March 1, 2024
Lights Out Texas: Statewide (March 1 to June 15)
April 1, 2024
Ennis Garden Club: Bluebonnet Trails - Ennis (April 1-30)
From April 1-30, Ennis showcases over 40 miles of mapped driving Bluebonnet Trails sponsored by the Ennis Garden Club. These trails are the oldest such trails known in the state, and tens of thousands of visitors make the short trek to Ennis to view this wonderful wildflower show. In Ennis, the bluebonnets typically peak around the 3rd week of April, according to the Ennis Garden Club. This can vary year to year due to weather conditions and terrain, so check website or call 972-878-4748 before your visit.
You can pick up a Bluebonnet Trail Map at the Ennis Welcome Center located at 201 NW Main St, Ennis, Texas 75119. The Ennis Welcome Center is open Monday - Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
You can also download the free ENNIS Y'ALL mobile app, for the Ennis Bluebonnet Trail Map, place to shop, dine, upcoming events and more.
Maps not available until April 1.
April 19, 2024
Fort Worth Audubon Society: Prairie Walks at the Sid Richardson Tract - Crowley (Through June 21)
Join Suzanne Tuttle to explore this tract of prairie land on the southeast shore of Benbrook Lake.
This fieldtrip will be held on the 3rd Friday of the months February thru June. The meet-up times for April 19, May 17 and June 21 will be 8 a.m.. The meet-up times for February and March will be 9 a.m. Suzanne plans to arrive about 15 minutes before the start times so folks will see the pull-out.
The fieldtrip will last approximately 1.5 hours, but Suzanne will stay longer if the day is very birdy. The trail is natural surface, some will wander off trail, so please wear appropriate footwear and clothing for the weather conditions. There are no facilities on the property.
April 22, 2024
EarthX: Congress of Conferences - Dallas (April 22-26)
This exciting event will attract the world’s foremost environmentalists, conservationists, scientists, academics, entrepreneurs, advocates and political leaders engaged in the environmental space today. Our expo will not take place in 2024 but will be returning in 2025. We hope to see you there!
Includes the day-long free forum North Texas Day.
See full schedule.
April 26, 2024
iNaturalist: 2024 City Nature Challenge - DFW (April 26-29)
Join Texas Parks and Wildlife, Texas Master Naturalists, the Nature Conservancy, the Audubon Society, and many others in a fun challenge to see which city can document the most species during April 26 - April 29. It is easy to participate by joining an event or making observations on your own using the iNaturalist app.
With the iNaturalist app, you just take a picture of a plant or animal, and the community will help identify which species it is. Any observation in the greater metropolitan area of Dallas/Fort Worth will count during the four day challenge. You can participate by exploring the life in your backyard, in your local park, or on a field trip with your local naturalist group. You can also help with IDs for other people's observations to increase our species count, come to a bioblitz, or even hold your own event.
April 27, 2024
Library in a Park: Grand Opening Day - Cedar Hill
Grand opening celebration of Cedar Hill's new 42,000-square-foot facility, housing the Traphene Hicks Library and the Cedar Hill Museum, surrounded by the 7-acre Signature Park.
Activities include a 1-mile fun run on the Park’s new trail, fitness and bird demonstrations, face painting, storytelling, balloon art, food trucks, beer and wine.
Texas Survival School: Foraging Wild Edibles - Royce City
Come out to participate as the Texas Survival School hosts the man himself....Mr Foraging Texas, Mark "Merriwether" Vordenbruggen, PhD. Come ready to do some walking. These are great classes and a fabulous opportunity to learn a lot in a short amount of time.
Bank of America: Shred Event - Plano
Employees, customers, clients and members of the community are all welcome. Spread the word and invite your family and friends to participate.
Accepted items:
• Old bills
• Old checks
• Letterhead
• Brochures
• File folders
• Post-its
• Paper
• Newspaper
• Envelopes
• Photos
• Dated bank statements
• Credit card offers
• Old tax information
No box limit. Shredding ends when truck is full.
Free.
LLELA: 'Wild DFW' Hike - Lewisville
Enjoy long-distance hikes through fascinating large preserves and parks — without leaving DFW. Dallas Sierra Club joins with Amy Martin, author of Wild DFW, to offer quarterly hikes on trails as wild as North Texas has to offer. Explore these places with naturalists and others that know them the best.
First up: Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area [lee-lah]. We’ll hike every trail there and one not open to the public. Scrappy Eastern Cross Timbers to lush bottomland forest, river and off-river marshes, open meadows and prairies, riverside and old river channels.
Points-of-interest naturalist mini-breaks: insect-home installation, waterbird fishing melee at dam outlet, 1800s cabin and farmstead. Lunch break at bird blind on Bittern Marsh.
We hope these hikes will help Dallas and surroundings develop a mindset of embracing its nature with a deep sense of pride. From that will arise more trails and greater land preservation.
Donations for hike leader thank-you gifts and park/preserve donations appreciated.
Wild DFWs available for purchase.
Twelve Hills Nature Center: Living in Harmony with America’s Song Dog - Dallas
Attend a compelling presentation with amazing footage of coyotes presented by wildlife conservation photographers Karin and Roberto Saucedo. They have spent the last eight years documenting coyote behavior in North Texas for research and education. Learn about coyote behaviors, challenges, myths,and how we can live in harmony with them.
Free.
Richardson Area Democrats: 'Wild DFW' Author Amy Martin - Richardson
I'll be waxing eloquent on North Texas nature and answering questions. Social time from 3:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Speaking time shortly after. Books available.
At Staycation Coffee outdoor patio.
April 28, 2024
Greater Dallas Organic Garden Club: Creating a Bee Friendly Yard - Dallas
The topic will be Creating a Bee Friendly Yard. Our featured speakers will be John & Sarah Wright of Two Doves Bees & Gardens.
Refreshments at 2:30 p.m. Meeting start 3 p.m.
Here's what will be covered:
• What is a "bee-friendly yard?
• Flowers, trees, and shrubs oh my!
• Bee Friendly "lawn"
• Herbicides/Pesticides
• Can you get a bigger bee friendly yard without paying more property tax?
April 30, 2024
Duncanville Nature Preserve: Laddfest 2024 - Duncanville
May 1, 2024
Arlington Conservation Council: The Benefits of Native Plants - Zoom
Ann Knudsen will discuss the resource savings, health benefits and ecological gains of using natives instead of exotics. Hear how natives benefit the environment, the community and the homeowner or apartment dweller.
Native Texan Ann Knudsen’s interest in native plants grew from playing in the wildflower fields of her youth and her mother's love of gardening. Ann is a Master Naturalist, Master Gardener, and active in the North Central chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas.
She has been involved with NPSOT's landscaping certification program and, with her mentor, Molly Hollar, took several UT-sponsored classes through the LBJ Wildflower Center and NPSOT. When Molly retired after nearly twenty-five years coordinating the Molly Hollar Wildscape in Veterans Park, she asked Ann to fill that position.
Since 2007, Ann's business, Native Gardener, has specialized in native landscape maintenance and design.
May 2, 2024
Native Plant Society of Texas, North Central Chapter: Insect and Native Plant Interactions - Fort Worth
Joshua Byrne of the Fort Worth Zoo has been passionate about insects since before he could talk, and once he was able to, it was all he talked about. He has kept and studied invertebrates privately for over 20 years, as well as professionally through the Iowa State Insect Zoo, Little Rock Zoo, and currently the Fort Worth Zoo. He has a bachelor’s degree in animal ecology from Iowa State University, but was extremely happy to move to Texas where the weather is warmer and the insects are bigger!