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June 13 Chapter Meeting, In-Person Only: “All About Seeds” with Beth Erwin

Due to the hands-on nature of this month’s presentation, this meeting is in-person only.
It will not be hosted on Zoom. It will not be recorded for YouTube.

Join NPSOT-Williamson County in person on Thursday, June 13, 2024, when our featured topic will be “All About Seeds” with Beth Erwin.  Free and open to the public. The meeting begins at 7:00 PM.  Our guest speaker’s presentation begins after a short business meeting.

==> This month, we meet in-person only, at the Round Rock Public Library, 200 E Liberty Ave, Round Rock, TX 78664.  Come early (6:30 PM) for expert advice, to check out the seed swap board, or just to visit.

About our topic:  How to collect & process native seeds, along with methods for testing their viability.

About our speaker:  Beth Erwin is a charter member of the Louisiana Native Plant Society, with a B.S. in Horticulture, and a past president of the Williamson County Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas. Beth has 40+ years working with native plants through propagation, sales, and professional plant propagators.

image of Texas bluebonnet sprout. Lupinus texensis.
Texas bluebonnet sprout. Lupinus texensis.

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.

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Trip Report: Critchfield Conservation Preserve, May 18

— by Cindy Chrisler

Critchfield Conservation Preserve, May 18 2024. Photo by Cindy Chrisler.

Grant Critchfield hosted this field trip at the Critchfield Conservation Preserve outside of Jarrell, TX.  The preserve is very close to the Pecan Springs Karst Preserve managed by the Hill Country Conservancy and shares the same geologic structures and an arm of Pecan Creek. 

Recent rains at the Critchfield Preserve made for an interesting hike for the dozen members attending as we had to skirt puddles of mud and water.  The transition from spring to summer meant that there were fewer blooms, but didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the group.  We toured a pasture dotted with openings to small karst caves and Gaillardia, forded a swollen creek, and toured along the creek bed and an elevated meadow. 

Although identification was a bit difficult, we identified three species of milkweed vine:  pearl, anglepod, and plateau (a fourth, star milkweed vine, is present on the preserve as well).  Antelope horn milkweed are setting pods.  Prickly poppy and Texas thistle were still blooming to the delight of many pollinators.  Two mature bur oaks were encountered, one along the creek and the other providing a magnificent canopy.


See photos from this field trip and others in our album=>

Field Trip Photo Album

See field trip plans on our Home page.

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Trip Report: Russell Park Hike, May 11

— by Gary Bowers

Hiking group at start of trail. Photo by Gary Bowers.
The victims…err…participants at start of hike. Photo by Gary Bowers.

A group of ten doughty native plant enthusiasts mustered at the Good Water Loop trail head at Russel Park at 8:30a on Saturday, May 11 for a 3 mile out and back hike.

After a short meet and greet, supply checks, and application of various insect defenses the intrepid group set off in a westerly direction for a 1.5 mi trek to the Walnut Springs primitive campground.

While making steady progress, the group stopped along the way to investigate and discuss numerous native plants, talk about the geology and history of the area, and generally hike along and enjoy a varied trail.

A small sample of the native plants that were seen and discussed were: Ashe Juniper (Juniperus ashei), Texas silverpuff (Chaptalia texana), Purple leatherflower (Clematis pitcherii), Navajo tea (Thelesperma simplicifolium), Prairie Bishop’s Weed (Bifora americana), and assorted milkweeds.


See photos from this field trip and others in our album=>

Field Trip Photo Album

See field trip plans on our Home page.