January 12 Chapter Meeting (in-person and virtual): “Bicycling with Butterflies” with Sara Dykman

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Join NPSOT-Williamson County on Thursday, January 12,  2023, for our first meeting of the new year.  Our featured topic will be Bicycling with Butterflies with author Sara Dykman.  Free and open to the public. The meeting begins at 7:00 PM.  Please note: this month’s speaker will be joining us via Zoom.

If you attend in person, we’re at the Georgetown Public Library, 2nd floor.  If you attend in person, you are giving consent to be videoed for Zoom and YouTube (if the meeting is to be posted on YouTube).

To attend via Zoom instead of in person, register at https://npsot-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAkdeyurjItGtDES-FdrnUTxel7_bac0OZS

About our topic:  In 2017, Sara Dykman became the first person to bicycle the entire route of the migrating monarch butterfly. She will share stories from her trip, and offer insights into the science, humanity, and brilliance of the monarch migration.

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About our speaker:  Sara Dykman is the founder of beyondabook.org, which is a showcase for pushing boundaries. She hopes her own adventures—walking from Mexico to Canada, canoeing the Missouri River from source to sea, and cycling over 80,000 miles across North and South America —will empower young and old to dream big. Her dream is to go on an adventure with frogs and write a book about these most beloved creatures.

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

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Nov 25th’s Field Trip Report: No mall? No problem.

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Prairie Fleabane

— by Cindy Chrisler

Ten intrepid NPSOT-Wilco members assembled at the parking lot outside Cedar Breaks Park for a Black Friday Opt-Out walk on the Lake Georgetown Spillway Trail.

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In spite of the gloom and chill, there were flowers, grasses, and lovely fall foliage along the trail.  Recent rains gave native plants a late season boost, and gum weed, palafoxia, and snakeweed were abundant.  We also observed fleabane, buffalo bur, prairie clover, and goldenrod.  This area will be positively covered with bluebonnets next spring!  A surprise in the spillway meadow included an established stand of cenizo.

Left: Maiden Fern

Hike leader Anne Adams saved the best for last along the 1.5 mile trail, taking us to a cliff where we found sevenleaf creeper, black maidenhair fern, and maiden fern (Pelazoneruon spp).  The leisurely walk culminated back at the parking lot, a little later than expected, as we enjoyed the company as well as the flora on the trail.

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Sevenleaf Creeper

Photos by Cindy Chrisler

(Click here for information about the trail we walked.)

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Red Oak

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Field Trip: Sunday, January 1, 2023, Tree Walk, Old Settlers Park@1pm

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— by Kathy Galloway

  • What: Tree Walk
  • When:  Sunday, January 1, 2023, 1:00pm-3:30pm
  • Where:  Old Settlers Park in Round Rock, starting at the Rabb Pavilion, 3079 Whitlow Way, Round Rock, TX

Start your New Year’s off with an easy walk with a FUN group. Learn about identifying trees without leaves. The walk is 1.8 miles.

Come dressed appropriately for the weather,  Bring your own water, bug spray, sunscreen, hat, walking stick, etc.  Open to the public and there is no charge.  All ages are welcome.

Reservations are not required. Please feel free to contact Kathy Galloway (contact form here) beforehand if you have any questions. We will follow the latest CDC instructions for Covid safety.

Directions:

  • From Interstate 35, take Old Settlers Blvd east for 4.6 miles.
  • Turn right on Harrel Parkway into Old Settlers Park for 1.3 miles.
  • Turn left onto Whitlow Way towards the parking for the Rabb Pavilion.
  • Meet on the concrete path just off main parking lot.

There’s parking at the Rabb Pavilion.  We’ll meet on the concrete pathway just off of the pavilion’s main parking lot.

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