habitat needs exist for butterflies and what you can do to attract these loveliest of neighbors to your garden.

Where:  The native/adapted plant garden behind Mueller Central (facing the lake in Lake Park).  This will be shady!
When:    Saturday, June 25, 10 a.m. - noon

Thanks to Joe Denton for coordinating this workshop!

Fabulous Fall Festival Plant Sale - hosted by SFA Gardens

SFA Gardens to host fall plant sale
at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center

NACOGDOCHES – The annual Fabulous Fall Festival plant sale at Stephen F. Austin State University’s Mast Arboretum will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, at the SFA Pineywoods Native Plant Center, 2900 Raguet St.

The event features the annual fall plant sale fundraiser benefiting the SFA Mast Arboretum, Pineywoods Native Plant Center, Ruby M. Mize Azalea Garden, Gayla Mize Garden, and educational programs hosted at the gardens.

A wide variety of hard-to-find, “Texas tough” plants will be available, including new introductions, Texas natives, heirlooms, perennials, and exclusive SFA introductions.  Most plants are extensively trialed in the gardens before being offered to the public.

This plant sale fundraiser benefits the SFA Gardens and its educational programs, which reach over 15,000 students ages 1 to 100 on a yearly basis.

The public is encouraged to arrive early and bring a wagon. For more information, call (936) 468-4404, or visit http://arboretum.sfasu.edu and click on “upcoming events.”

Native Plant Society of Texas Symposium 2011

The Native Plant Society of Texas (NPSOT) presents Symposium 2011, an environmental education event, to be held in Houston, Texas, on October 13th-16th at the Omni Houston Hotel at Westside located at 13210 Katy Freeway and Eldridge Parkway.Our educational theme for Symposium 2011 will be:

“Habitat CPR: Creating, Preserving, and Restoring Native Habitats in a Changing World” featuring the Coastal Prairies and Marshes of Texas

Symposium 2011 is open to anyone interested in the role that native habitats play in our daily lives and offers a tremendous opportunity to learn how to restore and preserve our state’s rich and diverse native plant communities.  For more information please CLICK HERE.

State of the Prairie - Save the date!

Sheldon Lake State Park Field Trip

• June 4th - Sheldon Lake State Park & Environmental Learning Center
We will be touring the restored prairie at Sheldon Lake State Park & Environmental Learning Center where recently park officials used a prescribed burn to aid in the management of the land.  This field trip will focus on how the prairie plants and animals respond to fire and will include a discussion about and photos taken prior to the burn.  This field trip coincides with the article in the Winter 2010-2011 NPAT newsletter (Vol. 23, No. 4) and is part of a series of field trips demonstrating the methods and techniques used throughout the year for a prairie restoration project.  No park admission fees.  We will meet at the Sheldon Lake Environmental Learning Center near the park headquarters at 10:00 AM and begin the tour shortly thereafter. The address of the state park is 15315 Beaumont Highway (Business 90) @ Park Road 138, Houston, TX 77049 (CLICK HERE FOR MAP).

Eunice Restored Prairie Work Day (Eunice, LA)

Dr. Charles Allen writes:

You and you and you and even you are invited to participate in a work day at the Eunice Restored Prairie on Saturday, June 4th.  We are planning to attempt to control invasives (tallow, privet, mulberry, johnson grass, etc.)  We will also gather seeds for the attached project.  This planting is planned on the Duralde Prairie this November.  Show up as early as 8:00 am and we will work until it is too hot probably about 8:30, no, hopefully until noon or so.  Bring gloves and water for herbicide and for yourself.  We will also make sure that the trails are open and ready for walking

Read about the Duralde Prairie Demonstation HERE.

Seed Collection at Armand Bayou Nature Center - June 3rd

HELP VOLUNTEERS COLLECT MILKWEED AND OTHER NATIVE SEEDS THIS FRIDAY IN PASADENA, TX

What: Seed Collection Field Trip
When: Friday, June 3rd, 8:30am - 11:30am
Where: Armand Bayou Nature Center

Texas Master Naturalist Tom Solomon will lead volunteers on a seed collecting field trip at Armand Bayou Nature Center this Friday, June 3th from 8:30 am - 11:30 am. Tom and his crew will focus on collecting green milkweed seed but will also collect other species. Some of the seed collected on this special trip will be used to grow millkweed plants for local schools.

