acc nl jan-feb 2004
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C o n s e r v a t i o nC o n s e r v a t i o nC o n s e r v a t i o nC o n s e r v a t i o nC o n s e r v a t i o n
C o u n c i lC o u n c i lC o u n c i lC o u n c i lC o u n c i lPOSTPOSTPOSTPOSTPOSToakw o r k i n g t o c o n s e r v e a r l i n g t o n ’ s n a t u r a l r e s o u r c e s
january-february
2004
volume 5, number 1
Special JanuaryMeeting
Annual Potluck Brunchand Planning Session
Topic:Your environmental priorities for our cityand how the Arlington ConservationCouncil can help you meet them.
Speakers:Everyone with something to say.
Materials & Methods:Bring your ideas and a brunch item;we’ll provide the drinks.
When:Saturday, January 24, 10:00 am- 2:00 pm.
Where:Epworth United Methodist Church,1400 S. Cooper Street
Last year’s introduction to this list still applies, so here it isagain: ACC can be hard to define. Is it a twisted sort of gardenclub? A mini-Sierra Club bounded by our city limits? Acollection of people who can’t abide litter and wastedrecyclables? Or is it something more, a group defined by thediverse interests and concerns of its members? Someonelistened to several of us recently and described us as a groupdevoted to quality of life. Maybe that’ll do until we hearsomething better.
The list below omits one major activity: the constant workgoing on at the Molly Hollar Wildscape at Veterans Park. Everymonth, every week, something good is happening there torestore and enhance that precious bit of Arlington’s naturalheritage.
January: The annual planning meeting attracted a good-sizedcrowd whose many opinions contributed to shaping our plansand activities.
February: City Council announced the naming of the MollyHollar Wildscape at Veterans Park.
March: ACC veteran Anita Garmon named Star-TelegramStars Woman of the Year.
May: Arlington’s 3rd annual Litter Challenge. We cleaned up inFounders Park and tied for first place in our category.
Spring Native Plant Sale. Volunteers talked to lots of eagerbuyers and made a chunk of money for the Wildscape.
Earth Day at UTA. Threatening weather pushed us indoors,but we talked to students, networked with other exhibitors, andcollected soy-based plates and utensils to compost as UTAbegins its composting program.
Walk on the Wild Side. For the third year in a row, about 80third-graders from Wimbish Elementary School picnicked,threw seed balls at designated places, played environmentalgames, explored the park, and learned how to keep a journal.
Texas Watch. Several ACC members underwent training inwater quality sampling by Steve Rothwell. Jean-Marie andStephen Smith have been testing the Veterans Park stream eversince.
Looking Back at 2003
continued on page 3
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From the President Marian Hiler
Published 10 times a year by theArlington Conservation CouncilP.O. Box 216, Arlington, TX 76004-0216Direct all newsletter correspondence to:John Darling, Editor1316 S. Pecan St.Arlington, Texas 76010817-274-1077 [email protected]
Contributors Marian Hiler, Gita Mani
Proofreader Grace DarlingMailing Specialists Peg and TomKennedy
PostPostPostPostPost oakThe
Sarah DendyOur Sarah iswinging her wayto Durham, NorthCarolina. She andher husband Johnare moving thereso they can watchtheir grandchil-
dren grow up. And if you were able toattend the farewell reception for theDendys on January 11 at EpworthUnited Methodist Church, you heardhow she wasn’t just our Sarah. She hasbeen doing just about everything, exceptsleeping, for a number of organizations.Representatives from each paid tributeto her, describing what an integral partshe has been to their group. Sarah hasbeen tutoring children, performing visionscreening, serving her church commu-nity, and delivering groceries to ArlingtonCharities’ clients.
Molly Hollar told how she can’t walkthrough the Wildscape without thinkingof her, eyeing the Turk’s cap Sarahplanted and the kiosk she supplied withinformation to help visitors learn aboutbirds. Sarah has taken countlessnumbers of children through the trails,teaching them about nature. Butterfly-winged Anita Garmon and MarthaMartin flitted up to the lecturn and put
on a skit to illustrate how much Sarahcontributed to the success of the HillElementary Courtyard project ACCadopted in 1995. As the Cornell Univer-sity Project FeederWatch coordinator,Sarah helped third-graders identify andcount birds in their courtyard.
