Upcoming Field Trips
No new field trips are currently planned.
All field trips will leave PROMPTLY from the REI on LBJ location promptly at 8:30am. Please park on the far West side of the bldg, not in front. If you live close to any site it can be arranged to get directions to the site at the monthly meeting beforehand. Please wear appropriate footwear (close-toed shoes), long pants, and bring your own water bottle, and insect repellent, not that you'll need it. NO, the caravan to these spots will NOT stop at Subway so you can buy a sandwich if you need a picnic lunch, and public bathrooms - who needs those? We will try to take only as many automobiles as needed. STEVE Spurger, field trip chair, can be reached at stevenspurger@yahoo.com In case of inclement weather or if unsure, someone will be at the REI parking lot to advise if the trip has been cancelled. Just a little rain will NOT cancel a trip. Sorry, but you'll need to leave fido at home or in your car!!
Past Field Trips
May 22, leave REI at 8:30 am, return or on your own at 11:30 am.
We will visit Dogwood Canyon and Bruce Ballengee's (a member's) four acre back yard habitat in Cedar Hill. Randy Schoen from the new Audubon Center will guide us through part of Dogwood Canyon and about half way through we will come out into Bruce's yard where he has identified more than 200 species of native plants!! Golden-cheeked warblers have been seen here!! The canyon will require some up and down, but is only about one mile of hiking. I'd surely have dragged my kids on it when they were little. This will be a great combination of really wild and some domesticated less wild fare. The Dogwood Canyon Hike will start about ½ mile from Bruce's home.
April 24, leave REI at 8:30 am, return after picnic lunch.
We'll visit the Molly Hollar Wildscape Park in Arlington. Molly Hollar, 82 started this effort in 1994 with $3,000. It is now over 4 acres. There is a maze of pond, creeks, benches and thousands of native plants. If someone close to you says your idea for your native bed is out of control, you need to take them to this wildscape. Wow!! I cannot imagine the thousands of volunteer hours and $$ used. It IS very impressive. There are also non-natives and rose gardens nearby, so everyone's personal needs will be satisfied by the great beauty. This is an easy walk, some up and down, but a short hike that young kids or grandma can do.
March 27, leave REI at 8:30 am, return after picnic lunch.
We'll visit the Molly Hollar Wildscape Park in Arlington. MolDallas voters have approved over $1.6 Billion for The Great Trinity Forest to develop these 6,000 acres on the south side of the city bordering the Trinity river flood plain. Who has seen much of it, on foot? There are many trailheads many places, we'll try to do two trails and will hike approx. 5 miles. Those who want to hike less can. Likely there will be wet spots, so don't wear your Sunday finest shoes. Much of this area contains big old oaks, and many other natives, so bring your tree field guide and expect birds! Trail conditions here vary greatly.
February 27, leave REI at 8:30, return after a picnic lunch on site.
Sabal Palm Groves in far southern Dallas County. Dallas County Open Space runs this 600 acre preserve near the Trinity River. There are 282 acres of protected Palmetto Palms which have possibly grown here anywhere from 10,000 to 100,000 years. Some of these palms are 8 to 12' tall!! So they are VERY VERY native and unusual for this area. Last count there were 27 breeding pairs of alligators in this swamp with evidence of many other animals. So if you have small children, we will keep them close. There are poisonous snakes and the trail may be a bit grown up; we will go while the weather is still cool. Hike as much or as little as desired.
