* Nature Photography Workshop with Janice Eddington
Jul 24, 2008. Professional photographer, Janice Eddington, returned to the Meadow Preserve to conduct a second nature photography workshop. This time, the group learned about and captured images of nature in the waning light of sunset.
* Connemara's Work Featured on WFAA Channel 8 News
Jul 22, 2008. North Texas boasts being one of the fastest-growing areas in the country but some worry it comes at too high a price. The state has declared conserving the region's eco-system a top priority and efforts are growing to convince builders to back off the bulldozer. See a video of the news segment on WFAA's website.
* Prairies with Rich Jaynes
July 12, 2008. Environmental Scientist and Botanist, Rich Jaynes, discussed the ever changing features of the Connemara Meadow Preserve in mid-summer -- wildflowers are still present but somewhat diminished as the tall prairie grasses dominate. Go to the meadow page to see pictures from the walk.
* Birdwatching with Gailon Brehm
July 5, 2008. Gailon Brehm, President of Prairie & Timbers Audubon Society and Connemara Conservancy Board Member, led a small group to watch birds in the Meadow Preserve and Gardens of Connemara. 36 species were indentified, including Green Herons for the first time in a good while. Dickcissels, Bluebirds, Indigo Buntings, the Yellow-billed Cuckoo and flycatchers were other highlights. Also spotted American Bullfrog, Eastern Cottontail, and an unknown species of turtle. Go to the meadow page to see pictures and a bird list from the walk.
* Connemara Meadow Preserve Featured in Dallas Morning News
June 28, 2008. Dallas Morning News featured an article spotlighting the guided walks through the Connemara Meadow Preserve this summer. Shelly Loy, a neighbor and walk participant was quoted in the artle. "All the birds were out, and the flowers were in full bloom. It was a nice change of pace," Mrs. Loy said. "With our busy lives and urban crowding, we often miss the beauty found in our own back yards." Read the full article at their site. One correction: the phone number listed in the article is incorrect. It should be 214-351-0990.
* Prairie Walk with Jim Varnum
June 28, 2008. Texas Master Naturalist Jim Varnum talked about the changes occurring as summer temperatures rise - updating the group on how prairie restoration projects are progressing in the Connemara Meadow Preserve and pointing out summer wildflowers like milkweed and sensitive mimosa in bloom. Go to the meadow page to see pictures from the walk.
* Nature Photography Workshop with Janice Eddington
June 14, 2008. Professional photographer, Janice Eddington, led a large group in capturing images of the Connemara Meadow Preserve early on a Saturday morning. Janice explained how to compose a good photograph and other tips on photographing nature.
* Wildflowers and Prairies with Rich Jaynes
June 7, 2008. Environmental Scientist and Botanist, Rich Jaynes, discussed the changes occurring as summer begins -- updating the group on how prairie restoration projects are progressing in the Connemara Meadow Preserve. Go to the meadow page to see pictures from the walk.
* History of the Land with Amy Monier
June 4, 2008. Co-founder, Amy Monier, led an evening walk to share how Connemara Meadow Preserve came into the care of Connemara Conservancy. As the third-generation in her family to have a connection to this land, Amy shared her story as well as that of her mother, Frances Montgomery Williams and their love of this land. Go to the meadow page to see pictures from the walk.
* Birdwatching with Gailon Brehm
June 1, 2008. Gailon Brehm, President of Prairie & Timbers Audubon Society and Connemara Conservancy Board Member, led a small group to watch birds in the Meadow Preserve and Gardens of Connemara to conduct a breeding bird survey. Good representation of the expecting breeding birds were present. Dickcissels continue to be seen and heard. Other vertebrates were Eastern Fox Squirrel, Texas Garter Snake, and a small, dark skink (likely Ground Skink or possibly Southern Coal Skink). Go to the meadow page to see pictures and a bird list from the walk.
* Thistle Removal in Meadow Preserve
May 19, 2008. The ecology club and student council from Norton Elementary School in Allen and members of Connemara Conservancy thinned out thistle and wild cabbage populations at a work event in the Connemara Meadow Preserve. THANK YOU!!
* Wildflowers before Mothers' Day with Jim Varnum
May 10, 2008. By May, spring wildflowers are at their peak before becoming intermixed with summer ones. Texas Master Naturalist, Jim Varnum, led a large group through the Meadow Preserve to point out and discuss the remaining spring wildflowers and some of the early summer flowers. Although a particularly warm day in early May, guests enjoyed a variety of blooms and interesting facts about each. Go to the meadow page to see pictures from the walk.