I related how Sarah embodies ACC’smission—“working to conserveArlington’s naturalresources”. She hasserved on ACC’sBoard of Directorsfor the last 4 years.She participated insome way invirtually every typeof project or eventwe have had—fromstaffing tables atevents to tell peopleabout ACC tomucking around inJohnson Creekremoving gobs oflitter, all the whilepointing out thenearby birds. Shedid an outstanding job organizing ourWalk on the Wildside program that took80 third-graders through the Wildscapein two hours last May. She has been agreat parks advocate, serving on theParks Board for six years, and has beena member of the city’s Parks MasterPlanning Committee.
Sarah has all those qualities anorganization hopes for in a volunteer.She’s enthusiastic, knowledgeable,dependable, and doesn’t seem to knowwhat the word “no” means. We have allbenefited greatly from her presence. Wewish you the best, Sarah. You have
certainly given us yours.Special thanks go to Julia Burgen who
was the masterful emcee and organizedall the more than willing sponsors andcontributors to this reception. She pulledit all together in typical Julia fashion.
Central Arlington InitiativeRecently, Julia Burgen, John Darling,
Roy Miliner, Steve Smith,and I met with RandallWhite of the CorporateCitizen Group (CGC) tooffer ACC’s input on theCentral Arlington Initia-tive.
This initiative is a city-wide collaboration torevitalize central Arlington.Its goals are to expand thecity’s tax base and createsafe, vibrant, and attrac-tive downtown districts.It’s sponsored by the Cityof Arlington, TarrantCounty, the University ofTexas at Arlington, andthe Arlington Chamber of
Commerce.Some of the things we said we’d like
to see were a downtown transportationcenter that would take advantage of theadjacent rail system; green pockets,redevelopment with sustainable over-tones, preservation of the remaininghistorical features, better integration ofUTA with its surroundings, and expan-sion and enhancement of JohnsonCreek and Meadowbrook Parks.
Please note that your views are alsowelcome: contribute them online atwww.corporatecitizengroup.com/CentralArlington.htm.
Sarah in typical mode: happilyhanding out information at the lastNatural Urban Living Garden Show.
All Memberships Expired January 31stWe don’t want to lose you, but this will be your last issue of the Post Oak ifyou haven’t renewed your membership. Please don’t put it off. If you want abetter Arlington, renew today—and consider giving a gift membership toanyone you know who values the quality of life in our city. We’re only limitedby the number of concerned people who realize that we can work togetherto make real changes. The bigger we are, the better the changes will be.
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Looking Back continued from page 1
June: Third annual Natural Urban Living Garden Show,sponsored by the Arlington Organic Garden Club. We spreadthe word about ACC and presented a talk on Wildscaping.
July: Fourth of July Parade Recycling. We rushed to place binseverywhere, then sweated as we separated recyclables fromnasty stuff. Totals: last year, 1 big bag; this year, 6 big bags.
Our First Midyear Review. President Hiler presented goalsand accomplishments, and 33 members socialized andplanned for the rest of the year.
September: The New, Improved Trash Bash. The city usedseveral sites for the first time and ACC was chosen to sponsorFounders Park, where a bunch of Cub Scouts picked up lots oftrash, and so did we.
October: New Compost Site at Tierra Verde Golf Club. Weworked to help get Arlington’s third compost site started at ourenvironmentally friendly golf course.
ACC member Ellen Baskerville received the Applause Awardfrom the UTA Libraries. She was recognized for getting arecycling program established within the library.
Fall Native Plant Sale. Another success for all those who hadbeen propagating and potting for months, and more funds forthe Wildscape.
Recycling at Exploration Expo 2003. We staffed our display,set out recycling bins at Unity Church, and were rewarded withlots of cans and bottles.
