Trout Lilies, Erythronium albidum, are now blooming at the Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary in McKinney, Texas. They are among the first native plants to bloom here each spring. These small plants are a favorite harbinger of the coming spring among seasoned Heard visitors, volunteers and staff.

These plants provide a delightful change from the dormant appearance of winter in North Texas. The delicate beauty of their white, down-turned flowers and lovely mottled leaves (from which they received a common name) are an interesting contrast to the surrounding colonnades of oaks and the many fallen leaves that insulated them through the winter. Their subtle charm makes the process of spotting them (pun intended) feel like a treasure hunt. As one of the first plants to bloom in spring, they also provide pollinators with food at a time when little else is available. 

While the Trout Lilies are just now beginning to bloom, we encourage you to come out to see them soon. They will only be in bloom a few weeks. Please remember to leave them where they are and enjoy them from the trail (as we always ask) so that future generations may enjoy them. They are regularly seen along part of the Hoot Owl Trail, but they can also sometimes be seen along part of the Bluestem Trail and even sometimes one spot on the Wood Duck Trail. 

These beautiful and delicate plants are just one of many things to watch for along our trails this time of year. Click here for more information about what to watch for along the trails this spring. For information about tips and guidelines for visiting the Heard, click here.

About Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary

Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary is a private 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing nature and people together to discover, enjoy, experience, restore and preserve our priceless environment. The Heard was founded in 1967 by Bessie Heard at the age of 80. In a time when the rate of expansion of the Metroplex was slower than today, she foresaw the need to preserve a place where future generations could experience nature. Today, the Heard's mission of bringing nature and people together is carried out through education, particularly of young people, which emphasizes an appreciation of nature and its conservation.  For more information, visit heardmuseum.org.

If you have had a lifelong love of fossils or have a future paleontologist in the family, Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary is hosting two programs in October you won’t want to miss.

On September 6 from 1:30 to 4 p.m., visit the Heard as we celebrate National Fossil Day with Dallas Paleontological Society! Come explore the exciting world of fossils, learn about ancient Texas, see casts of animals, and become a member of the "PIT" Crew (Paleontologists in Training). You can even bring in your own fossils and have them identified. The Heard also has a number of fossils on exhibit, including a locally-excavated Mosasaur. A new temporary exhibit of Pennsylvanian fossils from the Finis Shale of Jacksboro will be on display. This event is included in general admission and is free for Heard Museum members. Be sure to also check out the Dinosaurs Live! exhibit, featuring ten life-size animatronic dinosaurs, while you’re at the museum. Additional information is available here.

Then, on October 20^th, join the Heard for a comfortable bus trip to collect fossils in the Sulphur River near Ladonia, Texas. You’ll have the opportunity to search for fossils, collect and keep them. This site is famous for great collecting opportunities. Fabulous finds are not unheard of. You’ll also enjoy presentations and talks on fossils and local geology during the trip. Pre-registration is required for this trip and spots are limited. Anyone ages 12 and older may participate (no experience required). All minors (ages 12 through 17) must be accompanied by an adult. This full day program is $30 per person for the public and $27 per person for Heard Museum members. Registration and additional information is available here.    

About Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary

The Heard was founded in 1967 by Bessie Heard. Miss Heard was 80 years old when she saw the need to preserve a place where future generations could experience nature. Today, the Heard's mission of bringing nature and people together to discover, enjoy, experience, restore, and preserve our priceless environment is carried out through education, particularly of young people, which emphasizes an appreciation of nature and its conservation.  For more information, visit www.heardmuseum.org.

Spending time in nature is beneficial to our health in so many ways. You may have observed this, but also study after study tells us that time in nature can offer one of the most effective boosts to our overall well-being.

On June 2, from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., treat yourself to a fun, casual night out in nature with a date or a group of friends while supporting Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary's nonprofit fundraising event—Date Night at the Heard. Enjoy live classic rock music from the Blandelles, dancing, food trucks and more. Take an evening stroll through Native Texas Butterfly House & Garden and a designated portion of our other trails.

All guests ages 21 and up are invited; however, limited childcare is available for event participants (while spots last). Childcare is only $20 per child and will be offered by the same great staff and volunteers that lead Heard educational programs. Kids will enjoy live animal presentations, kid-friendly nature videos, games and puzzles. See www.heardmuseum.org/datenight for additional requirements and information. 

Tickets are limited and only $15 per person. Learn more about this fun event and buy your tickets now at www.heardmuseum.org/datenight.

About Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary

Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary was founded in 1967 by Bessie Heard. Miss Heard was 80 years old when she saw the need to preserve a place where future generations could experience nature. Today, the Heard's mission of bringing nature and people together to discover, enjoy, experience, restore, and preserve our priceless environment is carried out through education, particularly of young people, which emphasizes an appreciation of nature and its conservation.  For more information, visit www.heardmuseum.org.

Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary in McKinney, Texas invites you to join us for two evenings of family fun on December 15 and 16 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. during Holidays at the Heard. This festive fundraising event brings the beauty of the holiday season into nature.

