Beats a doctor's waiting room

2018 has been low on mental health hikes and the wear and tear is showing. North Texas is already ghastly hot and humid, and it isn't even July. Knew I had to start early if I wanted to get a walk in, and the only walk motivator I came up with was The Hunt for the Missing Turtle Pond.

Since the new accessible trail and boardwalk opened at Oak Point, I hadn't figured out where the new improvements crossed over the old familiar trails. The Turtle Pond whereabouts was particularly bothering.

So, it is found, but no turtles were hanging out. Also, no snakes.

There was a peek-a-boo butterfly or two:

A nice addition is this historical sign on the Willow Springs Trail showing the site of the first Methodist meetings at the Russell home. Unfortunately the land grant information in the lower right corner is already illegible.

The current First United Methodist Church is just down Spring Creek Parkway at the intersection with East Parker Road.

https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth493487/m1/1/zoom/?resolution=31.999876018513465&lat=2241.502926980468&lon=252.63680826002883

Fungus looked so much like a melted hot fudge sundae I had to go to Braums next.

Looking crabby because they couldn't get a Braums sundae.

Find the Joseph Russell land grant on Rowlett Creek.

© 2014-2018 Nancy L. Ruder

Nuts of Texas

Today I was out at Oak Point soaking up vitamin D and noticing the kestrel nesting boxes. Oak Point Park & Nature Preserve is a proud partner organization to the American Kestrel Partnership. I hope to learn what is involved in the partnership. 

Oak Point kestrel March 14, 2014

If I were a kestrel, I would prefer the home on the left with privacy and a view of the low meadow over the one on the right next to the busy bike trail. Location! Location! Location!

My walk took me on the connector trail under Parker Road to Bob Woodruff Park past the historical marker for the William Dexter Prince Memorial Pecan Grove. Having been asked by my out-of-state future daughter-in-law recently if Texas has a state nut, I can now say that the pecan is definitely the designate. [This was not a political discussion.]

Only five states have designated nuts according to State Symbol USA. Alabama and Texas share pecan, California has the almond, Ohio the buckeye, and Oregon the hazelnut/filbert.  In Texas and Ohio the state nut is also the state tree.

William Dexter Prince was a "hobby arborist", according to the marker, and an early CPA in Dallas. He grafted native pecan trees with buds from paper shell pecans to create more tasty hybrids. The squirrels of Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve appreciate his efforts.

 




© 2014-2016 Nancy L. Ruder