Click HERE for a map to the nature center.

Clymer Meadow Preserve Field Trip

• May 28st - Clymer Meadow Preserve
Join NPAT and The Nature Conservancy and explore an extremely unique and biodiverse remnant of the Blackland Prairie, the Clymer Meadow Preserve.  The 1068-acre Clymer Meadow Preserve is a preserved remnant of the tallgrass prairies that used to blanket the landscape from the Texas coast to southern Manitoba and is home to huge variety of vegetation and wildlife.  Named for pioneer Jim Clymer, who bought the first tracts in the 1850s, Clymer Meadow serves as a center for study of the Blackland Prairie and has been the site of more than a dozen scientific investigations ranging in scope from inventories of prairie invertebrates to noxious weed control. Universities, private research organizations, and public and private primary and secondary schools have used the meadow as a teaching site. Landowners in the area can view this as a invitation to learn about how to properly conserve and manage their land while prairie enthusiasts will have a chance to visit a very unique location and become acquainted with the local flora and fauna.
The field trip includes a tour of the Clymer Meadow Preserve as well as discussion of vegetation and wildlife found on the preserve.  Discussion of land management practices and unique features and aspects of this preserve will also provide attendees with insight as to how and why these delicate ecosystems are being preserved. No admission fee. The tour will begin at 10am.  Clymer Meadow Preserve is located at 6210 CR 1140, Celeste 75423 (CLICK HERE FOR MAP).

(photo: Jason Spangler 2007)

NPAT Houston Chapter Meeting - May 25th

This month’s meeting for the Houston chapter of NPAT will highlight the chapter’s current efforts in creating a guide detailing prairie remnants in the Houston area with a presentation of some of the locations and pictures collected thus far.  The meeting will also include the approval of the minutes from the previous meeting, the planning of the next 4 HNPAT meetings, and a discussion of the upcoming Prairie Heritage Day event.

Date: May 25th
Time: 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Location: Bayland Community Center, 6400 Bissonnet, Houston, Texas 77074 (CLICK HERE FOR MAP)

Agenda:

I. 6:30 – 7:00 Social

II. 7:00 – 8:00 Program:  “Remnant Prairies in the Houston Area” presented by Glenn and Pat Merkord – This presentation will present through pictures some of the Houston area Native Prairie Remnants and their characteristics.  The presentation will include some public prairie remnants that will be included in the upcoming Houston Remnant Prairie Guide.

III. 8:00 - 8:30 – Business Meeting
A.  Approve Minutes from previous meeting
B.  Discussion of how to proceed on the Prairie Guide and set date for next field trip to view & photograph area remnants
C.  Plan for the next 4 HNPAT meetings
D.  Update on Prairie Heritage Day
E.  Other Business

Maddin Prairie Preserve Breeding Bird Survey and Open Preserve Day

When: Saturday May 21st

Activities: During this open preserve day we will be conducting our annual breeding bird survey as well as finishing the new electric fence for the prairie dog colony and begin the initial steps for building trails around the preserve.  CLICK HERE to see a bird checklist created in 2006.  Let’s try to make some new additions to this list and reconfirm some of our old friends!

Location: Mitchell County, about 7 miles south of Colorado City off of Hwy 208. The 1100-acre Maddin Prairie Preserve is owned by the Native Prairie Association of Texas (NPAT). In addition to the native prairie on the property, NPAT has restored the old cotton fields to diverse grassland and now one can wade through sand bluestem, little bluestem, side oats grama, and purple three-awn stands down to the prairie dog town that was established in the mid 2000’s. CLICK HERE for a map to the preserve.

For more information and to RSVP, please contact Kirsti at 512-296-9160 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Participants must wear long pants, closed toed shoes or boots for hiking on rugged terrain. Participants should bring their own work gloves and a water bottle to carry with them to work site.

Other Considerations:
* Activity may occur in windy, cloudy or drizzly conditions, but will be cancelled in the event of heavy rain, or lightning.
* Bathroom facilities are both nowhere and all around you.
* Those with allergies to bee stings or fire ants should be prepared as necessary. A first aid kit will be available on site.
* There is the possibility participants may encounter snakes, spiders, scorpions and other wildlife.

