What:Maidenhair Bimble @ Fern Bluff (Great Oaks and Brushy Creek Road intersection under the bridge)
When:Saturday, Sep 26, 2026, 9am – 11:00am
Where: Brushy Creek Trail Segment, Round Rock
Meet under the bridge at the public parking lot at the intersection of Great Oaks Drive, Brushy Creek Rd, and Hairy Man Road (Apple Maps or Google Maps).
See the map below.
Join us for this easy-going walk! We’ll wander east along the Brushy Creek trail alongside Hairy Man Road and stop to discuss native plants. As a bonus, you’ll learn the about the legend of the Hairy Man as well as why the area is called “Fern Bluff.” We will be walking off trail in several areas with uneven terrain.
Come dressed appropriately for the weather, bring your own water, bug spray, sunscreen, hat, walking stick, etc. Open to the public!
Questions about the trip? Please contact the Field Trip Committee (contact form here).
Eighteen people joined us for the Progressive Field Trip on Sunday, July 12, 2026.
Pollinator Garden at Williamson County Landfill. Photo credit: Nancy Pumphrey.
We started at the Williamson County Landfill Pollinator Garden in Hutto. We go out there on Sundays when the landfill is closed so no big trucks are zooming around. The day of the field trip, the garden was full of butterflies enjoying the Gregg’s mistflower. Grasses and sunflowers and lantana were blooming. Gary Bowers and the Wacky Weeders have done a great job tending the garden and keeping the plants looking good. We were visited by Sherrell Cordas, the Community Relations Manager for Waste Management. Waste Management presented the garden with a Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) Certificate and also donated money for the garden this year. And even though July is not the best time to view the landfill garden we could see all the good work that has taken place.
Williamson County Landfill Pollinator Garden. Photo credit: Gary Bowers.
Our next stop was the garden in Murphy Park in Taylor — lots to look at as we walked around. The garden is a Monarch Waystation, with its restoration fueled by a grant from Bring Back the Monarchs. We enjoyed seeing butterflies and bees on the plants. We noted the care taken to trim the pecan tree that has volunteered there. The garden is near the park’s pond which also sports an egret rookery. Some native sabal palms grow nearby in the park. Leland Haefner and his crew of volunteers have done a fantastic job stewarding this garden back to life. The Taylor Parks and Rec department added the fencing and repaired the irrigation system so new plantings were protected as baby plants. The switch grass was impressive but will now need to be moved to a new location as the grasses are blocking the view.
Murphy Park. Photo credit: Frances Fortanely.
Our last stop was Plowman’s Kitchen in Taylor for a well deserved hydration and lunch break. This was a great outing, especially considering the heat!
We welcome all volunteers who might want to get involved in the upkeep and maintenance of either garden. Send an email to wilco-chapter@npsot.org for more information.
————– See photos from this trip and many other field trips in our album =>
Join us as we visit special projects supported by our chapter and see how hours of dedicated volunteer work have created visible improvements for the community.
What: Progressive Field Trip — starts in Hutto; ends in Taylor
When: Sunday, July 12, 2026, 9:00am-12:00pm
Where: Williamson County Landfill (Hutto), Murphy Park (Taylor). Location details below.
Optional Lunch: Plowman’s Kitchen (Taylor)
Our field trips are free and open to the public. Reservations are not required.
Dress for the weather. We will be on paths or grass so there is no need for protection except from the sun, heat, and maybe the chiggers. We recommend a hat, and sunscreen, and bring water.
Stop #1 Meet Here @ 9 AM – Williamson County Landfill, 600 Landfill Rd, Hutto, TX. This long-standing project began at the request of the landfill to help beautify the entrance. Our chapter continues this work in partnership with the Good Water Master Naturalist program. Gary Bowers is the leader for refreshing and maintenance and has worked with Waste Management staff to achieve WHC Certification for the site. Join him and other wacky weeders on the third Sunday of each month to help.
After Stop #1, continue 11 miles to …
Stop #2 – Murphy Park – 1600 Veterans Dr, Taylor. Originally started as a butterfly garden by a former member, this project was later left untended when no one took it over. It has now been revived—much like the butterflies it was created to support. Leland Haefner with the help of other Taylor residents pitch in to keep the garden looking its best.
Continue 2 miles to …
Stop #3 – Optional Lunch – After the tour, you are invited to join the group for a Dutch-treat lunch at Plowman’s Kitchen, 305 West 9th Street, Taylor. The restaurant is located in the former Taylor ISD Band Hall, now refurbished as a dining space.
Hope to see you there! If you have questions, contact the Field Trip Committee here.
