Partial Solar Eclipse walk at Parkhill Prairie with Rich Jaynes and Amy Martin

Michelle Connally, Class of 2018

Prairie walk at Parkhill Prairie https://www.collincountytx.gov/parks/Pages/parkhill_prairie.aspx

County Rd 668, Blue Ridge, TX 75424. Drive in and look for small parking lot with kiosk on the right. Park has small fishing lake with picnic shelters, but bathrooms are usually locked. No reliable/potable water. 

Special guest: Rich Jaynes, native grass expert featured in the Parkhill Prairie chapter.

Recreate the hike in the Parkhill Prairie chapter of Wild DFW with Rich Jaynes, native grass expert featured in the chapter. After taking an easy mowed trail through some Blackland Prairie restoration guided by Brandon Belcher of The Nature Conservancy, once to the ridgetop we’ll take a trailless wander through the 50-acre remnant, renowned for its ancient eastern gamagrass colonies and rare terrestrial crawdad. Goldenrod and Maximilian sunflowers should be peaking.

While we explore, the Sun will be undergoing an annular solar eclipse. Because we are outside the central eclipse band, it’ll only be a partial eclipse from our perspective and won’t have the shadow darkening effect of more precise eclipses. But it will be interesting for us to see what changes in sunlight we detect and if it seems to affect wildlife. Bring eclipse glasses for the full impact.

Wear vigorous bug spray, preferably a combo of dusting sulphur and lemon eucalyptus Repel repellent; both will also be available. Hat with all-around brim suggested (no shade), long pants (grasses can cut), and hiking boots (prairie walking is serious stomping). Bring plenty of water; none on site.