Due to hurricane Ike, the Beaumont Holiday Inn Plaza is closed for
repairs until the end of November 2008.  The Plaza is calling each
person personally to cancel their reservations with the hotel.  We are
moving the symposiuim headquarters to Jasper, Texas.  Jasper is
located on the north side of the Big Thicket.

Therefore, we are:

GOING WILD IN THE THICKET
in
Jasper, TX.



The dates are the same; October 16-19, the speakers and fieldtrips are
the same, with the exception of a few that were cancelled; however,
location and hotels have changed.



Hotels: rooms blocked, ask for Native Plant Society of Texas

Ramada Jasper - 239 E Gibson, 409-384-9021, $67.15

Best Western Inn - 205 W Gibson, 409-384-7767, $75/$84

Econo Lodge - blocked rooms until Friday (10-10) 5 pm, 612 West Gibson,

409-384-2511, $79.95/2 people, $10 ea for extras

Overflow hotels:

Super 8 Jasper - 2100 N Wheeler, 409-384-8660

Bass Buster Inn - 3967 RR 255 W, 409-698-3002

Budget Inn - 900 E Gibson, 409-384-3424

Swann Hotel B&B - 250 N Main, 409-489-9010

Belle-Jim Hotel - 160 N Austin, 409-348-6923

Sunrise Inn - 1700 S Wheeler, 409-384-6816

Deluxe Inn, 1730 S Wheeler, 409-381-8800



Please make hotel reservations asap!



Thursday night dinner provided by Beaumont Chapter

Catfish Cabin, 4687 Wheeler/US hwy 96 N, Jasper, TX 409-384-2228

Registration 3-6, Dinner 5-7, Julie Shackelford presentation afterward



Friday and Saturday meeting location

Pavillion in the Pines - directions from Jasper, take Highway 96 North
approximately five miles to CR249.  You will see cafe "Wings Over
Jasper" at CR249.  Turn right off Highway 96.  The road will curve to
the left.  Cross over a small bridge and take the 2nd right after the
bridge to CR253.  It is approximately 6/10 mile from Highway 96 to CR
253. For further directions, call 409-384-4506.



Sunday fieldtrips will leave from the three hotels as noted in
registration packets.

Fieldtrips cancelled due to hurricane Ike

Anahuac Marsh Perserve (now Birding in the Big Thicket)

Cook's Lake Canoe Trip

Kirby Trail at the old BTN Information Center

Shangri La Gardens



An extra special treat for everyone, the early bird secial has been
extended through October 14 which is the NEW last day of registration.

FYI.  I recommend this fieldtrip

Eileen



   _____

From: Smith, Nancy C [mailto:nancy.c.smith@...]
Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 2008 1:41 PM
To: Richard & Eileen
Subject: Oct. 25th, 2008 Tallgrass Prairie Fieldtrip





Eileen,

Would you like to send this FLYER of the Oct. 25th Tallgrass Prairie
Fieldtrip to the Cross Timbers NPSOT members. I don't think I have sent it
out to them yet.

And I am not sure if I have all of their emails.

Thank you.
Nancy



         Bear Creek Ranch -Tallgrass Prairie Fieldtrip

Sponsors : Cross Timbers Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalist and
                 Dixon Water Foundation
Location : 2701 Bear Creek Road, Aledo, Texas (Parker County)
Date: Saturday - OCT. 25, 2008
Time: 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Leaders: Botanist to be determined

RSVP IS REQUIRED
Contact person - Nancy Smith,  <mailto:nanscape@...>
nanscape@... (Phone: 817-454-1033)
Directions :
From intersection of I-20 and Hwy 377 (Benbrook),
Travel Southwest on Hwy 377 (thru Benbrook and Wheatland) 8.8 miles to Kelly
Road,
Turn RIGHT onto Kelly Rd, Travel North on Kelly Rd 1 mile,
Turn LEFT onto Bear Creek Road, the Ranch Gate is on the LEFT, 2.5 miles
from Kelly Road

Number of participants is not limited at this time.
Transportation will be provided to various sites.
Restroom facilities are available at the Ranch.
Bring water, snacks, camera and wear boots, long pants, and cap or hat.
You are welcome to bring lunch and eat at the ranch after the fieldtrip.
Come enjoy the beautiful tallgrasses and native plants on part of the
beautifully scenic Fort Worth Tallgrass Prairie as we roam a 1700 acre
working cattle ranch in Parker County. Experience a diversity of truly
native habitats located 5 miles South of Aledo, Texas. The ranch includes
streams, forests , and native tallgrass prairie. If time permits, we will
explore all three habitats The ranch, known as "Bear Creek Ranch", is owned
by the Dixon Water Foundation.

