by Sally Evans, 2006
Dr. Bill Holifield was the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum for the Plano Independent School District for many years. He was an advocate of children learning in a positive, hands-on, safe and stimulating environment. He seemed to have an awareness of the life situations of his staff and of the community they worked in.
STT 17
Heard Happenings
By Laura Ragan
It’s been quite a while since we’ve all been able to fellowship in the way we’d like, so I’m glad for this opportunity to catch you up on the Heard’s activities. After a long, lonely April, which saw open trails but few guests, the exhibit hall and Nature Store reopened for May, and shutdown-weary guests began flocking back. Even with interactive exhibits and programs closed, the Heard remained busy through summer and fall and continues to be busy on nicer winter days. We are so grateful for the community’s support of our mission to bring nature and people together to discover, enjoy, experience, restore, and preserve our priceless environment!
Throughout this past year, we have greatly appreciated our new and renewing members for 2020 (which include many of you – thank you!). As a private non-profit, the Heard is NOT tax-funded. Our ability to keep up with our 289-acre private sanctuary, museum building & grounds, and non-releasable animals depends on admission fees and memberships, as well as donations, paid programs, and rentals.
Carnage in Collin County
By Duane Mortensen
In early fall I could often find another robber fly [Promachus hinei]. One day I saw one had caught a paper wasp. Again, I could take my time getting its portrait. It was quite impressive how the fly would control the wasp with its legs.
A January Visit to Lake Tawakoni State Park
By Jean Suplick
Sometimes you’ve just got to break out of COVID confinement and have a change of scenery. That’s why in early January, Michael and I hooked up the camper and headed to Lake Tawakoni State Park.
A Mother’s Story
By Laurie Sheppard
Female Green Lynx Spiders have a very unusual quality – they can change their body color to match their surroundings. The transformation takes several days. The color of both sexes often fades late in the season so whether the color on our spider mother was changed to match her location or is simply a natural fading late in the season is unknown.
The Last Cougar
By Greg Tonian
On a December morning, soon before your demise,
I journeyed to the Grasslands again.
Enroute, warm in my metallic hovercraft,
I drove in the dark, listening to news of vaccines.
Only arriving at Black Creek Lake as the sun began to reveal a vaporous, hoarfrosted tangled landscape,
With hues of copper, silver, golden straw, ghostly gray charcoal turning to brown.
Delicate oak leaf puzzle pieces were scattered in slight depressions in the parking lot,
Birdsong echoed intermittently through the chilly air.