Seed Collection Trip at Brazos Bend State Park

Coastal Prairie Partnership presents:

SEED COLLECTING TRIP - BRAZOS BEND STATE PARK W/ SIDE TRIP TO NASH PRAIRIE (Upper Texas Coast)

Tom Solomon has organized what is sure to be an exciting day on the prairie. His first seed collection of the year will be held at Brazos Bend State Park on Tuesday May 24th from 9 to 11 AM. Following the seed collection (targeting Brown Seed Paspalum and Silver Bluestem plus whatever else is available at the time), the group will travel for a brief view of the recently purchased Nash Prairie, hosted by The Conatys, followed by a lunch at the local establishment.  The personnel from the Southeast Houston area will carpool from Home Depot (El Dorado & I-45) departing promptly at 7:30 AM traveling to HEB (Texas 646 and I-45) where we will depart at 7:50 AM.  Park entry fees will only be waived if we enter the park as a group.  Consequently, we will meet at the entry cabin at 9 AM.  Mr. Dennis Jones will lead us to the “secret” park seed source for our collection activities. 

Please contact .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) if you plan to attend so that you can receive a cancellation notice if inclement weather should arrive and so that we will have a tally of participants.  The main purpose of the seed collection is to increase diversity of the plants being returned to the prairie.

NPAT Summer Field Trips

NPAT has several field trips scheduled in May and June in different locations around Texas.  These field trips are a great way to see some of the best preserved prairies in Texas and are a excellent way to introduce children and friends to places that keep prairie enthusiasts visiting time after time.  Check out what’s happening in your area and join us for a day of fun!

• May 7th - Marysee Prairie Preserve
Marysee Prairie Preserve is a remnant prairie protected and managed by the Texas Land Conservancy since 1991.  This preserve was previously managed by the Nature Conservancy, beginning in 1973.  This preserve is the only preserved prairie remnant in the Big Thicket area and is considered a crossroads for native coastal prairie, tall grasses, and short grass savannas.  A wide variety of vegetation and wildlife habitats thrive on this property.  Mima mounds, or pimple mounds, found on the preserve also indicate the presence of prairie in recent history and help show how the local ecosystems have changed over the last several thousand years.
Join NPAT and the Texas Land Conservancy on Saturday, May 7th at 10:00am as we tour this outstanding remnant of native prairie, located in the Big Thicket area northeast of Houston.  The field trip will include a guided tour of the property as well as a discussion of the previous restoration and land management efforts made by the Texas Land Conservancy.  This is a great opportunity to enjoy a beautiful remnant of the past while still being a short distance from the Houston area. No admission fee. CLICK HERE FOR A MAP.

• May 14th - NPAT Easements and Property in Falls County
In the heart of Texas, just east of Temple is the location of several conservation easements and properties managed or owned by NPAT.  Come join several representatives of NPAT as we tour the Nelson L. Wieting Prairie, Lehmann Prairie, and Riesel Prairie.  These remnants of Blackland Prairie are are located on private property and are generally unavailable for people to tour.  This is an excellent opportunity to walk through prairies similar to what the pioneers found in central Texas over 200 years ago!
We will meet at 10am on May 14th in the parking lot of Dairy Queen at the intersection of Live Oak St (Hwy. 7) and Hwy. 6 in Marlin, TX (CLICK HERE FOR MAP).  We will then travel to each easement or property and take a tour of each.  Admission is free for NPAT members and $10 for non-members.  Parking is limited at each location so carpool with your friends and family.  Contact .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) with any questions or to RSVP (not required).