The primary focus of the Dixon Water Foundation is to provide ecological and
financially sustainable land management that will enhance water retention
and minimize erosion in watersheds. Bear Creek Ranch is now a demonstration
and learning site for environmentally responsible land management.



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

CT-NPSOT members have been invited to attend this workshop.  I highly
recommend it.  Only a limited number of seats are available, so if you want
to attend please RSVP required to Nancy C. Smith@
<mailto:nanscape@...> nanscape@...  or cell 817 454-1033

Please send "phone number" with email.



Eileen Porter





   _____

From: Smith, Nancy C [mailto:nancy.c.smith@...]
Sent: Monday, September 29, 2008 11:15 AM
To: Richard & Eileen
Subject: Warm Season Native Grasses Workshop



Eileen,



Would you please send this to the CT-NPSOT members today. We have several
seats open. The workshop is this coming Saturday.



Thank you,

  Nancy







Class - "WARM SEASON NATIVE GRASSES WORKSHOP"



Instructor -  JOHN SNOWDON OF BLUESTEM NURSERY



Sponsors - CROSS TIMBERS CHAPTER OF TEXAS MASTER NATURALISTS and

                      DIXON WATER FOUNDATION



Location - Bear Creek Ranch amid the beautiful Fort Worth Tallgrass Prairie


                 2701 Bear Creek Road, Aledo, Texas



Date: Saturday - October 4th, 2008

Time: 8am - 4pm

Bring lunch, we will have a working lunch prior to the field work.



Enrollment limited to 16

Fee - $5.00 - to be paid upon arrival at first class



Registration required

RSVP required to Nancy C. Smith@  <mailto:nanscape@...>
nanscape@...  or cell 817 454-1033

Please send "phone number" with email.



FYI - This class fills fast.  Overflow will be put on a waiting list.

If someone cancels waiting list will be used to fill vacancy.



AM - John Snowdon will cover grass identification characteristics, soil
requirement, etc listed in handouts that will be provided.

PM  - John will take the Class to the field (Tallgrass Prairie) to apply the
knowledge gained and put it to use by identifying and recording the grasses
found within specific perimeters on the ranch. The GPS coordinates for these
areas will be recorded. These sites will be monitored several times a year
by Master Naturalists and the results submitted to and utilized by the Bear
Creek Ranch as a rangeland monitoring tool.



Recommendation - long pants, boots, cap/hat

Bring water, lunch, and snacks

Request attend entire class.



Directions :
From intersection of I-20 and Hwy 377 (Benbrook),
Travel Southwest on Hwy 377  (thru Benbrook and Wheatland) 8.8 miles to
Kelly Road,
Turn RIGHT onto Kelly Rd, Travel North on Kelly Rd  1 mile,
Turn LEFT onto Bear Creek Road, the Ranch Gate is on the LEFT, 2.5 miles
from Kelly Road



We will meet at the gate and drive to the hangar where class will be held.
Transportation will be furnished to various monitoring sites.



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

The NPSOT Office Support Committee is interviewing candidates to fill
an Office Coordinator position at the Fredericksburg office.

Skills required are:  Quick Books, word processing, spreadsheet
software and other computer and clerical skills.

For more more information or to submit your resume contact NPSOT
President Carol Feldman carol@... by October 1st.

Jeff Quayle was the botanist that led the tour of the Fort Worth Prairie
Park that I set up this spring.  This is a very beautiful tall grass prairie
remnant and we must work to save it.  I will email Jared to see what we can
do to help.



Eileen Porter



   _____

From: Jeff Quayle
Sent: Monday, September 08, 2008 6:29 PM
To: CTMN
Subject: Fw: [TexasPrairieCoalition] Fort Worth Prairie in need



Forgive me if you already received this from Jarid Manos.



