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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

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Recording available for February 12’s “Under the Lens: Insects, Plants, and their Captivating Shared World” with Mika Geiger

The video recording from Mika’s presentation on February 12, 2026, is now available on our YouTube channel. The presentation begins after a short business meeting.

See more recorded topics on our YouTube channel.
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Our page Prior Guest Speakers lists past meeting topics by year.

Business slides for recent chapter meetings are here, listed by date. (If this particular meeting’s business slides were not added yet, they will be soon. Please check back later.)

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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Field Trip: Gault Site Plant Survey, March 8

— by Sue Wiseman

Gault site
Gault site – still from the film “The Stones Are Speaking”
  • What:    Plant survey and nature tour of Gault Site
  • When:   1:30 PM to 4:00 PM on Sunday, March 8, 2026
  • Where:  The Gault School for Archeological Research, 3451 FM 2843, Florence, TX 76527
    • Take TX 195 W from IH35, exit onto FM 487 E and turn left onto FM 2843
  • NOTE: We will be meeting away from the entrance and will be locking the gate at 1:45PM.

On this field trip, we will continue our plant survey (list) of the Gault Site.  Back in 2008, this site was the first place where our chapter starting listing the plants found at various parks and preserves in Williamson County.  All levels of plant identification expertise are welcome. Even if you don’t know plants, each participant is an observer and may notice and draw attention to something others do not.

The Gault Site’s archeological research “helped shape how scientists understand Clovis and earlier-than-Clovis occupations in the human history of North America.” There will not be a tour of the archeological history of this site; however, we will go where the exploration was conducted.  I encourage you to view the documentary film The Stones are Speaking to help you understand the significance of this property.  Click here for ways to view the film: https://thestonesarespeaking.com/watch.php

The area we will survey has a gentle hill going down to the creek area.  Feel free to bring your children and friends.  No pets, please, as we may have livestock in the area where we will be walking. Please wear appropriate clothing including long pants and closed toe shoes.  Water, hats and sunscreen recommended.

Open to the public. Members and non-members are welcome.
Questions about the trip? Please contact the Field Trip Committee (contact form here).

archeological dig site
Gault site work in May 2013. Pit now closed. Photo by Greg Donica.

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See photos from other trips in our album =>

Field Trip Photo Album