Recycling at Dog Park Kickoff. Bins again, this time amongthe mutts and purebreds, and still more cans and bottles. UTAlet us deposit our loads in their huge container because ourcollections just won’t work at curbside pickup.
November: UTA’s Texas Recycles Day. Once again we staffedour display table, handed out information, and talked tointerested students and others, thanks to the EnvironmentalHealth and Safety folks. And we demonstrated the compostthat contained last Earth Day’s compostable food trays andeating utensils.
2003 SpeakersWe’re grateful to all the committed speakers who gave up theirtime to make our meetings so valuable last year:
Texas Watch: Monitoring for a sustainable tomorrow,one drop at a time. Steve Rothwell, Dallas Water Utilities
Butterflies in Your Garden. Joann KargesBackyard Habitat: Landscaping to Attract Wildlife.
Leeann RosenthalVehicle Technologies: Today, Tomorrow, and Beyond.
Nan Miller, Senior Transportation Planner, North Central Councilof Governments; and Steve Elms, Tarrant County College
The Cast Iron Forest: A Natural and Cultural Historyof the North American Cross Timbers. Richard V.Francaviglia, Professor of History and Director of the Center forGreater Southwestern Studies and the History of Cartographyat the University of Texas at Arlington
The Year So Far—and What’s Next. Marian Hiler,President, Arlington Conservation Council
Basic Tree Biology and Construction Effects on Trees.Courtney Blevins, Regional Urban Forester, Fort Worth Office,Texas Forest Service
Community-Based Conservation Advocacy Strategies.Linda J. Pelon, Executive Director, Dallas Historic Tree Coalition
Our Next Bond Election. Joe Bruner, Arlington CityCouncil mermber
US Army Corps of Engineers and Ecosystem Restora-tion Opportunities in the Metroplex. Gene T. Rice, Jr., USArmy Corps of Engineers
Park ProgressLast November 26, workersmoved a span of a pedestrianbridge into place across theTrinity near River Legacy Parks.It’s part of the trail that will linkus to Fort Worth and GrandPrairie.
New & ImprovedDespite the removal of many young willows severalmonths ago, the beaver dam is back in Johnson Creek—and considerably bigger than before.
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Arling-ton?
Arlington!
Wildscape Update Gita Mani
What’s in bloom?The wildscape haspulled around itself awinter blanket, adormant butpromising patchworkof bare branches,fallen leaves and
evergreen. Groundcover north of thepavilion boardwalk is lush as is thepavilion area with the Canada wild rye.Pretty purple-pink fruit stud the coral-berry—it’s a wonder the mockingbirdshaven’t eaten it all up. Twenty tenderpossumhaws will provide plenty ofwinter color from berries in five to tenyears.
Workday HighlightsThe December 6 workday was movedfrom the Molly Hollar Wildscape to theRandol Mill Park greenhouse because itwas too cold to work outside. DawnHancock, Kay Sekio, Molly Hollar, andGailon Hardin finished moving plantsfrom Molly’s place to the greenhousewhere they rearranged and inventoriedthem. They made several cuttings forthe mist bench and bumped plants upinto larger pots.
Devanie Fergus, Taylor Stephens-Parker, Jean Hiler, Pat Lovejoy, Gailon,and Molly participated in plant propaga-tion at the greenhouse on December 12.
Tuesday workdays have been spentwatering the wildscape.
News and NotesVolunteers have worked steadily on theportion of the wildscape across from theoverlook. The plan is to illustrate averge, an edge habitat that birds tend toprefer. The foliage ranges from a shadetree to understory to wildflowers andgroundcovers. Three roughleaf dog-woods that Shirley Craig donated are inplace and doing well. A half dozen ormore understory trees will be planted, aswill shrubby things, lantana, and otherwildflowers. Stone has been used toedge the walkway, and three more yardsof decomposed granite added to
improve it. Rosa Finsley redid thestonework by the creek, and she and hercrew added big boulders where the pathfrom the original meadow merges withthat from the overlook. This has been adifficult drainage spot; one more pipeacross from the path will help curtailwashouts in the area.