Jeff Quayle





----- Original Message -----

From: Great Plains <mailto:greatplains@...>  Restoration Council

To: TexasPrairieCoalition@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Monday, September 08, 2008 3:58 PM

Subject: [TexasPrairieCoalition] Fort Worth Prairie in need



Hi Everybody,



As you know the 2,000 acre Fort Worth Prairie Park is still in danger.  I
know how hard we all work in Texas to preserve even small parcels of less
than a hundred acres of native prairie, especially tallgrass.



With the Fort Worth Prairie Park we still have an opportunity to preserve
something of a significantly larger scale, which in turn will build a much
greater awareness and constituency for protecting __any__ remaining native
Texas prairies.



Currently, there is a very small handful of officials who are trying to
'poison the well" by blithely saying the place has no ecological value, is
not big enough, etc. Of course, this is crazy, but it is what some people
will do, without any factual basis.



We all know that the Prairie Park holds very important and rare habitats,
and we're told by TCU that it is even rarer and more unique than previously
thought, due to its seeps, wetlands, and barrens area.





GPRC needs help here :





1.) Is there some way we can get a botanical assessment going?

2.)  Can anybody  provide an official certification or scientific study
showing how much of the Prairie Park is original, unplowed prairie?



  It is very obvious, standing in the swooningly-rich, highly biodiverse
abundance of this property, how valuable it is, but we need some official
written documentation.



3. We also need help in getting it permanently protected. GPRC has held off
the bulldozers for two years.  We can't do it alone. We're up to our
eyeballs in success and we need help.  (Our new 12,000 acre project out west
in Foard County is really taking off- the first prairie dog town has already
been built with the first reintro scheduled by our Plains Youth InterACTION
kids slated for next month._



If you saw all the church groups and children's groups and senior citizens
who have came out into the Fort Worth Prairie Park just this year alone and
were so enlivened, enriched and educated by this remaining tallgrass
wildland, you would see how much human value the Prairie Park has provided
too.  It is a chance to protect a little bit of prairie wilderness right at
the urban edge.





The Texas General Land Office wishes to meet in December regarding this
land.



The time is now where we need more help and muscle to permanently protect
this important parcel of the once 1.3 million acre Fort Worth Prairie
Ecosystem. Where will the declining grassland birds and monarch butterflies
who come up each spring nest if it is paved?



Can we get some strong help here?



Thanks!



Jarid













"Pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living." -- Mother Jones



Jarid Manos

Chief Executive

Great Plains Restoration Council

PO Box 1206

Fort Worth, Texas 76101

817 838 9022

www.gprc.org

"Serving our Youth, Protecting our Prairie Earth"

----

Board Member

Black Vegetarian Society of Texas

www.bvstx.org



--

##









[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hello,

This email message is a notification to let you know that
a file has been uploaded to the Files area of the NPSOT-CrossTimbers-announce
group.

   File        : /SymposiumAgendaUpdated[1].doc
   Uploaded by : bhandtc <bhandtc@...>
   Description : 2008 NPSOT Symposium Brochure

You can access this file at the URL:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NPSOT-CrossTimbers-announce/files/SymposiumAgendaU\
pdated%5B1%5D.doc

To learn more about file sharing for your group, please visit:
http://help.yahoo.com/l/us/yahoo/groups/original/members/web/index.htmlfiles

Regards,

bhandtc <bhandtc@...>

FYI. This looks like fun

Eileen



   _____



Lake Arlington Paddling
<http://www.wildlifemanagementpro.com/2008/08/07/lake-arlington-paddling-tra
il/>  Trail grand opening Aug 14, 6 pm at Richard Simpson Park, Lake
Arlington

More info at http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fishboat/boat/paddlingtrails/



Info about the trail at
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fishboat/boat/paddlingtrails/inland/arlington/in
dex.phtml



Please pass along.



Marilyn



Lake Arlington Paddling
<http://www.wildlifemanagementpro.com/2008/08/07/lake-arlington-paddling-tra
il/>  Trail

By WM Pro <http://www.wildlifemanagementpro.com/author/derrick/>  on Aug 7,
2008 in Outdoor News
<http://www.wildlifemanagementpro.com/category/other-wildlife/>  | 0
Comments
<http://www.wildlifemanagementpro.com/2008/08/07/lake-arlington-paddling-tra
il/#respond>

Lake Arlington Paddling Trail

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's (TPWD) first lake-based trail for
the Texas Paddling Trails programs is set to open on August 14 at Richard
Simpson Park on Lake Arlington. The 10.9-mile Lake Arlington Paddling Trail
is also TPWD's first in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, and is intended to
allow paddlers to travel along the lake shore to enjoy a taste of nature in
the middle of an urban center.