* Land Conservation Highlighted in USA Today
May 9, 2008. Read the full article on USA Today's website
* Birdwatching with Gailon Brehm
May 3, 2008. Gailon Brehm, President of Prairie & Timbers Audubon Society and Connemara Conservancy Board Member, led a small group to watch birds in the Meadow Preserve and Gardens of Connemara. A highlight was the sighting of a Dickcissel in the lower meadow. Previously common, Dickcissels have not been sighted in the Meadow for some years. Go to the meadow page to see pictures and a bird list from the walk.
* Evening Wildflowers with Rich Jaynes
May 1, 2008. On May Day, environmental scientist and botanist, Rich Jaynes conducted an evening walk to enjoy spectacular displays of wildflowers in the Meadow Preserve. Go to the meadow page to see pictures from the walk.
* Connemara Photo Contest
April 22, 2008. Connemara Conservancy is sponsoring a photo contest and we want your best photos of the Connemara Meadow Preserve, and other representations of ecosystems found in North Texas, including the Blackland Prairie, the Post-Oak Savannah, the Cross Timbers or the Rolling Plains. The best photos will be selected to appear in our first calendar. Others will be featured on our Web site and in upcoming newsletters. The entry deadline is August 15, 2008. Click here for contest rules and entry form (pdf).
* Wildflower Walk on Earth Day
Apr. 22, 2008. On Earth Day, environmental scientist and botanist, Rich Jaynes conducted an evening walk to enjoy spectacular displays of wildflowers in the Meadow Preserve. See pictures from the walk.
*Thank You to Work Day Volunteers and REI
Apr. 19, 2008. In honor of Earth Day, over 50 volunteers from the community, Texas Master Naturalists and Friends of the Meadow, joined Connemara and REI in the Meadow Preserve to do spring cleaning. Participants broke into seven work teams to clear away trash, uproot honey locust saplings, knock down stands of dead ragweed, and remove invasive wild cabbage and thistle. Thank you to everyone who gave their time and energy for this work. You can see pictures of the event here or come to one of our upcoming guided walks and see the improvements in person.
* Wildflower Walk in the Meadow Preserve
Apr. 12, 2008. In Texas, spring wildflowers bloom in early March and by mid-April they are spectacular. Master Naturalist Jim Varnum led a large group through the Meadow Preserve to point out and discuss Texas spring wildflowers. See See the meadow page pictures from the walk.
* Bird Watching in the Meadow Preserve
April 6, 2008. For all levels of experience. Look for and learn about birds found in the Meadow Preserve.
Bring your binoculars and field guides if you have them. Expected birds include residents, woodland birds and migrants. All skill levels welcome. See pictures from the walk.
* Thank you to Norton Elementary's Ecoliteracy Education Club
April 2, 2008. Norton Elementary's Ecoliteracy Eduation Club planted about 300 native tallgrass propagules in the meadow presrve under the guidance of Rich Jaynes, restoration advisor. This work is part of ongoing efforts to restore additional native prairie grasses to the meadow preserve. See pictures from the walk.
* Habitat Walk in the Meadow Preserve
March 29, 2008. Environmental Scientist, Rich Jaynes, returned to discuss the habitat areas, native prarie grasses, and management plans for the the meadow preserve. See the meadow page for pictures from the walk.
* Bird Watching with Audubon in the Meadow Preserve
March 22, 2008. The Prairie and Timbers Audubon Society (PTAS), the local chapter of the Audubon Society headquartered in McKinney, joined Connemara to host a bird walk in the Meadow Preserve. Novice birders had the opportunity to learn from veteran birders. Birds sighted included residents, wintering sparrows, woodland birds and early migrants.
* Volunteers and friends rescue big bluestem native grasses
March 8, 2008. Volunteers with the Connemara Meadow Preserve and Texas Master Naturalists transplanted big bluestem sod from a nearby pasture (scheduled to be cleared for a tollway project) into the meadow preserve. This work is part of ongoing efforts to restore additional native prairie grasses to the meadow preserve . Read more about their work (pdf).
* Spring dates added for guided walks in the Meadow Preserve
February 22, 2008. While the Meadow Preserve is still closed,
Connemara Conservancy is hosting guided walks for the general public. Several dates have just been added including two weekday evenings. Go to the meadow page for more details.
