Tom Shackelford, 2018; President The Heard Sanctuary is seeking volunteers to assist in the restoration and preservation of multiple sanctuary projects at the Heard. This is an existing project that has been in place for some time and there is now a renewed effort to address opportunities. This is available to any interested individual and is a great way for interested Master Naturalists to earn volunteer hours. Specific projects follow below.
Annual Sunflower
Sally Evans, 2006; Founder & Emeritus
The annual sunflower plant (Helianthus annuus) was one of the most plentiful and versatile plants the Indians had available. It was convertible into a dye, a liniment, a medicine, a coffee, and a delectable food. By boiling the crushed seeds, an oil could be skimmed off and used for cooking or as a hair dressing, whatever the need at the time. Nature provides many teas, but few coffees. Delicious coffee was made by roasting and boiling the seeds as we roast and boil the coffee bean. Black and purple dyes were also derived from the seeds.
Vulture Day at the BPRC
Celebrate International Vulture Awareness Day at the Blackland Prairie Raptor Center on Saturday, September 4. Learn how vultures are important to our environment, enjoy vulture-themed activities, and meet live raptor… Read More →
What is happening at Brockdale park?
Michelle Connally, 2014 Have you been out to the Blackland Prairie Raptor Center lately? Take a gander at the recent photos provided by Lorelei Stierlen and peruse the new opportunities… Read More →
The first Saturday of September is International Vulture Awareness Day.
Vultures get a bad rap! People often associate them with death and disease and view them as dirty and ugly. However, vultures are incredible and essential birds who perform vital… Read More →
2021 September – Dr. Megan O’Connell | Climate Change and Plant Phenology
Dr. O’Connell will be discussing how climate change is altering plant phenology and impacting plant-pollinator interactions. She’ll be sharing findings from her dissertation work in tropical forests and how she is building off this work to explore phenology in Texas prairie ecosystems while at BRIT. For these projects she’ll be introducing some novel tech and community-driven research methods and share some opportunities for the Blackland Prairie Master Naturalist Chapter to help participate in local phenological data collection efforts.
Northwest Community Park
Rick Travis, 2018
Northwest Community Park in Frisco is largely undeveloped, with a DORBA biking trail system. It’s very rich in native grasses and flora, and has been a great source of native seed and plants for Frisco Parks prairie restoration efforts. We’ll spend September and part of October at NW park harvesting seed, which will be redistributed into the prairie restoration sites at Frisco Commons and Cottonwood Creek Parks.
New plant at Wylie Prairie
Dave Powell, 2007 While I was gathering grass seed at Wylie on Thursday I came across a new plant for the area. Yes the grass seed is starting to get… Read More →
August in Cicadia
Greg Tonian, 2017
The neighborhood is abuzz.
A hot, sultry breeze,
Envelops the trees.
Brown, papier mache creatures climb out of the loam,
Clinging to brick and branch with tiny hooks,
Soon to cleave asunder,
Extruding,
winged phantasms.
I find these abandoned climbing nymph husks,
And the fanciful flying creatures that they set free
Scattered on the concrete byways of Cicadia.
“Sweet dreams and” Flying “machines in pieces on the ground” (James Taylor),
I think to myself.
Protecting Blackland Prairie Video with our very own!
Tom Shackelford, 2018 Please enjoy this wonderful video with our very own BPTMN members collecting seed to help preserve the Clymer Meadow.