Taking A Break On A Tandy Hills Amphitheater Bench Before Hunting For A Trout Lily

Another weather perfect hiking day on the Tandy Hills on this last day of the 2nd month of 2013.

Today when I got to the newly installed benches that overlook the new cleared Tandy Hills Amphitheater I had myself a pleasant sit down for a bit.

I do not know if the Trout Lily Walkers will sit down on these new benches at some point during their walking this coming first Sunday of the 3rd month of 2013.

I got email yesterday about Sunday's Trout Lily Walk....

Tandy Hills Natural Area, aka., The Land that Time Forgot, is home to many rare and uncommon plant species. One of the most eagerly anticipated of them is the diminutive yet striking, Trout Lily (Erythronium albidum). Being one of the first wildflowers to bloom each year it is sometimes called, the harbinger of Spring.

Don Young Trout Lily Photo

The Vernal Equinox is March 20, but the harbinger of Spring has arrived at Tandy Hills. Their golden-throated white trumpets hang from curvy stems nestled inside mottled leaves that resemble speckled trout. They are scattered across the Tandy hills and hollers hiding in secret places.

It helps to have a field guide. We are lucky to have the best of the breed in, Jim Varnum, who will lead a Trout Lily Walk this Sunday, March 3, at Tandy Hills. The tour starts at 1 pm. Jim will regale you with amazing facts about TL's and help ID other plants along the way. Don't miss this brief window of opportunity. 

I don't know if I'll be going on the Trout Lily Walk on Sunday. It starts a bit later than my usual walk time. I suspect going on the Trout Lily Walk is the best chance I will have to actually see, for the first time, the elusive Trout Lily.

Brush Bash 2 Canceled But The Trout Lily Walk Will Walk As Scheduled

Tomorrow's Saturday February 20 Brush Bash has been canceled.

Fort Worth's Parks Department is unable to help due to still trying to clean up other brush left in the wake of last week's record breaking snowstorm.

The weather is also predicted be possibly a bit wet tomorrow.

The Trout Lily Walk with Master Naturalist, Jeff Quayle, is still going to take place.

If you need more info about the Tandy Hills Natural Area Trout Lily Walk you can email Don Young or call 817.731.2787.

February 20 Tandy Hills Brush Bash 2 & Trout Lily Walk

That is Olive the Prairie Dog frolicking on the Tandy Hills during our recent record breaking snow.

Olive's last name is Young, due to her paternal parental unit being Don Young.

Olive wanted Don Young to tell you that the Brush Bash 2 is still on for Saturday, February 20.

Also on the Tandy Hills, that Saturday, there will be a Trout Lily Walk with Master Naturalist, Jeff Quayle.

Brush Bash 2's start time is 10am. Ending at 3pm, with lunch sometime between those extremes. You will want to bring work gloves, water, a can-do spirit. And lunch.

If you need more info about the Tandy Hills Natural Area Brush Bash 2 you can email Don Young or call 817.731.2787.

There will be two Trout Lily Walks with Jeff Quayle

Jeff Quayle is a self taught botanist/naturalist specializing in plants of north central Texas for more than 25 years, including the eco-region's habitats of north central Texas. He'll discuss the life cycle of the Trout Lily, its habitats, requirements for producing blooms and the means of propagating itself.

Trout Lily Walk #1, like I already said, is the same Saturday as Brush Bash 2. You can Brush Bash for awhile and then take a break and do some Trout Lily Walking.

Trout Lily Walk #2 is scheduled for March 6.

Both Trout Lily Walks start at 10am and walk til 1pm.

Bring water, a camera and a notebook.

Contact Don Young for more info. Contact option above.