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October 13 Chapter Meeting (in-person and virtual): “Fire Resistant Landscaping” with Camille Wiseman

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Join NPSOT-Williamson County on Thursday, October 13, 2022, when our featured topic will be Fire Resistant Landscaping with Camille Wiseman. Free and open to the public. The meeting begins at 7:00 PM.

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

About our topic:  Camille Wiseman, a Texas A&M Forest Service Woodland Ecologist, will review strategies and considerations for landscape and home construction in the wildland-urban interfaces.

You’ll find information and handouts recommended by Camille at this Texas A&M Forest Service link, tfsweb.tamu.edu/ProtectYourHome

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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!

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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.

  • When:  We meet the second Thursday of each month from 7:00 to 8:30 PM. A short business meeting begins at 7:00 PM followed by our guest presentation.  (For in-person meetings, doors open at 6:30 PM. Check out the seed swap board, get advice from expert members, or just visit.)
  • Where:  In person and via Zoom.  (When in person, we normally meet at the Georgetown Public Library.) If we are at a different physical location for any given month, the exception is announced in our blog, on our calendar, and on Facebook.
  • Monthly Meeting Guest Speakers: See past and upcoming topics at this link.
  • Recordings: Find video recordings of previous meetings and field trips on our YouTube channel at this link.

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Field Trip: Saturday, Oct 29, 2022, 9:30am, Round Rock High School and Member Garden Tour

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[Post updated on 10/26/2022 with directions. See the new info in blue. PD]

— by Vicky Husband

Let’s celebrate our members’ native plant garden successes with a tour up and down RR 620 in Round Rock.  The high school has been working hard to introduce native plants to students and staff by installing natives throughout their campus, and we will kick off this field trip with a guided tour.  We will continue to members’ residential gardens to see what has survived and thrived during our weather extremes this year.  We will visit a residence on both the east and west side of IH-35, presenting the challenges and solutions for both of the distinct growing conditions in our area.

  • What: Round Rock High School Guided Garden Tour, followed by Members’ Residential Garden Tour
  • When: Saturday, October 29, 2022. 9:30am – 12 noon.  We will sign a state NPSOT Waiver of Liability.
  • Where: Begin at Round Rock High School. Use the main entrance of the high school and park in the parking lot at the front of the school at 201 Deep Wood Dr, Round Rock, TX 78681. Click on the image to enlarge the map.
    • Note: Maps to member gardens will be provided during the field trip.
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  • No registration or RSVP is required. Our field trips are free and open to the public.  Please carry your photo ID / Driver’s license because we will be on school property.
  • Restrooms will not be available at the garden locations. However, convenience stores/gas stations are available along RR 620, and we will allow time for travel between locations.
  • Please come prepared to walk and dressed for the weather. You are encouraged to bring your own water bottle.  Masks are currently optional, but feel free to wear whatever makes you feel comfortable.  We will not be indoors at any time during this field trip. We might go into the high school.

Click on the image for a peek at Round Rock High School’s front beds, busy with Monarchs in 2021 (or click this link).

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Monarchs in front bed of RRHS. Video by Mark Stoetzer.

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Field Trip: Saturday, Sept 17, 2022, 9:30am, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Tour

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— by Kathy Galloway

Because of the drought, we’ll visit the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in September during private guided tours with LBJWC staff.  LBJWC irrigates and we can see what plants should look like in early fall in Central Texas.  I have not been to LBJWC in quite a while and always look forward to what is new and to get ideas for landscaping.

  • What: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Guided Tour
  • Where: 4901 La Crosse Ave, Austin, TX, 78739
  • When: Saturday, September 17, 2022.
    • Arrive by 9:30AM.  Meet by the pond to the left of the entry kiosk.
    • Guided private tours start promptly at 10:00.
    • You may stay after the tour to continue exploring on your own, to check out the gift shop, or eat lunch at Wildflower Café.
  • Register by Wednesday, September 14, 2022:  Use this link to register for the trip.  Our field trip is open to the public but everyone must register in advance so we can reserve our spaces and be sure to have enough LBJWC guides during our visit.  (Guided tours are limited to 12 visitors per guide.)  Include whether you are a member of the Wildflower Center and/or a member of Williamson County Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas.

NPSOT-Williamson County will cover LBJWC’s fee for the private guides. You must cover your admission cost to the Wildflower Center in advance, per the information below.

  • If you are a member of the Wildflower Center, please bring your LBJWC membership card/id with your name on it.  Only LBJWC members will be admitted free.
  • If anyone in your party is not a member of the Wildflower Center, you must pre-pay their admission cost to Kathy Galloway so Kathy can pay the overall private guided tour cost on everyone’s behalf as requested by LBJWC.  The admission fee is $10 for seniors (65+), $15 for adults, $13 for military (with ID),  $8 for youth (ages 5 – 17). Children 4 and under are free.
    • Pay Kathy in-person by cash or check on September 8 at the next NPSOT Williamson County chapter meeting,
    • Or contact Kathy using this form to make other arrangements.

Please come prepared to walk, dressed for the weather.  You are encouraged to bring your own water bottle; The Wildflower Center has filling stations. Masks are currently optional at the Wildflower Center.

Questions? Need to confirm how you will pay Kathy Galloway?  Please contact Kathy using this form for any questions.

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