The First Year at W.W. Glover Cemetery
First day exploring the native wild habitat with pre-schoolers from the Take Back Our Community Church, adjacent to the Glover Cemetery
THE FIRST YEAR
W. W. Glover Cemetery
Participant in the Constellation of Living Memorials
Written by Kathy Ann Reid December 17, 2024
We had five core volunteers for most of our first year. After a saturating spring rain and after my truck’s load of mulch and topsoil was unloaded, I had the help of two neighbors who attempted to get the truck out of the mud. Subsequently, more help came with a 4-wheel drive vehicle to pull the truck to solid ground. Throughout the year, we have had a neighbor’s physical help, and he arranged the rental of a woodchipper; children and grandchildren have attended activities and helped cut up and remove fallen trees. We appreciated Victoria Clow, an archaeologist, who came to look at an underground stone structure found while digging up our plenteous privet. Five high school students volunteered to find out our work might NOT be their cup of tea. The cumulative volunteer hours estimated to include through the end of December are 763 hours.
Trish and son, Jared. Jared was allowed time off from school to help mow in the mow areas. This picture was taken for him to show for a class show & tell at the school.
At the Pioneer Picnic in April, approximately 40 attendees were introduced to the cemetery in its more natural state. Everything was beautifully green, and everyone who commented had positive reactions. On other days, we were honored to have visits from Archaeologist and Geologist Tim Dalbey and M.C. Toyer, Historian of the Dallas County Pioneer Association. Together, they were instrumental in saving Big Spring, which narrowly escaped destruction (https://dallastrinitytrails.blogspot.com/2013/05/preserving-ancient-dallas-help-protect.html).
Children discover their ancestors at the W.W. Glover Cemetery, Pioneer Picnic
The neighboring ministry, Taking Back Our Community (TBOC), opened its doors to a very well-attended talk by Amy “Moon Lady” Martin, followed by a full moon walk in the cemetery. This newly introduced 25 people to the cemetery; one attendee volunteered on a Tuesday morning.
Far left side, a blue light lit up a white sheet for identifying night insects led by Master Naturalist student Joshua Ebright, red lights led to the open prairie to view the full moon
The group learned how to identify insects using the iNaturalist app.
Full moon night walk in the Glover cemetery led by Amy Martin
Take Back Our Church community brought some of its children to the Constellation of Living Memorials 4-H classes in its building and fieldwork in the cemetery. Four Monarch butterfly classes were led and designed by Carol Clark.
Take Back Our Church youth's first exposure to experiencing nature at the Glover Cemetery
First official day of the Constellation of Living Memorial 4-H Class, led by Carol Clark and assisted by CLM Community Outreach Director Willette Jackson. Take Back Our Church youth learn techniques to capture insects for identification
We are grateful for the $1,866 allowed expenditures, which were used specifically for establishing the native plants. Just to point out a difficulty that volunteers experience, during the year, approximately twice that amount of expenses were not allowed and had to be covered for work to proceed. Those expenses were mainly for removing fallen trees and damaged fences.
Julie Fineman established a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Program 4-H partnership, and we look forward to witnessing youth embracing and leaning into nature, a correction to nature deficit disorder.
Local youth discuss the purpose of pollinators led by Constellation of Living Memorials Public Heath Director May Rigby and CLM Community Engagement Director Willette Jackson
Master Naturalist Nancy Escobar quizzes the students…their retention illustrates their passion for learning about Monarch butterflies
We were happy to hear about the Constellation of Living Memorials plans that are in development in hopes of working with distinguished organizations and people, including this list from Ms. Fineman: Dallas Parks & Recreation, Ancestory.com, the 6th Floor Museum, The Holocaust Museum, the African American Museum, the Latino Cultural Center of Dallas, and the Perot Museum. The Cultural Archeological Curriculum designed by Victoria Clow is very exciting.
In August at our first civilized meeting (a), we planned for the fall activities (b) most of which were accomplished.