* Going Green at Sun to Moon Gallery
January 19, 2008. From January 19 to February 3, 2008, Sun to Moon Gallery in Carrollton is featuring stunning images of the natural world; from the Great Trinity Forest in our own back yard, to distant places like Yosemite National Park, Walden Pond, the Maine Woods and Cape Cod. Sun to Moon is donating a portion of proceeds to Connemara Conservancy foundation. You can support Connemara by going to Sun to Moon during their exhibit January 19, 2008 - February 3rd, 2008. www.suntomoon.com.
* Connemara featured in Denton Record Chronicle
January 16, 2008. The Denton Record Chronicle published two articles about the pace of development in Denton County and the activities underway to protect Texas' heritage, including those by Connemara Conservancy. Read more on the Chronicle's website: Larger homes on the prairie and Conserving Texas: Our new heritage.
* Connemara Recognizes Kirk Evans as Volunteer of the Quarter
January 7, 2008. Join us in thanking Kirk Evans, science teacher at Norton Elementary and also a long-time member of the Connemara Meadow Preserve Steering Committee, as our volunteer of the quarter.
* Maintenance Work in the Meadow Preserve
November 10, 2007. Friends of the Meadow Preserve conducted fall
maintenance activities -- clearing away trash, laying brush across
old trails, uprooting honey locust saplings for removal.
* Connemara expands capacity with new board members
October 1, 2007. Five new board members have joined our Board of Trustees. These new members represent diverse sectors of the community, which will allow us to broaden our reach as we help landowners protect important pieces of undeveloped land throughout North Texas. Read more (PDF).
* Volunteer Opportunities at Connemara Conservancy
September 20, 2007. Volunteers are essential for our work to protect and conserve critical natural landscapes that remain in North Texas. Apply your skills and experience working in field operations, education, fundraising, outreach, or office administration. Opportunities range from one day to ongoing projects. Read more about current volunteer opportunities.
* Connemara Recognizes Our Volunteer(s) of the Quarter
August 14, 2007. Join us in thanking the following members of our restoration committee who are working tirelessly to restore the natural systems in Connemara's Meadow Preserve: Rosa Finsley, Rich Jaynes, and John Sloan. THANK YOU!!
* Connemara Gift in the News
July 31, 2007. Business columnist, Robert Miller, writes about Connemara's gift from land/water/sky in the Dallas Morning News. Read the full article on their website
* Restoring Connemara Meadow Preserve
July 23, 2007. A restoration management plan has been drafted based on the land management plan originally authored in 2002. The revised plan encourages recovery of the natural beauty in the preserve. Committee members are also spending time documenting several natural points of interest which are influencing a new trail system currently under consideration. Go to our meadow page to learn more
* Connemara Conservancy Receives $50,000 Gift from land/water/sky
July 12, 2007. Gift will support conservation and stewardship of land in north central Texas. Read more (PDF).
* Connemara Meadow Preserve in the News
June 3, 2007. The recent concert held in the Connemara Meadow Preserve sparked interest from the Dallas Morning News. Read the full article on their website.
* Raise money for Connemara Conservancy in your daily activities
May 21, 2007. Your daily activities can contribute to Connemara Conservancy through partnerships with Tom Thumb stores, Goodsearch, and GiveLine. Go to our daily activities page to learn more
* Strain Land Dedication Event held in Lancaster
May 19, 2007. The donation of a 121 acre conservation easement was celebrated at our land dedication event on May 19, 2007, at the Strain Family Farm in Lancaster, TX. Read more about this easement.
* Strain Family Farm Conservation Easement in the News
May 18, 2007. Our latest conservation easement was recently spotlighted by the Dallas Morning News. Read the full article on their website.
* Spring Concert Held in Connemara Meadow Preserve
May 12, 2007. A concert was held in the Connemara Meadow Preserve, on Saturday, May 12 to celebrate mothers and spring. Visitors enjoyed the gentle sounds of a string quartet under the shade of the pecan grove. Performers included Susie Choi, Tiffany Kuo, Michael Li, and Joanne Liu -- students from the award-winning Plano West Senior High School orchestra.
* Outreach and Marketing Communications Internship
May 7, 2007. Connemara Conservancy is seeking an Outreach and Marketing Communications Intern. See the complete job description (PDF) for responsibilities, qualifications and application process.
* Connemara Meadow Preserve Education Activities in the News
April 21, 2007. Plano's Rasor Elementary students spent the year monitoring bluebird nest boxes in the Connemara Meadow Preserve. Their activities were spotlighted by the Plano Insider. Read the full article on their website.
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