Shaking the Trees

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Heard Sanctuary Fall/ Winter Volunteer existing projects

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.

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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. 

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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.