Author: NPSOT-Wilco

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Join the Big Pull… locally in Round Rock!

National Invasive Species Week is February 23-March 8. Team up with Good Water Master Naturalists for the Big Pull in Round Rock on March 7.

Info from GWMN:

The Good Water Master Naturalists are supporting the Native Plant Society of Texas by joining them for The Big Pull! Let’s make an impact during National Invasive Species Week by removing invasive species and supporting healthy native ecosystems at the park by our iconic Round Rock on Saturday, March 7, 9am-12pm.

Williamson County Conservation Foundation is taking care of sign up since it’s part of their responsibility so we’ll be signing up on their website. If you’re new to volunteering with them, every participant will need to sign the WCCF waiver before participating. (It is good for the rest of the calendar year in case you want to volunteer with WCCF again.) All are welcome, bring friends and family members if they want to join in on the fun.

All the details

If you have any questions, send an email to wilco-chapter@npsot.org and we’ll put you in touch with chapter member (and master naturalist) Michelle Goerdel.

Read NPSOT’s announcement about the Big Pull and invasive species.

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March 12 Chapter Meeting: “Partnerships for WaterWise Communities: City of Round Rock Landscape Project” with Jessica Woods and Emily Morales @ GT Public Library

Turk's Cap
Turk’s Cap, Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii

Join NPSOT-Williamson County on Thursday, March 12, 2026, when our featured topic will be Partnerships for WaterWise Communities: City of Round Rock Landscape Project with City of Round Rock Conservation Staff, Jessica Woods and Emily Morales. Free and open to the public. The meeting begins at 7:00 PM.  The guest presentation begins after a short business meeting.

Please note: This month’s guest presentation will NOT be recorded for YouTube.

About our topic: Our presentation will provide insight into why we (the City) need partnerships to achieve our goals, as well as an update on our landscape transformation project at the Utilities and Transportation Office to which NSPOT has donated several plants. A lot of pictures will be included in the presentation!

About our speakers: Jessica Woods is the Senior Water Conservation Coordinator for the City of Round Rock. She is an active Good Water Master Naturalist and is starting to enjoy backyard birding.

Emily Morales is a Water Conservation Specialist for the City of Round Rock. She is also an active Good Water Master Naturalist and especially interested in habitat restoration and plant rescues.

==> This month’s in-person location is the Georgetown Public Library, 2nd floor, 402 West 8th St, Georgetown, TX 78626. Come early (6:30 PM) for expert advice, to check out the seed swap board, or just to visit.

==> To attend via Zoom, register at https://npsot-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/OqmyN9-bTNGQC6H2kh4qPA#/registration

At every meeting, we give away a book — about native plants or the meeting topic — to one randomly chosen in-person attendee!

If we have permission from our guest speaker, we record the presentation for our YouTube channel. (See a list of past topics at this link.)

Have an idea for a speaker?  Let Program Leader Susie Hickman know via  email to wilco-chapter@npsot.org.

NPSOT-Williamson County meetings are free and open to the public. We hope you attend!  Meetings may be in person, virtual, or both, so be sure to check details in the meeting announcement. Meetings are announced on our website, our calendar and Facebook. See upcoming topics on our Home page or on the Calendar.

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Trip Report: Feb 7’s Weed & Wine

— by Nancy Pumphrey

farm tools
Peterson Community Garden, Hutto. Photo by Nancy Pumphrey.

What a beautiful day we had Saturday, Feb 7th, at Peterson Community Demonstration Gardens in Hutto. About 12 NPSOT members and most of the board of Keep Hutto Beautiful showed up to weed and spiffy up the garden. We were treated to a composting activity by Allan, who runs a demonstration area in the garden. For an hour or so, we dug more Bermuda than we could stand, trimmed a few natives back and then gathered our things up in time for snacks and drinks.

There was time to chat and meet the board members, support Debbie Holland who oversees the garden, and tour the approximately 3/4 acre property. There are native shrubs and trees, a bee hive, a veggie plot and the compost demonstration area. There are also many antique farm tools and implements on display. Our own Leland Haefner and Cassandra York-Bergoine have been working to establish a few more native plant areas.

It was a welcome break to be able to sit outside, enjoy the evening and each other.

If you would like to tour the garden it is open to visitors at 205 Hutto St. Hutto, TX 78634.

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See photos from many field trips in our album =>

Field Trip Photo Album