Widow Makers Are The Most Dangerous for Parks and Recreation

In normal times (pre-storm times) when seeing a widow maker, it was just second nature to flag down a parks and recreation guy to report the danger. Over the years, I've reported many widow makers. When the massive storm took out over 700 trees in early summer, just clearing the big majestic trees out of the way to open up roads, get power back on for traffic signals and then do the same day after day after day, only to have more break off and fall right where the guys had cleared a day or two beforehand. The crews were well organized and took every thing by stages as to tree sizes, whether entire trees were uprooted or in some cases where old growth were split right down the trunks or snapped off 40-50 feet up in the canopies. It wasn't these guys first rodeo by any means. This storm was by far one of the worse in years.

The Chipper was snacking on some pretty big branches

Cutting out the Dangers

Widow Makers Hanging in Trees

Driving through the park in that expanse of time, one could spot problems blocks away.When park goers saw supervisors riding around the trails in their golf carts, people were being unfair to even talk about the park crews needed to step up their game instead of riding around in their golf carts. It was hard to keep my tongue pinned down on my teeth while they talked their ignorance. White Rock has one of the best crews of maintenance workers the park system has. Most people don't even know that some are assigned to the west side of the lake while others are assigned to the east side and would not even recognize  the west crews when they are going to the barn behind Sunset Bay.

Today, after getting some of the most amazing shots of the large wing yellow Swallowtail butterflies, I parks and watched one crew clearing out a tangle of widow makers near the bike gates. One was as large a couple of feet across and it was wedged in other branches that were dead wood. With winds finally picking up today to near 20 MPH (they have been in the 5 MPH range) the danger of widow makers  danger increases significantly.

Meanwhile, the annual cutting of the meadows that have been marked as 'No Mow' zones has begun and is progressing faster than I had expected. These guys have been dealt every kind of maintenance hand by Mother Nature this year and they have not missed step one. In my book, these guys are super and I am thankful that they work at White Rock to maintain the park in top notch condition.

Many Thanks, Guys. Job Well Done.

Spring Is Inching Its Way North Already

About a week ago, when coming back from the pharmacy, I saw the first flowering tree in full bloom. It took me by surprise with all the cold weather that we have had, but this tree traditionally is one of the first each year in my galaxy to show its colors.

Yesterday, while getting some of the most gloomy images the weather could serve up I was drawn to a hanging danger, then, I found a tree covered in little shining crystal balls of rain drops. It was then, upon closer inspection that I discovered that the buds had already opened and new leaves were already out.

Usually, around the first of March each year, if you live in the Metroplex, you can find real signs that Spring is beginning to happen with tree buds and leaves and flowering trees of white and red and pink blooms along the streets and golf courses. It happened  a bit more earlier than I had anticipated and can't wait until things dry out and good sunshine returns. I need to start walking again (I don't do Mall walks--sorry.) I like being out around nature where birds are building nest and changes are happening in flora.

Rain drops

Leaves!

A Widow Maker

The only thing holding it up in the tree is the one branch (rotten) that can break off with any wind movement in the trees. The butt end of the branch hanging about 12 feet down is about 12-18-inches in diameter. The weight (water logged included) is estimated at about 125 pounds.