Bird and nature walks, tree and plant identification, and more

Explore the Refuge and see for yourself the many species of butterflies. You will learn all about their habitats, their host plants, and how to identify them. $5 (with paid admission).

The event commemorates National Public Gardens Day, drawing attention to our nation's public gardens, which include botanical gardens, arboreta, conservatories, educational gardens and historical landscapes. The Fort Worth Botanic Garden offers 110 acres that include the historic Rose Garden, Fuller Garden, Japanese Garden and more.

What kind of plants are found around White Rock Lake and what kinds of critters visit them? Find out with urban wildlife biologist Sam Kieschnick as we document some of these with citizen science.

Starting in the Treetop Lounge at 11 a.m. Sam Kieschnick, an Urban Wildlife Biologist with Texas Parks and Wildlife, will fascinate participants with information about the urban habitat at MVC. He'll show attendees how to use iNaturalist, a free app for identitying plants and animals, so that they can be citizen scientists any time! Then we head out to the urban forest where the adventure continues and participants start recording and sharing their observations in iNaturalist to create data for scientists all over the world.

Please bring your favorite work gloves, shovel, litter picker upper, or gardening tools.

Wear appropriate clothing for the weather and for working in a natural area (long pants, long sleeves, sturdy shoes, hat).

Water and snacks will be available.

O.S. Gray Natural Area has no restroom facilities, but Kroger is nearby.

Info: friendsofosgray@gmail.com

Stroll through the trails of Oak Cliff Nature Preserve between 2pm and 4pm and enjoy the animal hybrid ceramic sculptures crafted by Brookhaven, Mountain View and Cedar Valley College students.

Come support young artists in the community during this free and family-friendly event!

Walk the Flagpole Hill prairie and learn about the rare gilgai soil formations. Get a close look at spring wildflowers. Listen for crepuscular birds. Witness a great sunset. Led by Amy Martin. Meet at the picnic shelter.

This will be a tour of a wonderful native prairie that was discovered a few years ago when a century-plus historic church was undergoing renovation. The prairie forms a third facet of this site with a historic cemetery and chapel that were part of the Frankford settlement in the mid-late 1800s.

Participants will meet at the center and embark on a partially off-trail journey over hills, through a small creek and into the grove of dogwoods where participants may choose to climb a ladder for a closer look at the blooms and enjoy light snacks. Upon returning to the center, share in a champagne toast to the future of Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center and meet our education bird, an American Kestrel, the smallest falcon in North America. Expect the experience to last approximately 3 hours.

 $40. Add one guest for $30.

Hikes: 

Advanced Training

Identification of some common north Texas trees using key developed by Anne Curtin and Rick Murphy. Course covers some basic terminology, use of the key and identification in the field. 

Class presented by the North Texas Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalists in conjunction with the Preservation Society for Spring Creek Forest.

Info: David Parrish dparrish1953@yahoo.com or Anne Curtin anne.curtin@yahoo.com

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