Category: Field Trips

Chapter Field Trips

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Field Trip: Hidden Springs Preserve Plant Survey #11, Saturday, August 3, 2024

image of a sign

— by Kathy Galloway

  • What:   Hidden Springs Preserve Field Trip, Plant Survey 11 of 12
  • When:  8:00 AM – 10:30 AM, Saturday, August 3, 2024
    • Please plan on arriving by 8:15 AM. There is a padlock on the front gate and it will be locked shortly after 8:15 AM.
  • Where:  978 CR 224, Florence, TX.
  • Our field trip is free and open to the public, BUT…
    • The preserve is not open to the general public.  See important details later in this post.

We’re continuing our plant survey work with plant survey #11.

Be prepared for extensive walking on uneven, open terrain. Wear sturdy walking shoes, a hat, and sunscreen, and bring water, field guides, and something to take notes on and with. Members at all plant knowledge levels can help on survey field trips. Beginners are welcome!

Please plan on arriving by 8:15 AM – there is a padlock on the front gate, and it will be locked shortly after 8:15 AM

Reservations are not required. Please feel free to contact the Field Trip Committee (contact form here) beforehand if you have any questions.

Directions:

  • Take IH-35 north to Exit 266 (Florence/Killeen/195).
  • Turn left and follow SH 195 toward Florence.
  • Go through Florence, take the TX 138 exit (you will be near the City of Florence’s water tower with the bison on it), and then turn left onto TX 138.
  • After a little over two miles, turn right onto CR 224.
  • After about half a mile, at the fork in the road, bear to the left and stay on CR 224. Note that a car GPS system may indicate that you should bear to the right – this is incorrect.
  • After another half a mile, look for a green metal gate on your right (north side of street). There is a large wooden sign “Hidden Springs” sign between two flagpoles behind the fence. The address is 978 County Road 224, Florence, TX, but there is no number on the gate. (The gate is across the street from 981 CR 224.)
  • When you arrive, directions will be given as to where to park.

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See photos from our earlier survey trips to Hidden Springs Preserve.

Hidden Springs Plant Survey Album
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Field Trip: UT’s Billie L Turner Plant Resources Center (herbaria) on July 20, 2024

— by Kathy Galloway

Post updated July 11: Registration for this field trip is now closed.

This field trip is limited to 20 participants. Sign up with the form in this post.

We will meet no later than 9:45 am at the west side of the University of Texas Tower (Main Building) so that we can start the field trip as close as possible to 10:00 am. For those that register, we will provide a map with recommended parking (San Antonio Parking Garage (2420 San Antonio)) and the Tower marked.

Please allow enough time from your starting point for driving to Austin, parking, and walking to the Tower so you are sure to arrive by 9:45 am.

About registration:
– After you submit the registration form, you’ll be contacted by the Field Trip Committee with confirmation about your requested space(s). (If you do not hear back within a day or so, send an email to wilco-chapter@npsot.org.
– If you need to cancel your registration or update your info after you’ve submitted the form, please send an email as soon as possible to wilco-chapter@npsot.org.
– =>> Click here for the signup form <<=

If you have questions before the trip, contact the Field Trip Committee here.

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See photos from other field trips ==>

Field Trip Photo Album
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Field Trip: Tree Walk at Rivery Park on June 29

  • What: Tree Walk with Gary Bowers at Rivery Park, Georgetown.
    • (This trip was originally planned to be at Old Settlers Park, Round Rock.)
  • When: Saturday, June 29, 2024, 8:00 am to 10:00 am.
  • Where: Meet at the Rivery Park parking lot, Georgetown, Texas.  
    • Google GPS location is 30.648088822636854, -97.68497180641552 or see this link.
    • If navigating with the what3words app, use ///mixture.blog.drill.

NPSOT field trips are free and open to the public.

Learn about local trees and enjoy a lovely walk along the San Gabriel River.  Please remember that even though it’s early, it’s still going to be very warm!  Bring water, snacks, a hat and sunscreen to protect yourself.  We’ll walk until it gets too hot, no more than a couple hours of easy strolling.

An Extra Invitation for You:   On June 27 at 7pm, just a couple days before the tree walk, Gary Bowers will present The Trees of Williamson County at Good Water Master Naturalists’ monthly meeting. Gary gives this talk to a number of groups and is very knowledgeable about his trees!  GWMN is extending an invitation to join their meeting by Zoom to hear Gary’s talk.

Gary’s presentation follows the business section of GWMN’s meeting agenda. It’s suggested that you join that evening no later than 6:55pm in order to hear Gary’s talk starting at 7pm. Register ahead of the meeting using this GWMN link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0tf-uprz0uE9Tp-98Lsb72PJiUsIbtLfR5#/registration

Live oak at Garey Park
Live oak


See photos from other NPSOT field trips in our album=>

Field Trip Photo Album