Mineola Nature Preserve

[MHampton]

Made it out to this spot this past weekend. It wasn't too bad, but a little early in the year for birds OR anything green. Nice hiking trails and nice looking area. They have a web site, here. Here is one shot of the trail made from an old train track.

[donlfaulkner]

Michael,

Followed your lead and went out there today. (Just had to "Get the heck outta Dodge"!)

Beautiful place but was cold and very windy so the Princess and I did not stay long. But! We will be back!

Got these before we left.

[TRWhite]

Did not even know that was there! And was out today looking for wild flowers.

Tim

[venchka]

We went today. Boy, did we screw up. Driving south from Mineola on US-69 there are no signs. We drove all the way to Lindale. Went to Lowe's, Wal-Mart, Brookshire's & Podados. Not a wasted trip.

On the way back, we found the sign. Listen up folks: The entrance is off of the Loop east of US-69.

We didn't spend much time, it was late. We will go back. We will take all of the cameras. I found some places made for the Big Camera.

Thanks!

[MHampton]

Wow! The place really bloomed in the past month since I was there! It was one of those times when you take off from work whenever you can though. I'll have to go back there again. Maybe in the fall. Wonder if they'll have any color then?

[venchka]

Maybe somebody will be there and report back.

Mineola Nature Preserve's NatureFest - May 23

NatureFest 09

Schedule of events

May 23rd

07:00 - Gates Open Organizations and Vendors can begin set-up.

08:30 - Birding/Wildlife Walk with Sandy Tibbs of Lost Creek

10:00 - Tree Identification Walk with Daniel Duncum from the Texas Forest Service

11:00 - Amphibian Walk with Prof. Neil Ford from the University of Texas, Tyler

11:30 - Food and Host Plants to attract Butterflies; discuss the life cycle and stages with Marcia Bush

Noon - "Attracting wildlife to your backyard" with Native Plant Society's Liz Soutendijk

12:30 - Learn how valuable bees are at the Bee Hive with The East Texas Beekeepers Association and John McCall

1:00 - Nature Photography with veteran photographer Marcia Bush

1:30 - Rainwater Harvesting with Wood County Master Gardener Specialist Pam Riley - Mineola

League of the Arts will conduct a Kite Flight

2:00 - The Creature Teacher Robyn Wheeler will be showing the "creepy and slimy" guests she's brought.

3:00 - The Blackland Prairie Raptor Center will be presenting their resident Predator birds

4:00 - The Creature Teacher Robyn Wheeler is back with "Creatures of the World"

5:00 - The Blackland Prairie Raptor Center returns with the Birds of Prey

6:00 - Mineola's League of the Arts will conduct a Kite Flight

7:00 - Astronomical Society of East Texas and Paul Shaw begin their setup for star gazing

8:20 - Sun set at the Preserve

8:30 - Twice Upon a Time Storytellers Peggy and Gene Richardson will spellbound you around the campfire

9:00 - The Owl Prowl with Jay Heppner of Lost Creek

10:00 - End of Event

We will also have all day activities by the various groups that will be tabled near the pavilion