Category: Field Trips

— 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 field trip plans on our Home page.

---

— 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 field trip plans on our Home page.

---

— by Cindy Chrisler

Seventeen NPSOT members and family attended the field trip to Museo Benini and Middleton Ranch on April 27, 2024.

The group began the day at Museo Benini outside of Marble Falls, where Lorraine Benini greeted us with enthusiasm and walked the grounds with us for over an hour, regaling us with tales of developing the property for wildflowers and a bird viewing area as well as a sculpture garden. In addition to meadows of firewheel, the group identified phlox, prairie milkvine, trailing rhatany, lazy daisy, purple threeawn, Texas thistle, Eve’s necklacepod, meadow pink, and more. The group also enjoyed a tour of the artist’s gallery before leaving.

About half the participants continued on to the ME Middleton Ranch in Spicewood to eat lunch and hike around a working cattle ranch. Gary Bowers spotted pointed sandmat, a member of the spurge family usually found further west in Texas. Highlights in the afternoon included larkspur, Drummond’s rain lily, antelopehorn milkweed, agarita in fruit, four nerve daisies, and Carolina woolywhite.

See field trip plans on our Home page.

---