• May 28st - Clymer Meadow Preserve
Join NPAT and The Nature Conservancy and explore an extremely unique and biodiverse remnant of the Blackland Prairie, the Clymer Meadow Preserve.  The 1068-acre Clymer Meadow Preserve is a preserved remnant of the tallgrass prairies that used to blanket the landscape from the Texas coast to southern Manitoba and is home to huge variety of vegetation and wildlife.  Named for pioneer Jim Clymer, who bought the first tracts in the 1850s, Clymer Meadow serves as a center for study of the Blackland Prairie and has been the site of more than a dozen scientific investigations ranging in scope from inventories of prairie invertebrates to noxious weed control. Universities, private research organizations, and public and private primary and secondary schools have used the meadow as a teaching site. Landowners in the area can view this as a invitation to learn about how to properly conserve and manage their land while prairie enthusiasts will have a chance to visit a very unique location and become acquainted with the local flora and fauna.
The field trip includes a tour of the Clymer Meadow Preserve as well as discussion of vegetation and wildlife found on the preserve.  Discussion of land management practices and unique features and aspects of this preserve will also provide attendees with insight as to how and why these delicate ecosystems are being preserved. No admission fee. The tour will begin at 10am.  Clymer Meadow Preserve is located at 6210 CR 1140, Celeste 75423 (CLICK HERE FOR MAP).

• June 4th - Sheldon Lake State Park & Environmental Learning Center
We will be touring the restored prairie at Sheldon Lake State Park & Environmental Learning Center where recently park officials used a controlled burn to aid in the management of the land.  This field trip will focus on how the prairie plants and animals respond to fire and will include a discussion about and photos taken prior to the burn.  This field trip coincides with the article in the Winter 2010-2011 NPAT newsletter (Vol. 23, No. 4) and is part of a series of field trips demonstrating the methods and techniques used throughout the year for a prairie restoration project.  More information concerning this field trip will be available soon.

6th Annual Fort Worth Prairie Fest

Coastal Prairies: Houston’s Heartland

Date/ Time: April 19, 20, & 21, 2011
Location: Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; 1001 Bissonnet at Main, Houston TX, 77005
Admission to the Exhibition: Florescence is open to the public with regular museum admission.  MFAH Members receive free admission.

On April 19th, 20th and 21st, Katy Prairie Conservancy and Coastal Prairie Partnership (with great assistance and support from The Garden Club of Houston, River Oaks Garden Club, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston) will debut their new traveling exhibit entitled Coastal Prairies: Houston’s Heartland as part of this year’s Florescence flower show.

The exhibit will showcase the fascinating history, biodiversity, ecosystem services, and restoration of our beloved coastal prairie in Harris and surrounding counties and will spotlight the many Texans working to ensure that the prairie survives in our area into the 21st century.  After its debut at the museum each of the exhibit’s four components will travel to nature centers and local public and private schools for one year starting in June 2011. This exhibit is a culmination of nearly a year of work by highly talented photographers, historians, artists, interpreters, gardeners, and many of you!  The program is designed to make the learning and teaching about prairies fun, purposeful, and simple.  Additionally, wildflowers grown by volunteers and used to accent the exhibit will be planted as part of the Hermann Park prairie restoration effort, Project Blazingstar.

Plant Sale at the Heard Mueseum

Friday April 15th: 4pm-7pm (members only, memberships available online or at plant sale)
Saturday April 16th: 9am-5pm (open to the public)
Sunday April 17th: 1pm-5pm (open to the public)

Location:
Heard Museum
1 Nature Place
McKinney, Texas 75069

Spring is the perfect time to start landscaping your yard. Each year for the past 20 years, veteran and novice gardeners alike have anticipated this rare opportunity to purchase plants from a huge selection of hard to find herbs, native and well-adapted plants.

This year, the Heard will also sell heirloom plants, providing some of the best plants for North Central Texas gardens and an opportunity to obtain many rare plants.We will offer some new plant species that have never been available at the Heard before!

Check out the 2011 Native Plant Sale list

Contact 972.562.5566 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) for more information

Garden Gala Day at Stephen F. Austin State University

The SFA Gardens at Stephen F. Austin State University will host its annual Garden Gala Day from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. April 16. The sale is moving to a new location at the SFA Pineywoods Native Plant Center, 2900 Raguet St., Nacogdoches, TX 75962

The SFA Campus Recreation’s Outdoor Pursuits program will host its 4th annual Earth Day Celebration in conjunction with this year’s sale. 

A wide variety of hard-to-find, “Texas tough” plants will be available, including new introductions, Texas natives, heirlooms, perennials and exclusive SFA introductions.  Plants are extensively trialed in the gardens before being offered to the public.