(a) Please see , “August 2024 Overview” which is a companion to this report
(b) Please see “Project and Task List”
August 2024 Overview
W. W. Glover Cemetery
Participant in the
Constellation of Living Memorials Two- Year Pilot Program
Kathy Ann Reid August 28, 2024
Four core volunteers had our meeting to plan for autumn activities. This was the first civilized meeting according to modern standards. Numerous meetings were had after working at the cemetery, sitting on the tailgate of my pick-up truck, making notes of future volunteer workdays on clipboards, discussing plant placement, mow, and no-mow areas, days to water, tree trimming, and fallen tree clean-up. Yesterday’s meeting was in an air-conditioned dining room with a beautiful view of the hot world outside.
Kathy Ann’s delight at finding Big Blue Stem at Glover Cemetery, “I'm excited about the kinda rare plant! Betsy Farris (Native Plant Society of Dallas Chapter and Dallas County Pioneer Assoc. member) sent me a picture of an example from a plant sale to learn what it looked like. I barely saved the plants (before they were recognized) from being mowed since they are in a narrow strip.”
Last fall, we staked off no-mow areas, including areas where asters were blooming. With the spring growth of native plants, the areas were modified to accommodate these additional desired plants. They were further modified because more square feet than expected were mowed to keep the tombstones accessible. Mowing is now done only in the places that have apparently been mowed previously. The resulting layout is better for caretakers and for plants to grow where they naturally thrive.
Successful planting of Turks Cap.
Setting a specific Saturday of the month as THE volunteer day has allowed potential volunteers and those interested in observing a chance to plan. At the beginning, the second Saturday was set aside to continue for the entire two years of the program so the basic plans are set until December 13, 2025. The core volunteers have duties all month; some will not participate on odd days, but all make a big effort to be there on Saturday. We have worked approximately 500 hours, not including drive time.
We removed very dense invasive grasses and roots covering most of the cemetery and privet covering slightly less, so we prepared beds before planting the purchased native perennials. In spring, turning over soil, pulling roots out, and breaking apart resulting dirt clods in a 3’x5’ section took one person around three hours. This was done strictly in the spring when the dirt was workable and not attempted when the top inches of ground dried out. Only Turk's Cap and Lantana appear healthy with the variety of plants purchased, planted in early spring, and faithfully watered. We are happy with the native plants that were already growing and expect to have a great showing of asters this fall. Then, in spring, grape hyacinths will almost cover the acre, and white Irises (which were thinned out) should be beautiful.
The administrative arm of the Constellation of Living Memorials has arranged cooperation with the nearby ministry, Take Back Our Church, for the education of children and adults, including a spotlight shining on the cemetery as a place of historical and natural importance. This introduces the neighborhood to the area's natural history since the cemetery land holds seeds and plants that have grown there since before farming began here. We have the beginning of a pocket prairie that will be pleasing to the beholder and good for the environment.
Constellation of Living Memorials volunteer lead Kathy Ann Reid
Project and Task List Compiled by GW and KAR June 2024, modified after 9/6/24 meeting at Trish’s home.
Tasks for new volunteers
-Hand pull grass around tombstones
-Clean up in and around fenced areas (weed eater)
-Take green briers off fence
-Extract privet
-Seeds off and extract Johnson grass
Projects for core volunteers
-Clean around the Pecan tree and trim sucker branches
-Slice off the top layer soil off SE quadrant infested with undesirable vegetation, replace soil and sow seed, or
-Scalp infestation of undesirable vegetation and rake or break up soil and sow Prairie Starter Mix Seeds
-Cut and treat saplings in the fence
-Remove lower limbs (suckers) on all trees
When should we meet next, and what time? Mon. Tues. Wed. Thurs. Fri. Sat.
What to do: Make seed bombs, topsoil with seeds for Harvest Day
Buy or obtain: American Beauty Berry, Rock Rose, Flame Acanthus, Pride of Barbados
HARVEST DAY AT GLOVER
SECOND SATURDAY, OCT 12, 2024
YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ARE INVITED TO SEE THE FRUITS OF OUR LABORS
*Tours of Cemetery
*Tombstone Repair Demonstration Michelangelo Historic Stone...Restoration
*Nature Table for children (tablecloth to be colored, Seed Bombs)
*Bring your picnic lunch and lawn chairs
*Meet friends who are knowledgeable about native plants and local history