The trail was made possible through a partnership between TPWD and local
parks and recreation departments with the cities of Arlington and Fort
Worth. The Texas Paddling Trails program develops public inland and coastal
paddling trails throughout the state with maps, signage and other
information. The trails provide well-mapped accessible day trips in a
variety of settings for people at all levels of paddling experience. Read
<http://www.wildlifemanagementpro.com/2008/08/07/lake-arlington-paddling-tra
il/#more-452>  the rest





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

---------- Forwarded message From: Jan Daniels



Needs to be in our newsletter and our news yahoo blog and our public relations
information for October.

Jan

Garden And Sanctuary News
Roger Sanderson, formerly the Curator and Wildlife Biologist at the
Heard, was promoted to his new position as Director of Botanic Gardens
and Wildlife Biologist. With this new title came new responsibilities,
including coordinating and creating new designs for gardens and
plantings around the buildings and making sure that they are
implemented.
To enhance the existing collection of gardens, Roger has formed
new plans for them. Certain to become an important educational
resource, he is creating a Sanctuary Garden outside the backdoors of
the museum to illustrate many of the species that visitors will
encounter on our trails. The Cactus/Desert Garden in front of the SRC
that was begun many years ago will be revitalized. Additionally, the
entrance to the SRC will be improved with a new landscape design.
Establishing a better first impression for visitors, Roger is also
designing an impressive formal entrance to the museum on Country Club
Drive (FM 1378) and a newly landscaped area around the front gate area.
Sanderson plans to return the Native Plant Garden to only those
plants that are native to Texas. Currently, this garden hosts a few
non-native but drought resistant varieties. This change will provide
inspiration to those garden enthusiasts looking for ecologically
friendly ideas for their own landscapes!
After all of these projects have been completed, Roger also plans to
extensively label garden and trail plants. This project will make these
resources an even more valuable educational experience for visitors.
These projects require resources and time, and the Heard will need
your manual and financial support to accomplish this. Financial
contributions are necessary to achieve each of these projects. The
Heard is a 501(c)(3) organization and therefore contributions to the
museum are tax-deductible. Volunteers who are willing to donate their
time are also important to these projects. For information on becoming
a Heard Native Plant Garden Volunteer or Nature Sanctuary Restoration
Volunteer, please consult our website where you can find an application
as well as further descriptions of these opportunities.
http://www.heardmuseum.org/theheard/volunteer.asp
Also, be sure to check out our annual Fall Plant Sale, October
10-12, 2008. This year we hope to provide more diversity and perhaps
more of some popular plants. The Members Only Sale will be Friday,
October 10, 4 to 7 p.m. The sale is open to the public Saturday,
October 11th and Sunday, October 12th.




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Fort Worth Prairie Park Tour



Location: Fort Worth Prairie Park (directions below)

Date: May 24th

Time: 10 am to 2 pm

Please RSVP by May 14th to Eileen Porter reporter@...  or
817-596-5567



The walking tour of the 2000 acre Fort Worth Prairie Park will be lead by Jarid
Manos, founder and CEO of the Great Plains Restoration Council.  This prairie is
not open to the public.  This is an opportunity that we should not miss.



From the GPRC website www.gprc.org <http://www.gprc.org/>



Great Plains Restoration Council (GPRC) is working to protect 2000 acres of the
biologically richest 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



The Fort Worth Prairie Park is one of the most beautiful places on Earth, and is
of National Park quality, but still completely unprotected from the bulldozers.
It is a hidden crown jewel of Texas, and a national treasure that must be
preserved before it's too late. The original Fort Worth Prairie Ecosystem is
home to over 2,000 native plant species; it is our "prairie rainforest." It is
an important breeding and resting ground for internationally migrating monarch
butterflies and Central Flyway grassland birds, whose numbers are crashing. Rock
Creek and unnamed streams run through it. All kinds of native wildlife live
there, including two genetically pure buffalo from the Fort Worth Nature Refuge,
whose ancestors come from the original Wichita Mountains Herd. There are
threatened and endangered species, a 300-year-old native Texas cedar elm tree,
and more.