This plant sale fundraiser benefits the SFA Gardens and its educational programs, which reach over 15,000 students ages 1 to 100 on a yearly basis.

CLICK HERE for a list of available plants

The public is encouraged to arrive early and bring a wagon. For more information, call (936) 468-4404, or visit http://arboretum.sfasu.edu and click on “upcoming events.”

Houston NPAT Monthly Meeting - March 23rd

Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Bayland Community Center
6400 Bissonnet, Houston, Texas
6:30 – 8:30 PM

Discussion will include upcoming field trips, 3rd State of the Prairie Conference, and participation in Prairie Heritage Day, as well as any new business to attend to.

Program – Plight of the Prairie Dog presented by Pat Merkord, NPAT President – NPAT has been involved in a prairie dog restoration in Texas for the past 5 years.  This is a report on its success, progress, setbacks and future and how it applies to restoration of other species.  It also details the status of prairie dogs in the US today.

Agenda for Meeting:

6:30 – 7:00 Social

7:00 – 7:30 Business Meeting
1.  Minutes from Last Meeting & Welcome Members/Visitors

2.  Reminder of Next Meeting (4th Wed Each Month) Speaker – Mark Kramer – Armand Bayou – April 27, Wed

3.  Set Dates for Upcoming Field Trips/Activities
A.  Re-visit Houston prairie sites from last May’s trip

B.  Possible Team to Help with Vegetation Transects at Rosenberg Seabourne Creek Park Prairie Site with CPTMN Group

C.  Tour of Prairies in Montgomery, Walker & Liberty Counties to begin putting together information for brochure for Houston area prairie sites

D.  Other suggestions

4.  Report on meetings about participation with Prairie Heritage Day

5.  Report – NPAT will co-host with CPP the 3rd STATE OF THE PRAIRIE conference at the Houston Zoo

6.  New Business

Brodie Wild Volunteer Day

When: Saturday, February 26th - 9 a.m. to noon
Where: Brodie Wild (SW corner of Slaughter Lane and Brodie Lane, Austin, TX)

Come help us keep Brodie looking wild, natural, and clean too!

We will be cleaning up trash, clearing brush, removing invasive plants, and planting native plants and seeds to restore the native savanna and help the native grasses, flowers, and other plants and critters.

Please wear long pants and sturdy shoes.  Bring your own work gloves.  We’ll have trash bags and some tools but feel free to bring your own loppers.  We need wheelbarrows to haul brush, if you can bring one.

Park in one of the plazas around the corner and take the cross walk to Brodie Wild.

See the web site at http://npsot.org/Austin/BrodieWild/ for more information about Brodie Wild.  Get directions from Google Earth by clicking here .

Contact Leslie Bush at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or 512-217-8288 if you plan to come out and to get more information.

Land Conservation Tools to Aid Farmers and Ranchers

Friday, March 4th in Denton, TX

Connemara Conservancy, assisted by Texas Conservation Connection

Registration starts at 8:00 AM; Workshop 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM
$15 individual, $20 couples
Buffalo Valley Event Center
2946 Ganzer Road West, Denton, TX 76207

CLICK HERE for registration details

Topics include:

Tools to Aid Landowners in Protecting Their Properties and Saving Taxes
Conservation Easements Basics: Landowner Considerations and Costs
Income and Estate Tax Implications of Conserving Land
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Programs
Landowner Perspective on Donating a Conservation Easement

This workshop will outreach to landowners in the four counties of Denton, Wise, Montague and Cooke.
 

Contact:  Mr. RJ Taylor (214) 351-0990, Connemara Conservancy Land Conservation Director.

Native Plant Spring Symposium 2011

Native Plant Spring Symposium 2011
Native Grasses: Not Just for Mowing
Saturday, February 19, 2011;  9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m
Presented by: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and Native Plant Society of Texas

All you need to know about the benefits and beauty of native grasses will be on tap at the 10th Native Plant Spring Symposium at the Wildflower Center. Keynote speaker John Snowden, who owns Bluestem Nursery, will discuss the best native grasses for your landscape. Growing and identifying grass species will also be covered during morning sessions in the auditorium, with two hands-on workshops in the afternoon.

View program and register now!

