NPSOT-Wilco visited the Godwin Ranch Preserve in Georgetown on Saturday, March 1, to conduct the first of four plant surveys. Nine members attended and spent a leisurely two hours walking a mowed path and occasionally venturing into meadows of mostly KR Bluestem.
Notable finds during this field trip included large stands of Nuttall’s Deathcamus in several areas, which will bloom in a month or so. Also blooming were Elbowbush, Ten-petal Anemone, and Tiny Bluets.
Participants were able to identify 48 species, including grasses, trees, and shrubs from the remains of last year’s growth. Survey results will be presented to the Texas Cave Management Association which manages the preserve.
Godwin Ranch Preserve was established as an ecological mitigation for the construction of Lakeline Mall and will never be developed. The next survey is scheduled for May 24.
Photo: Cindy Chrisler
————– See photos from this trip and others in our album =>
Due to the weather forecast, the field trip to Godwin Ranch Preserve – which was originally planned for February 22 – is rescheduled to Saturday, March 1, 2025. All the other information remains the same — time of day, where to park, no water, no facilities.
What: Plant survey and tour of the Godwin Ranch Preserve
When:1:00 PM to 3:00 PM, Saturday, March 1, 2025 (not February 22)
Where: Near the corner of DB Wood Road and Williams Drive in Georgetown.
Members and non-members are welcome! No RSVP is required.
Join NPSOT members on the first of four scheduled plant surveys at the Godwin Ranch Preserve in Georgetown. This 100 acre preserve is a mitigation for the construction of Lakeline Mall in Austin and will not be developed.
Park at the CVS Pharmacy and walk east along Williams Drive to the gated entrance (a quarter mile or less). There will be a NPSOT sign at the gate. If walking that distance is a problem, you may be dropped off at the gate but there is no parking along Williams Drive or in the preserve.
There are no restrooms or water, so please plan accordingly. Bring your own water and snacks.
Depending on the number of people who show up, we will take a walk around a mostly flat mowed path for about a mile and a half. There are some rocks and stumps that may pose a trip hazard, and walking sticks are recommended. If time allows we may break up into groups to survey different habitats within the preserve.
You may put observations on iNaturalist but please obscure any rare plants. In addition to plants, you will see several species of birds.
If you have questions, please contact the Field Trip Committee (contact form here).
————– See photos from some of our previous field trips in our Field Trip Album.
Join NPSOT-Williamson County in-personat 6:30 PM on Thursday, March 13, 2025 forsocial time followed by our featured topic The Texabama Croton – A Botanical Enigma with Tyson Bartlett. Free and open to the public. This month’s meeting starts at 6:30 PM with social time and refreshments. Chapter business starts at 7:15 PM followed by Tyson’s presentation.
About this month’s social time: Celebrate spring! Connect with fellow members and guests over a light meal prior to the business meeting and featured speaker. Refreshments will be a mix of finger foods & beverages. Learn more about all the activities going on in the chapter. NPSOT-Wilco board members will be on hand to chat about current projects and committees.
Image credit: Tyson Bartlett
About our featured topic: The Texabama Croton is a rare but beautiful species of shrub in the Euphorbiaceae family known from small areas of Texas and Alabama. There are numerous oddities about the plant, such as its habitat and range, discovery, and lack of cultivation.
This presentation will shed light on what makes the Texabama Croton a botanical enigma and some important lessons with vast implications for Central Texas ecosystems that can be gleaned by studying the plant.
About our guest speaker: Tyson Bartlett is a self-taught native plant enthusiast who serves as a Director at Large on the board of directors for the Williamson County Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas. He is also a member of the Good Water Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalists and started the Williamson County Nature Journaling Club to promote the appreciation of nature through art and observation. Tyson’s ardent advocacy for native residential landscapes garnered him an appearance on KXAN News in August 2024.
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.