This rare, never-been-plowed, original Fort Worth Prairie tallgrass
landscape holds enormous ecological and cultural significance. It was a meeting
ground for numerous Prairie Tribes, including indigenous Caddo and Wichita
people who lived here. Escaped black slaves traversed these wild grasslands as
they headed for "this other country to the south" (Mexico) that they'd heard
about where they could reach freedom. There are frontier ruins of a settler's
old stone house from the 1850s, as well as a mysterious, nearly 3 mile long
handbuilt rock wall, and a burial ground. The land survey dates back to a land
grant from Juan Seguin that was given to a soldier who fought at San Jacinto in
the Texas Revolution.



The Fort Worth Prairie is one of the most endangered ecosystems in North
America. We've succeeded in stopping the bulldozers for now; the Texas General
Land Office has agreed to work with us toward a conservation alternative. We
need teams of neighborhood volunteers to make this a county-wide push to a
permanent success in 2008.



Driving Directions:  The address is 10700 Old Granbury Rd, 76036

             Take Hwy 377 south from Loop 820. Turn left (east) on FM 1187. Turn
left (north) on Old Granbury Rd.  The gate is on the Westside of the road and
there is a white farm house.  GPRC will put signs on Old Granbury Rd before the
gate.

           OR take 35W south from Loop 820.  Turn right (west) on FM 1187. Turn
right (north) on Old Granbury Rd. The gate is on the Westside of the road and
there is a white farm house.  GPRC will put signs on Old Granbury Rd before the
gate.



Please wear sturdy shoes/boots, long pants, and a hat or cap.  Please bring
water.

Forth Worth Prairie Park Tour



Location: Fort Worth Prairie Park (directions below)

Date: May 24th

Time: 10 am to 2 pm

Please RSVP by May 14th to Eileen Porter reporter@...  or
817-596-5567



The walking tour of the 2000 acre Fort Worth Prairie Park will be lead by
Jarid Manos, founder and CEO of the Great Plains Restoration Council.  This
prairie is not open to the public.  This is an opportunity that we should
not miss.



From the GPRC website www.gprc.org <http://www.gprc.org/>



Great Plains Restoration Council (GPRC) is working to protect 2000 acres of
the biologically richest 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



The Fort Worth Prairie Park is one of the most beautiful places on Earth,
and is of National Park quality, but still completely unprotected from the
bulldozers. It is a hidden crown jewel of Texas, and a national treasure
that must be preserved before it's too late. The original Fort Worth Prairie
Ecosystem is home to over 2,000 native plant species; it is our "prairie
rainforest." It is an important breeding and resting ground for
internationally migrating monarch butterflies and Central Flyway grassland
birds, whose numbers are crashing. Rock Creek and unnamed streams run
through it. All kinds of native wildlife live there, including two
genetically pure buffalo from the Fort Worth Nature Refuge, whose ancestors
come from the original Wichita Mountains Herd. There are threatened and
endangered species, a 300-year-old native Texas cedar elm tree, and more.



This rare, never-been-plowed, original Fort Worth Prairie tallgrass
landscape holds enormous ecological and cultural significance. It was a
meeting ground for numerous Prairie Tribes, including indigenous Caddo and
Wichita people who lived here. Escaped black slaves traversed these wild
grasslands as they headed for "this other country to the south" (Mexico)
that they'd heard about where they could reach freedom. There are frontier
ruins of a settler's old stone house from the 1850s, as well as a
mysterious, nearly 3 mile long handbuilt rock wall, and a burial ground. The
land survey dates back to a land grant from Juan Seguin that was given to a
soldier who fought at San Jacinto in the Texas Revolution.



The Fort Worth Prairie is one of the most endangered ecosystems in North
America. We've succeeded in stopping the bulldozers for now; the Texas
General Land Office has agreed to work with us toward a conservation
alternative. We need teams of neighborhood volunteers to make this a
county-wide push to a permanent success in 2008.



Driving Directions:  The address is 10700 Old Granbury Rd, 76036

             Take Hwy 377 south from Loop 820. Turn left (east) on FM 1187.
Turn left (north) on Old Granbury Rd.  The gate is on the Westside of the
road and there is a white farm house.  GPRC will put signs on Old Granbury
Rd before the gate.