It’s My Park Day at Blunn Creek Preserve

Austin TX, near St. Edwards University:

Blunn Creek Preserve
1300 St. Edward’s Drive
Austin, TX 78704

Saturday, March 5

We are celebrating by removing invasive plants, planting natives, improving trails, picking up trash and treasure, and enjoying the great outdoors.

Registration (and the all-important t-shirt signup!) is organized through the Austin Parks Foundation here:

CLICK HERE!

For more information about the ongoing effort to restore the Preserve, please see:

http://blunncreekpartnership.ning.com/

Or, if you have any questions, contact David Todd
512-416-0400

Nash Prairie Field Trip

Saturday, June 20th, 2009, 9:30am

(West Columbia, south of Houston)

When: Saturday, June 20th (Sat.) at 9:30 am
Where: West Columbia (Brazoria County, south of Houston)

Come visit Nash Prairie, over 300 acres of very special coastal tallgrass prairie!  Owned by the St. Mary’s Episcopal Church and the West Columbia Hospital District, this prairie is a rare remnant of the coastal prairie that once covered over six million acres of Texas and Louisiana.

Field trip leaders Rev. Peter Conaty, his wife Susan, botanist Dr. David Rosen (who has conducted studies of the prairie), and Lisa and Jason Spangler (NPAT president) will 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.  Read more about Nash Prairie by clicking here.

We will meet at Nash Prairie at 9:30 am.  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.  Wear appropriate clothing, and bring water, sunscreen, and a snack.  Field trips are open to everyone.

Contact Lisa Spangler, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or 512-736-5553 (cell), for more information.

Tallgrass prairie is the most endangered large ecosystem in North America, with less than 1% of Texas’ original 20 million acres estimated remaining.  In addition to beautiful prairie flowers and lush native grasses, our prairies are habitat for grassland birds, the most declining group of birds in North America, butterflies and other pollinators, and other prairie wildlife.  We must protect these special places to save Texas’ prairie heritage.

Tallgrass prairies also sequester large amounts of carbon, so tallgrass prairie restorations could be used to help fight global warming.  In addition, native grasslands increase water quality and quantity, a vital issue for our growing state.  Tallgrass prairie plantings on marginal cropland have been identified as the best source of low-input cellulosic biofuel that would not impact our food supply.

Join the Native Prairies Association of Texas (NPAT) to help advocate and protect Texas’ prairie heritage, native plants, and wildlife.

NPAT and TXSER Joint Conference - Grassland and Savanna Restoration

August 8-10, 2008

Fort 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.

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.

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.

Fort Worth Prairie Fest (Friends of Tandy Hills Natural Area)

April 26th (Sat.) at 11am-8pm

Fort 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.

Meador Prairie Field Trip

April 19th (Sat.) at 9am

Saint 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.

Falls County Prairies Field Trip

April 12th (Sat.) at 9:30am

Marlin (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 .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) .  If you are coming and don’t RSVP, consider keeping this number with you: 512-669-6532 (mobile).

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.

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 .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Other News

New Partners and Affiliations

NPAT has affiliated or partnered with multiple organizations with which we share common goals.  These include the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, which mentioned NPAT in the latest issue of Wildflower magazine (Summer 2007) along with an short article about a small Blackland Prairie tallgrass prairie restoration at the redevelopment of the former Mueller airport in Austin.

See the complete list of partners and affiliations on our web site.

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 .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

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, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Also see the field trip flyer.

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, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Also see the Poor Farm web site.

Upcoming Prairie Field Trips and Events

See the News and Events web page for more events and information.

Parker County Poor Farm Tour - June 8, 2007 - Friday 10am-1pm
256 acre property contains 50-60 acres of Little Bluestem-Indiangrass prairie on Grand Prairie limestone outcrops
For more information, contact Jeff Quayle, 817-729-0283, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Also see the Poor Farm web site.

Wildflower Tour of Bear Creek Ranch - June 9, 2007 - Saturday 10am-1pm
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, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Also see the field trip flyer.

Texas Prairie Coalition Meeting - June 25, 2007 - Monday 1pm
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.  Contact Jason Spangler, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or 512-736-4199, for more information.

Volunteer Opportunities

Get involved with prairie conservation, restoration, and education!