Volunteers worked on the trail fromthe overlook area to the pavilion andadded bluebonnets to the meadow.Their next areas of focus are thebutterfly garden in the compost area,the bioswale, and the hillside acrossfrom the bioswale.
The area beyond the vehicular bridgethat was planted recently is comingalong nicely and will look pretty good byspring. The stretch of sidewalk from thevehicular bridge to the bird kiosk isabout finished. From that point on, thearea from the LTV boardwalk to thecreek entry by the bird kiosk will be theonly one that needs more work. Volun-teers have been working on it for severalyears, so it’s only a matter of embellish-ing and adding finishing touches.
Plant PropagationMore than 3,000 plants snug in theshelter of the greenhouse are gettingready for the spring plant sale. Thepropagation team has been makingplenty of seed balls—of evening prim-rose, purpletop grass, plains coreopsis,lanceleaf coreopsis, lyreleaf sage, black-eyed susan, Indian blanket, inland seaoats, and others.
Thanks!To Parks and Recreation of the City ofArlington for use of the greenhouse forplant propagation. Heather Dowell is adelight to work with and her cooperationis much appreciated.
To the volunteers for their gifts of timeand growing zeal through the busyholiday season.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
THE MOLLY HOLLAR WILDSCAPE AT
VETERANS PARK
Monthly WorkdaySaturday, February 7Time: 9:00 am – noon; refreshmentswill be provided.
The focus of the workday: somecutting back. Work will move to thegreenhouse if it’s too cold or windy atthe wildscape. If you’d like to volunteer,please call Molly at 817-860-5580.
Weekly WorkdaysTuesdays, 9:00 am – noon. Call Mollyat 817-860-5580 if you plan to attend.
Directions: Veterans Park is at thecorner of Arkansas Lane and SpanishTrail. Parking for the wildscape is at thesecond entrance, off Spanish Trail southof Arkansas Lane.
PLANT PROPAGATION AT
RANDOL MILL PARK GREENHOUSE
Fridays, 9 am – noon. Call Molly at817-860-5580 if you’d like to partici-pate. The team will continue makingcuttings and starting seed.
Directions: 1901 West Randol MillRoad, 0.4 miles west of Fielder on thenorth side of Randol Mill Road. Enterthe park and stay on the road aroundand past the swimming pool. You can’tmiss the greenhouse. Call Molly’s cellphone at 817-319-6924 if you needfurther directions.
Reality check: In Decembervandals burned part of the pavilionfloor and a bench. The good news isthat our fine Parks people havealready repaired the senselessdamage.
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Another Look at 2003
Thanks To Shane Goetz for supporting our efforts. If you’dlike to help ACC and publicize your business, call any boardmember for details.
THE LAW OFFICE OF SHANE GOETZ
METRO 817/265-2902LOCAL 817/274-2905
715 WEST ABRAM ST. ARLINGTON, TEXAS 76013
The ducks are back at the drying beds. Village Creek Wastewater TreatmentPlant officials have pumped water into several ponds just in time to supporta good wintering population of ducks.
Another big post oak died, this time on Mary Streetnear the Main Post Office.
Representatives of CVS Pharmacy met with ACC members todiscuss their plans to minimize tree loss at the proposedbuilding site at Hwy 303 and Fielder Road.
We got a look a the latest in high-efficiency, self-propelledrailcars when one was on display in Fort Worth.
A sewer line crosses Johnson Creek near Mitchell and Pecanstreets. Its route was changed to avoid nearby woods.
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The Post OakThe Post OakThe Post OakThe Post OakThe Post OakArlington Conservation CouncilPO Box 216Arlington, TX 76004-0216
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President Marian Hiler [email protected]
1st Vice President Stephen Smith [email protected]
2nd Vice President Roy Miliner [email protected]
Arlington Conservation Council Officers and Board of DirectorsEllen Baskerville 457-4881
[email protected] Dendy 472-5101
[email protected] Hollar 860-5580John O’Malley 460-8646
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Treasurer Jean-Marie Smith [email protected]
Secretary Jo Briggs 460-8483Editor John Darling 274-1077
Don’t forget!All MembershipsExpired January 31st
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