           OR take 35W south from Loop 820.  Turn right (west) on FM 1187.
Turn right (north) on Old Granbury Rd. The gate is on the Westside of the
road and there is a white farm house.  GPRC will put signs on Old Granbury
Rd before the gate.



Please wear sturdy shoes/boots, long pants, and a hat or cap.  Please bring
water.





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Prairie Shooting Star (Dodecatheon meadia) <http://texasprairie.org/>


     Spring Prairie Field Trips Around Texas!

Come see spring prairie flowers, native grasses, grassland birds,
butterflies, and other prairie wildlife on a native prairie field trip
with the Native Prairies Association of Texas (NPAT)
<http://www.texasprairie.org/> or other organizations!

    1. *Falls County Prairies* - April 12th (Sat.), Marlin (Falls County
       east of Waco)
    2. *Meador Prairie* - April 19th (Sat.), Saint Jo (Cooke/Montague
       County west of Fort Worth)
    3. *Simpson Prairie* - May 3rd (Sat.), Crawford (McLennan County,
       south of Waco)
    4. *Maddin Prairie* - May 10th-11th (Sat.-Sun.), Colorado City
       (Mitchell County, west of Abilene)
    5. *Nash Prairie* - May 17th (Sat.), West Columbia (Brazoria County,
       south of Houston)
    6. *Clymer Meadow (TNC)* - May 17th (Sat.), Celeste (Hunt County, NE
       of Dallas)

Tallgrass prairie is the most endangered large ecosystem in North
America, with less than 1% estimated to remain in Texas.  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.
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.

Check http://texaspraire.org/ for an up-to-date listing of events or
subscribe to the NPAT Email Announce list to receive current
announcements from NPAT.  Contact Jason Spangler,
jason_spangler@... or 512-736-4199, for more information.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

*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
<http://texasprairie.org/Lands/LehmannPrairie/Lehmann_Prairie.shtml>,
Wieting Prairie
<http://texasprairie.org/Lands/NelsonLWietingPrairie/Nelson_L_Wieting_Prairie.sh\
tml>,
and Drews Prairie
<http://texasprairie.org/Lands/DrewsPrairie/Drews_Prairie.shtml>) held
by NPAT and Riesel Prairie
<http://texasprairie.org/Lands/RieselPrairie/Riesel_Prairie.shtml> 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
<http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&dq=Dairy+Queen,+\
loc:+Marlin,+TX&daddr=1427+Live+Oak+St,+Marlin,+TX+76661&geocode=103680968714302\
2719,31.306348,-96.876717&ll=31.306348,-96.876717&iwstate1=dir:to&iwloc=A&f=d>.

RSVP appreciated but not required to kunda_lee_wicce@...
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NPAT-announce/post?postID=-qkiYo9ugAZQ1jntO54-v1B\
xhT71tmrAwQxy5Mk1J0Erp3SO1Qh_FxME7Y_kC20cU7eAFw7_KoUMOehCPNyYJA5KA_zAXR1GdQA>
.  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 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
<http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&dq=dairy+queen,+loc:+Saint+Jo,+TX&da\
ddr=309+S+Broad+St,+St+Jo,+TX+76265&geocode=4180650609012135667,33.693804,-97.52\
1813&ll=33.693804,-97.521813&iwstate1=dir:to&iwloc=A&f=d>.
Wear appropriate clothing, and bring water, sunscreen, and a snack.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

*Simpson Prairie Field Trip
*May 3rd (Sat.) at 9:30am
Crawford (McLennan County, south of Waco)

Come see spring prairie flowers at Simpson Prairie
<http://texasprairie.org/Lands/SimpsonPrairie/Simpson_Prairie.shtml>, 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 <http://www.wumple.com/?p=125&more=1>.

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
<http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&ie=UTF-8&dq=bank,+loc:+Crawf\
ord,+TX&daddr=6688+N+Lone+Star+Pkwy,+Crawford,+TX+76638&geocode=1385436275188056\
2705,31.534049,-97.443239&ll=31.534049,-97.443239&iwstate1=dir:to&iwloc=A&f=d>.
Contact Jason Spangler at jason_spangler@...
<mailto:jason_spangler@...> 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
<http://texasprairie.org/Lands/MaddinPrairiePreserve/Maddin_Prairie_Preserve.sht\
ml>!