1.  NPAT is looking for volunteers to organize and lead prairie field trips, identify and record prairie remnants, educate people about native prairies, advocate prairie conservation and restoration to local groups and agencies, and to serve on the NPAT board.  Contact us at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or 512-772-4741 if interested.

2.  TPWD is looking for volunteers to help at a prairie booth near the small Indiangrass/Little Bluestem prairie planting during the TPWD Expo grounds in Austin.  They are looking for volunteers with a “passion for prairies who like to work with kids”.  October 6-7, 9am to 5pm.  They can offer an Expo t-shirt and tickets to the Expo banquet on Saturday evening.  Contact: Pat Morton, 512-912-7020 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Prairie Property for Sale

NPAT members have seen the following possibly native prairie sites for sale.  These could be good conservation buyer properties for restoring prairie along with a conservation easement.  For more information, contact Jason Spangler, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or 512-736-4199.

1.  180 acres near Bruceville-Eddy (Blackland Prairie) and I-35 of degraded tallgrass prairie (south of Waco).  Site contains Big Bluestem, Little Bluestem, Ceanothus, Wild Hyacinth, Prairie Celestial, Standing Winecup, Barbara’s Buttons, Perennial Paintbrush, Liatris, including endemics White Silphium and Pale-Leaf Yucca.  A wooded stream runs through property, and an asphalt driveway already exists.  Site seems mostly native, with mostly seeding of climax native grasses and brush control needed for restoration.

2.  80 acres near Paris (Blackland Prairie) with Silveus Dropseed-Longspike Tridens prairie including prairie flowers/forbs such as Liatris and Giant Coneflower.  Property contains a house, workshop, and pond.

3.  500 acres near Paris (Blackland Prairie) of possibly degraded Silveus Dropseed-Longspike Tridens prairie used as pasture, near Smiley-Woodfin Meadow.

Restoration/Grant Opportunities

USDA announces up to $1 billion in funding for wildlife conservation over 15 years

The USDA has announced a program for restoring habitat (i.e. native prairie) on former cropland for species that are identified at risk in State Wildlife Action Plans like grassland birds, native bees, and butterflies.  Texas’ State Wildlife Action Plan lists Blackland Prairie and Coastal Prairies and Marshes as the top two priority regions, and grassland birds are a large part of the at risk species for those regions.

Only land that was in crop production 4 out of 6 years between 1996 and 2002 qualifies.

Payments for land management and restoration

Up to 90% cost share – the cost to prepare habitat and plant vegetation for wildlife.
50% cost share for management, such as prescribed burns, that is required to maintain the vegetation for wildlife during the 10-15 year contract.
Whole fields can be enrolled as well as stream and wetland buffers.
Payments to the farmer’s pocket:

Annual rental payments based on average rental rates for the 3 predominant soils on the cropland being enrolled for the length of the CRP contract (10-15 years). Nationwide, the average rental rate is $49/ac and varies from $27/ac to $122/ac in state averages.
An additional $100/acre upfront incentive payment.
These funds can be combined with other funding and programs, for example to: offer additional money to turn a temporary contract into a permanent conservation easement.  Read more in the USDA/Environmental Defense announcement.

Please contact us at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or 512-772-4741 if interested in restoring native prairie and your property qualifies, especially if you are interested in a conservation easement on the restored prairie.

Expanded Conservation Easement Tax Benefits Available

If you own a native prairie, please consider a conservation easement with NPAT to protect your prairie.  The Pension Reform bill helps family farmers, ranchers, and other moderate-income landowners get a significant tax benefit for making the charitable donation of a conservation easement, restricting future development of their land to protect an important public resource.

The conservation tax incentive, in place for 26 years, has been adjusted to:

Raise the maximum deduction a donor can take for donating a conservation easement from 30% of adjusted gross income (AGI) in any year to 50%;
Allow farmers and ranchers to deduct up to 100% of AGI; and
Extend the carry-forward period for a donor to take tax deductions for a voluntary conservation agreement from 5 to 15 years.
These expanded benefits only apply to conservation easements donated before the end of 2007 (unless Congress passes another bill extending or making them permanent).

Please contact us at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or 512-772-4741 to learn more and discuss conservation easements.  Also learn more online on our web page and the Land Trust Alliance web site.

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