Environmental

The 29th annual Great Backyard Bird Count, organized by the National Audubon Society, Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Birds Canada, takes place today (Friday, Feb. 13) through Monday, Feb. 16. Participants are asked to count all birds they see or hear in their backyard or anywhere they’d like for as little as 15 minutes (or as long as they wish) on one or more days of the event and report their sightings online at www.birdcount.org.

Dr. Kevin Dillard, certified arborist and Director of Landscape Management at Southern Methodist University, teaches you how to have a beautiful landscape in the shade, including how to analyze your site and choose the best plants for different types of light conditions, such as flowering plants, ground covers and grass. Sponsored by the City of Richardson.

If you’re a participant in Richardson’s recycling program, you may have wondered, “If steel and aluminum cans are acceptable, does that include aerosol cans?” The answer is no, aerosol cans are not acceptable material for Richardson’s curbside recycling program, because of fire danger they create if the can is full or partially full—a danger to staff as well as trucks and equipment.  

The Dallas County Master Gardener Association (DCMGA), part of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, states in its latest Garden Tasks list that oak trees need to be pruned before Feb. 15 to minimize the chance of oak wilt infestation. If you must prune them after Feb. 15 and before June 30, always “paint” the cut end with tree wound paint, being very careful not to paint over the collar of the cut.    

The North Central Texas Council of Government’s Air North Texas division reminds the public to love our air and our environment while we show love for each other as we plan for Valentine’s Day celebrations/gifts—Air North Texas’ Clean Air Corner blog offers several ways to do this.

When landscapes start to thaw out after the recent winter weather, plants may look dead or severely battered from all the sleet and snow. Texas gardening expert and author Neil Sperry advises on his website to not “rush to judgment” and that in many cases, you won’t know the extent of winter freeze injury until plants try to leaf out in the spring. Even if leaves are browned, “don’t assume immediately that the plant will not produce new leaves from the old stem tissues.”

It’s mating season for both coyotes and bobcats in North Texas, so area residents may see an increase in sightings of the animals over the next few months, as they are part of the natural habitat of North Texas. Bobcats and coyotes rarely pose a threat to people, but domesticated pets such as small dogs and cats could be at risk if left alone or taken off their leash near natural areas.

The City of Richardson, in partnership with Republic Services, is offering this exclusive opportunity for residents to take a guided tour of the Republic Services facility in Plano, Richardson’s recycling processor. Participants will get an in-depth look at the recycling process, from material collection to sorting and processing, demonstrating the critical role recycling plays in environmental sustainability. 

Think there’s nothing to do in the garden in January? Especially with this mild winter (so far), there’s plenty to do to “keep your hands in dirt” and take care of your landscape. Dallas County Master Gardener Association, Inc. (DCMGA), a division of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, offers a Garden Task List for January at its website, tasks which include pruning, watering and soil enrichment.