Holiday lights and décor gently accentuate a half-mile Heard nature trail. In keeping with the Heard’s role as a nature preserve, this light display enhances, rather than overpowers, the wildlife sanctuary’s natural beauty. Along the trail, you will see a bur oak tree, Quercus macrocarpa, believed to be over 250 years old situated in a beautiful forest. You will also get a chance to see Tyrannosaurus rex and nine other life-size dinosaurs along the trail. While these dinosaurs typically move and roar during our regular operating hours, they will not be animated during the event. This gives younger children a little time to get more comfortable with seeing these very realistic-looking dinosaurs. As you walk the trail, also be sure to keep an eye out for naturally occurring mistletoe in the trees!

After your group has finished a festive stroll through our lighted trail, be sure to relax and enjoy live music and entertainment designed to complement the holiday atmosphere in our outdoor amphitheater. To see the complete entertainment schedule, click here. You will also be able to warm up with hot cocoa, apple cider, coffee and treats available for purchase from fILTER(ed) Craft Coffee and Culture House. Guests are also welcome to bring a picnic to enjoy in our amphitheater and picnic area. Additional vendors include Topgolf, Grandma’s cupboard, Bare Naked Bee Co., Origami Owl and Lisa Johnson State Farm. Visit our vendors for fun activities, thoughtful gifts, giveaways and more. A portion of the proceeds from our vendors benefits the Heard. 

Children (and the young at heart) will have fun taking a photo with Father Christmas and Mother Nature in a festive setting. They will also have the opportunity to play on stationary baby dinosaurs and on two photo-op Tyrannosaurus rex. Our pioneer village will be transformed into the North Pole Children’s Village for all to explore. You will also have the opportunity to explore our indoor exhibits, watch for up-close encounters with our animal ambassadors and more.

Tickets at the door are only $9 for adults and seniors and $5 for kids ages 3 through 12 (children 2 and under are free). Guests can save $2 per ticket when they purchase online by December 14, 2017 at www.heardmuseum.org/holidays! Tickets will also be available at the door. To see the Holidays at the Heard Facebook event page, click here.

About Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary

Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary is a private 501(c)3 organization comprised of a 289-acre nature preserve and museum. The Heard was founded in 1967 by Bessie Heard, who was 80 years old when she saw the need to preserve a place where future generations could experience nature. Today, the Heard’s mission of bringing nature and people together is carried out through education, particularly of children, which emphasizes an appreciation of nature and its conservation. Additional information is available at www.heardmuseum.org.

On October 14, 2017 at 10 a.m., visit Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary in McKinney, Texas to meet two fossil tortoises that were discovered by Jim Caddell in July of 1994 in the Northwest corner of Nebraska in a region known as the Nebraska Badlands. These specimens will then be on permanent exhibit.

Referred to informally as “Tootsie” and “Peanut,” these tortoises are Stylemys nebrascensis. While this species is similar in some ways to modern tortoises, it lacked foreleg musculature for digging tunnels. These fossils are 34 million years old. Fossils from this species are regularly found in the South Dakota/Nebraska Badlands. Jim Caddell donated these specimens to the Heard in June of 2013. Preparation for displaying these fossils began in the lab in October 2013. After four years and more than 5,000 volunteer hours, they are ready for the museum floor.

What Makes This Exhibit Unique

The adult tortoise fossil on exhibit will be mounted much like an ‘exploded’ drawing with the three elements that make up a turtle (carapace, skeleton, and plastron) separated for visual study and examination. This "3D" example will provide a unique educational opportunity for teaching the anatomy of these unique reptiles.

This specimen also provides an opportunity to view a complete fossil Stylemys. This is rare for a number of reasons. Many Stylemys nebrascensis that are discovered do not include the skeleton. Additionally, the entirety of the fossil also comes from a single individual, which is a rare occurrence. Mineral deposits in the shell expand over time, fragmenting the shell. By the time the soil around the fossils erodes and the shell is visible at the surface, sometimes only fragments remain. Often, the tortoises were scavenged after death, leaving the remains in poor condition. Due to the weight (over 200 pounds) adult specimens are seldom collected.

Approximately half of the juvenile tortoise has been prepared and cleaned. The other half remains in its original condition allowing visitors to get a better sense of what the volunteers work on in the preparation process. For this reason, examples of the tools used will also be displayed to demonstrate and educate the museum visitors on the fossil preparation process.

About Turtles and Tortoises

Tortoises are amazing creatures and belong to the order Testudines, which dates back to the Triassic period. They have survived four mass extinctions, ice ages, and continental upheavals. In the vertebrate world, only eel and crocodilian species have a nearly equal longevity. After you have observed these two 34 million-year-old specimens, be sure to observe two modern species of tortoises, also on exhibit at the Heard.

About Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary

The Heard is a private 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and was founded in 1967 by Bessie Heard. Miss Heard was 80 years old when she saw the need to preserve a place where future generations could experience nature. Today, the Heard's mission of bringing nature and people together is carried out through education, particularly of young people, which emphasizes an appreciation of nature and its conservation.  For more information, visit heardmuseum.org.