Field Trip: Hidden Springs Preserve Plant Survey #10, Friday, April 12, 2024

image of a sign

— by Kathy Galloway

  • What:   Hidden Springs Preserve Field Trip, Plant Survey 10 of 12
  • When:  9:00 AM – 12:00 PM, Friday, April 12, 2024
    • Please plan on arriving by 9:15 AM. There is a padlock on the front gate and it will be locked shortly after 9:15 AM.
  • Where:  978 CR 224, Florence, TX.
  • Our field trip is free and open to the public…
    • But the preserve is not open to the general public.  See important details later in this post.

We’re continuing our plant survey work with plant survey #10.

Be prepared for extensive walking on uneven, open terrain. Wear sturdy walking shoes, a hat, and sunscreen, and bring water, field guides, and something to take notes on and with. Members at all plant knowledge levels can help on survey field trips. Beginners are welcome.

Please plan on arriving by 9:15 AM – there is a padlock on the front gate, and it will be locked shortly after 9:15 AM

Reservations are not required. Please feel free to contact the Field Trip Committee (contact form here) beforehand if you have any questions.

Directions:

  • Take IH-35 north to Exit 266 (Florence/Killeen/195).
  • Turn left and follow SH 195 toward Florence.
  • Go through Florence, take the TX 138 exit (you will be near the City of Florence’s water tower with the bison on it), and then turn left onto TX 138.
  • After a little over two miles, turn right onto CR 224.
  • After about half a mile, at the fork in the road, bear to the left and stay on CR 224. Note that a car GPS system may indicate that you should bear to the right – this is incorrect.
  • After another half a mile, look for a green metal gate on your right (north side of street). There is a large wooden sign “Hidden Springs” sign between two flagpoles behind the fence. The address is 978 County Road 224, Florence, TX, but there is no number on the gate. (The gate is across the street from 981 CR 224.)
  • When you arrive, directions will be given as to where to park.

————–
See photos from our earlier survey trips to Hidden Springs Preserve.

Call for Volunteers for April 6, 2024, NPSOT-Williamson County Native Plant Sale

— by Nancy Pumphrey

Last call to volunteer at the plant sale on Saturday, April 6, 2024, at Champion Park Pecan Pavilions, 3830 Brushy Creek Road, Cedar Park, TX 78613. We would love to have your help — many hands make light work!

Helping with our chapter’s native plant sales is a great way to get to know native plants and other chapter members. Native plant “beginners” are welcome!

  • Areas where help is needed are:
    • Setup – starts at 8:00 am
    • Sales – start at 11am, ends at 2pm
    • Clean up – 2:00pm to 3:00pm
  • We’re also in need of a “traffic director” to guide people over to the pickup area if they are arriving to pick up plants they ordered from our online sale.

==> Use the contact form at this link to volunteer or to ask a question about volunteering.

We are getting excited to see everyone on Saturday! Read all the information about our spring native plant sale on this page.

image of plants for sale

Plant rescue in Round Rock, April 7, 2024

Volunteer with us Sunday, April 7, from 8:30am-12:30pm in north Round Rock as we rescue plants such as Penstemon cobaea and Callirhoe involucrata var. lineariloba from a site prior to construction. There is street parking available next to the site.

Find the details and register on our SignUpGenius page

You must be a current NPSOT member (any chapter) and at least 18 to attend the plant rescue. (Join NPSOT or renew here.)

Learn more about the Native Plant Rescue Project at this link.