Contact kirsti_harms@... and/or
pat_merkord@.... for more information and to RSVP.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

*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
<http://www.bioone.org/perlserv/?request=get-document&doi=10.1641%2F0006-3568%28\
2006%29056%5B0008%3AJITRPP%5D2.0.CO%3B2&ct=1>)
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
<http://stories.thefacts.com/story.lasso?ewcd=28087f6be62e0d59>.

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
<http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=1623526874139505873,29.253380,-95\
.596480&saddr=&daddr=29.252631,-95.598307&sll=29.267907,-95.59556&sspn=0.034217,\
0.055876&ie=UTF8&z=16>.

Contact Jason Spangler at jason_spangler@...
<mailto:jason_spangler@...> 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.)
Celeste (Hunt County, NE of Dallas)

The Nature Conservancy hosts a wildflower tour
<http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/texas/help/art9332.html>
and dedication of a new prairie remnant at Clymer Meadow
<http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/texas/preserves/art6387.h\
tml>,
the largest preserved Blackland Prairie remnant!

Contact Jim Eidson, jeidson@... or (903) 568-4139 for more
information and directions to the preserve.

<mailto:s-quaylei@...>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
<http://texasprairie.org/> <http://npsot.org/>Join the Native Prairies
Association of Texas (NPAT) <http://www.texasprairie.org/> and the
Native Plant Society of Texas (NPSOT) <http://npsot.org/> to help
advocate and protect Texas' prairie heritage, native plants, and wildlife.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

directions to the propagation class 10 am March 22 by Marilyn Sallee
at 560 Little Cat Track Road - Weatherford TX 76085-8120.

From Azle Texas

Take 730 South approximately 2 - 1/2 miles

At Veal Station Road - turn right onto Veal Station

Go approximately 4 - 1/2 miles (staying right when road forks)

To Cat Track ( on your left)

Take Cat Track Road one block to

Little Cat Track Road on your right

Turn right

Go to the top of the third hill and 560 is on your right.

The gate will be open

Park outside the yard gate and come in on foot.



From Weatherford Texas

Take Fort Worth Highway to

730 North

Go North on 730 for a number of miles (approximately 8 to 10 miles)

When you see Tucker Road on your left on a curve

Turn left onto Tucker Road

Follow Tucker Road until it "T's" into Veal Station (Do not get off
Tucker Road)

When you must go right or left at Veal Station - Go Left

You will go about a mile down a long hill and Cat Track Road will be
on your left.

Turn left onto Cat Track Road

Go one block

Turn right onto Little Cat Track Road

Go to the top of the third hill to 560

Come down to the yard fence

Park outside the yard compound

Walk into the yard.


My home phone is 817-596-8183 if anyone gets lost.

The Weatherford Chapter of Master Gardeners is having a plant sale on
April 12.
8 am to noon
Extension Service Office at 604 N Main.

Download the flyer at the link below or visit the "files" section.

http://f1.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/8FTcRzyIwZSyaYM5bMBKwvr9kVb0rdmHFYV1XVIyf9vnV5gaoNR\
DfMTMBGAqpbgthjxOa9yBMLo7PuNPCsXr2A/plantsaleflyer08.doc

The author of "The Cast Iron Forest," Dr. Richard Francaviglia,  is
February's guest at the "Sundays at the Doss" series of cultural and
historical lectures in its Heritage Hall area.  This landmark book
describes the natural environment of the Cross Timbers and interprets
the role that people have played in transforming the region. Dr
Francaviglia was awarded the prestigious Carroll Abbott Award in 2005
by  NPSOT for his work on the book.

The Doss Heritage and Culture Center is located at 1400 Texas Drive in
Weatherford. The lecture is set for 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 24, where Dr.
Francaviglia will share excerpts from his book.  There is no cost to
attend the lecture.

George Diggs, Ph.D. Botanist and Research Associate at BRIT will be
speaking at the Collin County chapter of NPSOT on Tuesday March 6th at
7:30. We meet at the Heard Museum in McKinney - a map is available at
http://www.heardmuseun.org/go/map.html
There is no admission charge for the event.
A flyer for the event has been placed in the Files area in a folder for
Collin County Chapter Meetings.