Category: Field Trips

Chapter Field Trips

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Field Trip Reminder: Oct 19 at Palmetto State Park

— by Kathy Galloway

  • What:   Palmetto State Park
  • When:  10:00 AM – 12:PM on Saturday, October 19, 2024
    • Meet at the park.
    • Optional lunch after the field trip.
  • Where:  78 Park Road 11 S, Gonzales, TX (about 90 miles from Georgetown)
  • Our field trip is open to the public. The park’s entry fee is $3 per person.

Palmetto State Park is an unusual botanical area resembling the tropics more than Central Texas.  Most notably, a stand of dwarf palmetto (Sabal minor) plants is found in the park’s ephemeral swamp. 

You will need to pay a $3.00 per person entrance fee at park headquarters (age 12 and under free).  From there, proceed and take the second left to park at the Refectory Building (1930’s CCC Pavilion).   Ask for directions at park headquarters.

Dress appropriately for the weather.  Wear long pants and closed-toed shoes.  Bring water. Sun protection if needed.

Lunch is on your own.  Some of the attendees will be stopping in Luling for lunch at Blake’s Café, 621 E Davis St, Luling, Texas.          

=> Please register for the field trip by submitting the RSVP form at this link. Although there’s no limit on the number who can attend, we’re collecting RSVPs so we have an idea of how many and who in case we need to get in touch. If at the last minute you decide to come and you did not register, that’s okay. Come anyway!

Please feel free to contact the Field Trip Committee (contact form here) beforehand if you have any questions.

————–
See photos from some of our previous field trips in our Field Trip Album.

Field Trip Album

Posted on

Trip Report: Final Survey @ Hidden Springs, Sept 7, 2024

— by Cindy Chrisler

Bee in Brazos rain lily

What did 12 + 12 equal on Saturday, September 7?

Twelve NPSOT-Wilco members completed Plant Survey #12 at Hidden Springs Preserve!

Three areas of the preserve were surveyed; the unusual summer rain kept vegetation green through the summer.

Notable plants included Eryngo, Brazos Rain Lilies, White Rosinweed, Snow-on-the-Mountain, Dotted Gayfeather, Mintweed, and Velvet Bundleweed. A number of late summer grasses were identified and added to the plant list.

This was the last survey at Hidden Springs in the series of twelve field trips over the last three years to include a survey in each month of the year. A plant list will be maintained for the preserve, and future field trips will add any new species that are found there.

[Photo: Bee in Brazos rain lily, Sept 7 at Hidden Springs. By Cindy Chrisler.]


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

Field Trip Photo Album

See field trip plans on our Home page.

Posted on

Field Trip: Palmetto State Park, Saturday, October 19, 2024

— by Kathy Galloway

image of Dwarf palmetto, Sabal minor
Dwarf palmetto, Sabal minor. Photo by Greg Donica.
  • What:   Palmetto State Park
  • When:  10:00 AM – 12:PM on Saturday, October 19, 2024
    • Meet at the park.
    • Optional lunch after the field trip.
  • Where:  78 Park Road 11 S, Gonzales, TX (about 90 miles from Georgetown)
  • Our field trip is open to the public. The park’s entry fee is $3 per person.

Palmetto State Park is an unusual botanical area resembling the tropics more than Central Texas.  Most notably, a stand of dwarf palmetto (Sabal minor) plants is found in the park’s ephemeral swamp.  (The overview on the park’s website has a slide show with a short video.)

You will need to pay a $3.00 per person entrance fee at park headquarters (age 12 and under free).  From there you will proceed and take the second left to park at the Refectory Building (CCC Pavilion).   Ask for directions at park headquarters.

Dress appropriately for the weather.  Wear long pants and closed-toed shoes.  Bring water. Sun protection if needed.

Lunch is on your own.  Some of the attendees will be stopping in Luling for lunch at Blake’s Café, 621 E Davis St, Luling, Texas.          

=> Please register for the field trip by submitting the RSVP form at this link. Although there’s no limit on the number who can attend, we’re collecting RSVPs so we have an idea of how many and who in case we need to get in touch. If at the last minute you decide to come and you did not register, that’s okay. Come anyway!

Please feel free to contact the Field Trip Committee (contact form here) beforehand if you have any questions.

————–
See photos from some of our previous field trips in our Field Trip Album.

Field Trip Album