UPDATED, July 10 Chapter Meeting: Annual Chapter Meeting plus “Native Texas Plants Database Overview/Demonstration” with Randy Pensabene and Gary Bowers

Updated July 7, 2025 due to location change. News! Due to the severe rains in Central Texas, the July 10 meeting will be at the Georgetown Public Library, 2nd floor. A water main break and road closures are affecting the previously announced location which was the Georgetown Parks & Rec Admin Building.

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Join NPSOT-Williamson County Thursday, July 10, 2025, for our annual chapter meeting and a Native Texas Plants Database Overview/Demonstration focusing on Williamson County with Randy Pensabene and Gary Bowers. Free and open to the public. The meeting begins at 7:00 PM.  

  • Results of the chapter board election will be announced. (Link to election details.)
  • Membership anniversary pins will be presented to recipients attending in person. (If not attending this meeting in person, the pins will be provided another way after the meeting.)
  • A presentation featuring NPSOT-Williamson County Chapter’s new Texas native plants database (more info below).

==> News! This month, if you attend in person, we’re at the Georgetown Public Library, 2nd floor, 402 West 8th St, Georgetown, TX 78626Georgetown Parks & Rec Administration Building, 1101 N College St, Georgetown, Texas 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/vKF9n7OAQhS6FikdcS7oVQ#/registration

About the featured topic: Randy Pensabene and Gary Bowers will present a new plant database website developed by the Williamson County Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas (NPSOT-Wilco). Designed specifically for residents of Williamson County, the site offers a clear, concise, and user-friendly way to discover recommended native Texas plants for home landscapes.

image from plant database
Sample image from database. June 2025.

About our guest speakers:

Randy Pensabene is a past president of the Native Plant Society of Texas, Williamson County Chapter, and is involved in the chapter’s native plant garden projects and native plant sales. She has also converted her yard from the typical hedges and non-natives to a beautiful low-water, National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitat using Texas native plants. She enjoys sharing her enthusiasm for our Texas native plants and teaching others about their beauty, drought-tolerance, and benefits.

Gary Bowers grew up in northeastern Tennessee and has always had a keen interest in nature and the outdoors — though he harbors a special passion for trees. Since moving to Central Texas in 2012, he has discovered the wonderful variety of Texas native plants. Gary is a past president of the NPSOT-Williamson County Chapter and has also served the chapter as an instructor for the chapter’s Native Landscape Certification Program (NLCP), a field trip leader, and more. Gary works as a software developer in order to pay for new plants.


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


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 page Wilco Home or on our Calendar.

2025-2026 Chapter Board Election Info, Nominations & Dates

The following information was announced to attendees at the chapter meeting held on June 12, 2025.

All elected NPSOT-Wilco Board positions for the term September 1, 2025 through August 31, 2026, are open for nominations.  June 19 is the last day to submit a nomination for the ballot.

  • Elected board positions may have more than 1 nominee on the ballot.
  • You may nominate someone for a position even if we have a candidate listed.
  • You MUST obtain someone’s permission before nominating them.
  • Send nominations to wilco-chapter@npsot.org.
  • The ballot and voting instructions will be emailed to chapter members only by June 23.
  • Results will be announced at our July 10 chapter meeting.

The final slate will be published in late June when we email ballots and voting instructions to chapter members. Only chapter members are eligible to vote. Ballots will be sent to the member email addresses on file with the Society’s state office.  On the day we email the ballot to chapter members, we will publish a blog post alerting chapter members to check their email.

Descriptions of elected and appointed board positions can be found near the bottom of the Home page in the section Chapter Documents -> Chapter Board Member Duties.

Current Nominees/Slate for Elected Positions

PositionOutgoing BoardCurrent Nominees
for 9/1/2025 to 8/31/2026
PresidentNancy CoppermanMark Stoetzer
Vice PresidentGary BowersErin Buhl
SecretaryAnne AdamsBecky Sloan
TreasurerMark StoetzerTyson Bartlett
DirectorTyson BartlettKim Jones
DirectorChristie GardnerNathaniel Woodward
Not Subject to Election
Past PresidentBeth ErwinNancy Copperman

Schedule Recap:
June 12 – Nominations for elected offices open and initial slate announced at chapter meeting and in this blog post
June 19 – Nominations for elected offices close
by June 23 – Ballot emailed to chapter members; blog post to alert members
July 7 – Last day to vote
July 10 – Election results announced at chapter meeting
Sept 1 – New board term begins

Field Trip: Booty’s Road Park, Saturday, June 21, 2025

— by Anne Adams

image of Williamson County Winecup, Callirhoe involucrata var. lineariloba
March 2020 at Booty’s Road Park. Williamson County Winecup (Callirhoe involucrata var. lineariloba). Photo by N. Pumphrey.

Join us for an easy hike on a shaded path along the North Fork of the San Gabriel River, beginning at Booty’s Road Park in Georgetown. We will meet at the east end of the parking lot, near the sign for the San Gabriel River Trail. On the hike we’ll stop at a spring-fed rivulet that emerges from a rock layer above the trail and babbles down a fern-covered slope as it winds its way toward the river. The hike will cover approximately 1.5 miles on paved or gravel paths with some gentle ups and downs.

  • What:    Hike along the San Gabriel River Trail in Georgetown
  • When:  Saturday, June 21, 2025, 8:30-11:30 am
  • Where:  San Gabriel River Trail at Booty’s Road Park
  • Our field trips are free and open to the public. Reservations are not required.

Directions: From I-35 go west on Williams Drive for approximately 1.7 miles. At the light, turn left onto Bootys Crossing Road. Go about 1.3 miles and turn left into Booty’s Road Park. The trailhead is at the east end of the parking lot.

Come dressed appropriately for the weather. We recommend a hat. Bring your own water, bug spray and sunscreen.

If you have questions, please contact the Field Trip Committee (contact form here).

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See photos from some of our previous field trips in our Field Trip Album.