Prairie Notes #144 - Rear View Mirror
Prairie Notes are monthly photo/journal observations from Tandy Hills Natural Area by Founder/Director, Don Young. They include field reports, flora and fauna sightings, and more, mixed with a scoop of dry humor and a bit of philosophy.
They are available free to all who get on the FOTHNA email list.
Rear View Mirror
Prairie Notes #144
November 28, 2018
01) Rear View Mirror
02) Field Report - November
03) Manly Men Wild Women, RSVP
04) New Species of the Month
05) Monarch Moment...continued
06) Prairie Fire at Tandy Hills
07) Star Notes
08) Honored & Humbled
09) Prairie Proverb
01) Rear View Mirror
The year 2018, was a wild one at Tandy Hills. On the minus-side of the ledger, Tandy Hills endured:
the largest prairie fire in many years (a good/bad thing)
one of the hottest days ever (111 degrees on July 20)
two of the wettest months ever (Feb: 11.3", Oct: 15.6")
sustained an idiot guy driving a pickup on the praire for a photo-shoot
an enormous influx of professional photographers and their models
a marked increase in invasive species, notably, King Ranch Bluestem (KRB)
On the plus-side, we received a cornucopia of blessings to go along with our challenges. Reflecting, without hubris, on our accomplishments serves as a reminder to supporters of our worthiness AND, to our little band of volunteers, a high-five for their positive impact on our world in 2018.
Herewith, I am proud to present the annual list of notable 2018 accomplishments. It denotes the sustained commitment of Friends of Tandy Hills Natural Area to restoring, interpreting and raising awareness of our local prairie. Your support is VITAL as we move ahead in 2019.
The 9th annual Manly Men Wild Women Hike the Hills drew another large crowd of newcomers on New Years Day, 2018
Brush Bash #10 brought out the best in our crew of volunteers who cleared the trailhead area
Our much-revered outdoor education program, Kids on the Prairie (KOP), notched year #8 hosting or sponsoring public and private school field trips
The FASH Foundation awarded Friends of Tandy Hills another grant of $2,000 dedicated to funding our outdoor education programs
PrairieSky / StarParty, a collaboration with FW Astronomical Society, completed Year 3 with a cosmic bang (and a few rainouts)
The Tandy Hills iNaturalist Project project page exploded with more observations and species count (1065 as of Dec. 1)
North Texas Giving Day donations topped $2,200 adding to other generous donations throughout the year
The Tandy Hills Facebook page had a steady increase in Post Reach, Post Engagements and New Page Likes in 2018
The Texas Society of Architects awarded Firends of Tandy Hills the 2018 Citation of Honor
Prairie Posse, our monthly land management program, notched Year 3 with noticeable improvements to several areas
Friends of Tandy Hills founders, Don & Debora Young, were honored for their volunteer work at Tandy Hills with the, 2018 Green Source DFW Sustainable Leadership Award for Conservation Activists, by the Memnosyne Foundation
The Fort Worth Weekly's, Best of 2018 Award for Best Green Space, went to Tandy Hills Natural Area, for the third time
The Texas Parks & Wildlife Commission awarded Friends of Tandy Hills with a 28K grant to improve the entrire trail system
DY
02) Field Report - November
The Second Spring of October finally gave way to a few days of freezing temps, putting the kabosh on lots of confused wildflowers and their pollinators, ushering in the palette of Autumn. Check it out here.
03) 9th Annual Manly Men Wild Women, RSVP
Wow! Has it really been 9 years??? January 1, 2019 is just a month away, the same day you'll receive the next Prairie Notes. So, consider this your, aide-to-memorie. Only for brave and demented nature mystics. Feel free to RSVP.
04) New Species of the Month
Tandy Hills iNaturalist obervers continue finding new species topping out at 1065, up from 1037 on October 1. In November, at least six new species were recorded including: Chipping Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Olive Shaded Bird-dropping Moth, False Turkey Tail Fungi, Fractured Western Snout Moth and Salt Marsh Moth. Check out the Tandy Hills Project page on iNaturalist here: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/tandy-hills-natural-area-stratford-...
05) Monarch Moment...continued
At press time month, I showed you the green chrysalis of a Monarch butterfly seen at Tandy Hills. A few days later the metamorphosis was complete. Here are some photos and video of the full miracle.
06) Prairie Fire at Tandy Hills
On November 26, a widespread wildfire was reported at Tandy Hills. The FW Fire Dept. put it out, but not before several acres had burned. No one hurt. It will be very interesting to monitor the burned areas next spring for reinvigorated plant growth. Prairies do love fire.
07) Star Notes
The PrairieSky / Star Party 2018 season is over. With several rainouts it was a dissapointing year but, next season which starts in March 2019, we will add raindates. The free star-gazing events in cooperation with FW Astronomical Society, will take place on "selected" Saturdays when the night sky is most interesting.
The 2019 events pick up on Saturday, March 16, and will continue on April 13, May 11, June 8, July 6, August 10, September 7, October 5 and November 2. Occassional special events may occur. Mark your calendars.
Even though there is no star party in December, FW Astronomical Society rep, Pam Kloepfer has provided a little blurb about the December night sky for your use:
"December heralds the arrival of the magnificent winter constellations. The Pleiades star cluster can be seen almost directly overhead all night long. Look for a small dipper shape. The star Aldebaran marks the “red eye” of Taurus the Bull and follows the Pleiades. To the south is awesome Orion the Hunter, a huge constellation easily distinguishable by three stars in a row marking his belt. Follow the belt to the bright star Sirius, the brightest star in our night sky. Also known as the “Dog Star,” Sirius is in the constellation Canis Major - Orion’s dog! All of these targets are easily visible by just looking up; the Pleiades is stellar in a pair of binoculars!"
08) Honored & Humbled
Friends of Tandy Hills and its Founders, Don & Debora Young, received two major honors in November. On November 10, the Texas Society of Architects bestowed the 2018 Citation of Honor to Friends of Tandy Hills. On November 15, Don & Debora Young received the Green Source DFW, 2018 Sustainable Leadership Award from the Memnosyne Foundation. Both honors are greatly appreciated.
09) Prairie Proverb
“We learn by doing when we reflect on what we have done.”
Prairie Notes© is the official newsletter of Friends of Tandy Hills Natural Area, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization. All content by Don Young except where otherwise noted.
