Category: Field Trips

Chapter Field Trips

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Field Trip: Critchfield Preserve on May 18, 2024

— by Cindy Chrisler

  • What:   Critchfield Preserve Field Trip
  • When:  Saturday, May 18, 2024, 9:30 am to Noon (no entry after 9:45am)
  • Where:  Critchfield Preserve, 801 CR 344, Jarrell, TX 78537
    • Directions: Take I-35 north to Exit 277 for CR 305. Go left under the interstate on CR 305 and in 2.3 miles turn right onto CR 344. The preserve entrance is about a mile down CR 344 on the left. You will be guided to a parking area. High clearance vehicles are not required.
  • Our field trip is free and open to the public. Reservations are not required.

IMPORTANT NOTES:
1) You must fill out a waiver for the Preserve (in addition to the NPSOT waiver that is signed at all field trips). Download the Preserve’s waiver at this link if you’d like to print and sign it ahead in order to save time at the start of the field trip.
2) Bathrooms are not available.
3) Be on time, as we will close the gates at 9:45am!  

Join us to tour this 100+ acre preserve in Jarrell that includes portions of Pecan Creek. There are no trails, and participants should dress for the weather, bring plenty of water, and use bug spray. We will hike around the preserve to places of interest as we look for unusual plants as well as the usual suspects. The terrain is mostly flat but there are rocks and the terrain may be uneven.

image of cactus in bloom
image of preserve
image of preserve
image of wildflower in bloom
image of preserve
image of preserve

Above: photos provided by the Preserve.

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See photos from other field trips ==>

Field Trip Photo Album
Posted on

Trip Report: Hidden Springs Preserve Plant Survey #10

— by Cindy Chrisler

On April 12, Hidden Springs was teeming with flowers refreshed by the recent rains. The day started sunny and cool with a breeze but warmed up quickly to allow blue eyed grass and yellow flax to open up. The survey team identified dozens of species, including several that had not been observed in previous surveys.

Highlights were Lindheimer’s paintbrush, several species of cactus, white rosinweed, little Indian breadroot, and blooming wavyleaf twinevine. Antelope horns milkweed was abundant, as was star milkvine. Yellow flowers included four nerve daisy, two-leaved senna, parralena, and two species of primrose.

The survey team also saw the recently installed weather station. Pictures of the field trip are available in the chapter’s field trip photo album.

image of blooming wildflower
image of blooming wildflower

Left: Lindheimer’s Paintbrush, Castilleja purpurea var. lindheimeri
Right: Wavyleaf Twinevine, Funastrum crispum
Photos by Cindy Chrisler


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

Field Trip Photo Album

Read more about our plant surveys at this link.

Posted on

Field Trip Reminder, parking update: Museo Benini and Middleton Ranch Hike, Saturday, April 27, 2024

[4/14 directions updated. Left on FM 2147.]

This parking info has been added to the Middleton Ranch (working cattle ranch) portion of April 27’s field trip ==> If you are uncomfortable driving your vehicle on the ranch roads, you may park inside the gate and we will transport you to the property and back to the gate.

See the full field trip announcement at this link, including important info on what to wear for the ranch hike.

  • What:   Museo Benini and Middleton Ranch Field Trip
  • When:  Saturday, April 27, 2024
    • 10:30 AM-11:30AM – Museo Benini
    • (optional) 11:30 AM – Middleton Ranch hike
  • Where: 
    • Museo Benini, 3440 FM2147, Marble Falls, TX 78654.   Directions: From FM 1431, take 281 south for about 2.5 miles to FM 2147.  Turn left on FM 2147 and proceed 3.2 miles to Museo Benini.
    • Middleton Ranch directions will be provided at the field trip

Our field trip is free and open to the public. Reservations are not required.

image of blooming wildflower
On Middleton Ranch