Geology Field Trips in 1973

Geology field trips were a special kind of ‘road trip’ in the first year of my marriage. I remember 3 in particular. They were sponsored by the community college (El Centro in Dallas TX); the school chartered a bus for a day, charged a relatively low fee, and students brought their own lunches and snacks. The field trips were popular for more than geology students based on the fullness of the buses!

The first one was to Enchanted Rock – a pink granite pluton batholith in Central Texas. It was not a great day for pictures. Some of the depressions in the granite still held water from recent rains.

That’s me in this picture for scale!

The second one was to see rose rocks near Norman, Oklahoma. The geology of the field trip was overwhelmed by bus getting stuck on the dirt road getting to the location. It had to be pulled out by two tractors!

The third field trip was to Inner Space Cavern north of Austin. It was an easy trip – just off the interstate highway. My husband did some experimentation taking pictures is the low light conditions – all hand held.

Geology field trips have evolved since the 1970s if my daughter’s experiences over the past 7 years are indicative. Now the geology field trips are more likely to require camping, be part of a class and for-credit, and use off-road vehicles rather than buses! Some of them require long distance travel; she had geology field trips to Germany and Hawaii!

1980 Flooding in Plano TX

When we bought our first house in the late 1970s, we were told it was in a 100-year-flood-plain and we were required to have flood insurance. The closest we came to needing it during the 5 years we lived in the house was in 1980 – twice!

In the spring time, heavy rains caused the little stream in the park less than a block from our house to swell and overflow its bank. Water rich is sediment roared through the park scouring grassy slopes. Debris caught on trees that has been growing on the stream bank but were in the middle of the fast moving water during the flood.

The water covered the sidewalk and made the signage for the park look short. The area of houses across the park from where we lived was newer. I wonder now if the runoff was made worse by the increase in impervious surfaces with the new housing developments that were springing up all over the area.

In the fall there was another flood. We got out and drove around a little. Some roads were closed – but they were side roads rather than main thoroughfares. The water was not very deep (note the person walking out into the water on the left of the picture below.

The stream in the park near out house flooded again. As soon as it stopped raining – people in the neighborhood came out to take a look.

My husband also took a picture of the failing infrastructure that ran along the side of the stream. The flood water probably had more than just rain runoff in it; the sewer system was overwhelmed at least in some places.

In the time since 1980, that area of North Texas has continued to develop. The land is relatively flat so municipalities have made greenways with space to let water collect or channels to move water more quickly to places where it can collect. I’m glad my current house (in Maryland) is not in a flood plain!

Earth Day Celebration at Dallas’ Fair Park

There was a 3-day Earth Day event at Fair Park in Dallas while I was there and I enjoyed walking around the exhibits. It was a warm spring day and I forgot my hat – but I stayed in the shade enough not to get burned. I took pictures of some of the restored art deco facades while my sister stood in line to tour one of the Tiny Houses.

We saw some other exhibits and then stopped for lunch (and rest) at the Old Mill Inn. They had a dress your own hamburger basket that was well worth the price. The dining room is in the main room of the mill with beams originally held together with pegs (some metal brackets have been added at the ends of some of them) and a wonderful stone fireplace. The water wheel still turns outside. The building was evidently built very early in Fair Park history and has been used for various purposes over the years.

The Earth Day event was well attended and I hope the area can be revitalized. One time when I was in the area previously it seemed abandoned. For this event, exhibit buildings were put to good use but many of the museums and rides (like the swan paddle boats) were closed. The water feature that held the swan paddle boats did not seem big enough for them – not sure how they are supposed to work.

The best freebie from the event was a mini-garden tool bag. It is perfect for small pots. It won’t stay pristine for long!

Zooming – April 2016

The images I selected for zooming collages this month – all reflect springtime. The Carolina Wren that scouted out nesting locations and selected an old gas grill that we had not gotten around to arranging to take to the landfill (not it won’t go until the wrens are finished with it, the blossoms of a fruit tree and maple samaras…

Horse chestnut leaves, gingko male flowers and leaves, and a daffodil….

Another type of maple samara, a dove in the sunlight, and dogwood flowers….

A goldfinch, robin and bluebird looking a little scruffy (getting their spring/summer plumage) and the beginning of dandelion flowering….

Morning glories and irises from Texas (they had a very mild winter in the Dallas area and lots of rain so the gardens are well developed) ….

A lizard and water lilies (also from Texas).

It’s a vibrant spring and we’re enjoying the cool mornings and near perfect afternoon temperatures in Maryland.

Texas Garden

I was visiting in the Dallas area last week. It rained most of the time so activity was skewed more to things done indoors…..but the sun came out long enough for some garden pictures. The plants are growing well with the early warmth (and following a milder than usual winter) and plenty of moisture.

Irises are still blooming. The bulbs have been moved around as they have gotten too thick in beds either in this yard or in yards of friends and families. My mother remembers where they came from originally.

Pink Preference Sage that was planted years ago by my grandmother is showing its color too. It fills it area with its pleasant pink and green. She got the first plant from one of her sisters.

Mourning doves inspect the garden from the pathways.

The Oxalis is growing in rounded mounds. The mounds grow and the flowers open when there is plenty of light then close again at night or when the clouds are thick.

Garden ornaments peak through. The plants have been propagated from a small bed that my grandmother had started in her last gardening years.

The same is true for the white and yellow clumps of flowers that interrupt the edge between the patio and grassy yard.

The buttercups started the same way. These come back from seed every year at the base of a 24-year-old rose bush my grandmother received as a gift for her 80^th birthday; it had huge blooms that were just past prime so I didn’t photograph them.

A morning glory blooms through a fence – grown from seeds found when cleaning out a room after an aunt died.

The garden is the past translated to present beauty!