Big Day in the Park 2013 - Update

Join us for our Big Day in the Park on Sunday, April 7, 2013. Click here for details.

Commons Ford Prairie Organization - Big Day in the Park

Mark your calendar for Sunday, April 7, 2013 for the Commons Ford Big Day in the Park 2013 and join us for plenty of birding and nature walks including activities for families and children. We expect to have vendors selling artwork, books, food, beverages and other items. We will also have another Wing Ding where we count all of the birds seen and heard in the park that day. While attendance and all activities are free, The Big Day in the Park will raise funds to continue the Commons Ford Prairie Restoration Project and donations of any amount are encouraged. We are very excited about the results from the first year's planting, but must continue efforts to further remove invasives and replant natives to insure long-term success. Come see the beginning of a beautiful native prairie. More details will follow, but if you have questions now or if you are interested in volunteering to staff information tables, assist with set up, etc. please contact Diane Sherrill at nativeearthscapes@gmail.com

Gail Woods and the Birds of Commons Ford Prairie

Birds of Commons Ford Prairie

Original Watercolors and Prints

 Sale Benefits Commons Ford Prairie Restoration Project

Commons Ford Prairie Restoration Organization (CFPRO) is proud to support the work of an artist who is dedicated to our cause and donating the proceeds from sales of her work to prove it.

Gail Woods, a well-respected local artist, is having a showing at the Laura Bush Library - Westbank Library System - featuring her lovely watercolors of Birds of Commons Ford Prairie. Gail has been a local illustrator since the 1980s and her work has been published in the Austin Chronicle, Texas Monthly, Texas Observer and many other publications, including children’s books. Gail has generously offered to donate all the profits from the sale of these works to the CFPRO native prairie restoration efforts at Commons Ford Ranch Metropolitan Park. Both original watercolors and prints will be available.

Gail will be present at the Opening Reception featuring her work at the Laura Bush Library, 9411 Bee Caves Road (at the intersection of Cuernavaca and Bee Caves) from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m., Sunday, January 13, 2013. Her work will be on display and available for purchase at the library gallery from the opening until February 28, 2013. Purchased works will be shown at the Library throughout the show for the benefit of the whole community and can be picked up after the exhibit. Her artwork will also be available at the Commons Ford Big Day in the Park fundraising event on April 7, 2013.

To arrange purchase after the Reception, please contact Gail at gwoofy@hotmail.com. You can also purchase at www.etsy.com/shop/BirdsOfCommonsFord. 

Fall 2012 Mixer and Committee Initiative

We had a great mixer, meeting and prairie walk on September 30, 2012.  The prairie continues to progress and is seeding out nicely for the fall and winter.  Bird experts have already reported an effect on the numbers and types of bird species using the park since the prairie restoration started.  

At the mixer, we began a committee initiative by establishing two committees to help keep this great effort moving forward.  Several supporters formed a Fundraising Committee which will engage in efforts and plan activities for 2013 to raise funds to support the next phases of the prairie restoration.  We also formed an Education Committee which will work toward providing more information about the prairie to the local community and encouraging local schools and organizations to conduct field trips and other activities to learn about the importance of native prairies.  If you can help with either or both efforts, we need your energy.  Please send us an email with a request to join the email list of either committee and from the communications on those lists you may identify little pieces of work that you can contribute to see the prairie restoration complete and see this prairie endure.

Commons Ford Prairie Restoration Project – Summer Update

Summer is in full force in central Texas. Last year, the scorched prairie at Commons Ford was covered with dead, brown, invasive grasses. This year, thanks to the success of our February seeding, the Commons Ford Prairie is sea of color, all abloom with native Texas wildflowers! Many of the native seeds that were laid down in February, both grasses and forbs, have already emerged.

Regular park visitors have been amazed at the changes in the prairie. No one can remember ever seeing this many wildflowers in the park. The flowers have been attracting wildlife as well as human visitors. This is because the seeds produced by the flowering forbs and native grasses provide excellent forage for birds. Mourning Doves have been increasing in numbers, from being a rare sighting to a common one. Painted Buntings and Lark Sparrows have also flocked to the prairie this summer. There had also been an increase in the number of Northern Bobwhite calls heard by regular park visitors. Northern Bobwhites are currently a species of concern in Texas. It has been our hope that the prairie restoration process would create ideal habitat for this species. During the weekend of June 9th our Commons Ford Prairie Restoration Project volunteers conducted a post-restoration vegetation analysis. This study allowed us to document what was coming up in the prairie. We sampled in the same areas where we had sampled before the restoration process. The change was incredible. On previous surveys, we found mostly Bermuda grass, Johnson grass and King Ranch bluestem. On the June survey, we found species such as common sunflower, green sprangletop, windmill grass, Indian grass, lemon mint, American basketflower, black-eyed susan, plains coreopsis, clasping coneflower, winecup and white prickly poppy. We even had some big bluestem and little bluestem sprouting, which is great because these are important components of a healthy prairie system and it can sometimes take these grasses years to sprout and establish dominance over the invasives.

On Saturday June 9th, after the survey was complete, George Cates of Native American Seed in Junction gave a presentation entitled, “The Seeds Have Sprouted – Now What?” at the Laura Bush Community Library near Commons Ford. He presented to an audience of approximately 60 people. George explained some of the most common issues that can arise after a restoration process. The audience consisted of both Commons Ford Prairie Restoration members as well as concerned local landowners. A reporter from the Westland Picayune was also present. Her article can be read here.

And so, the prairie continues to evolve. Every week brings new surprises. If you have time to visit, you will witness the blooming of giant Maxmillian sunflowers which are currently replacing the common sunflowers that have been blooming for the past couple of months. It is exciting to imagine how the prairie will look a year from now, when the natives have become established and mature. Many thanks to all of our members and volunteers who have made this project possible! All of this beauty would not have been possible without your support!

While we are all excited about the success of the March planting, there is still work that needs to be done. There are still invasive grasses in the prairie, namely Bermuda grass and King Ranch bluestem. Further work will be required in order to remove these pest plants so that they do not choke out the native species. We will have to continue to monitor the progress of the prairie. Stay tuned for future volunteer opportunities and work days that will be needed in order to keep the invasives out.

COMMONS FORD PRAIRIE BEGINS TO TAKE SHAPE

Less than ninety days after planting, many of the native wildflowers are showing signs of life on the Commons Ford Prairie. Common Sunflower, Lemon Mint, Drummond phlox, mealy blue sage and Plains Coreopsis, Mexican Hat and Lazy Daisy are but a few of the forbs which are already blooming thanks to the nearly 4 inches of rain over the past two weeks. Native grasses such as Texas cupgrass and green sprangletop have also sprouted. In the last photo, you can see that a male Lesser Goldfinch is already excited about the Common Sunflower. As we move into summer, we expect much more activity. Photos are courtesy of Neal Tuttrup.

MAINTENANCE OF NATIVE PRAIRIES PRESENTATION

We are pleased to offer a presentation by George Cates of Native American Seed Company in Junction. George will discuss steps to be taken to maintain native prairies once the newly planted seeds have sprouted. Seating is limited so register early if you are interested. Click on the "Native American Seed Presentation" link about for details.