Category: Field Trips

Chapter Field Trips

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Field Trip Reminder, Saturday, May 24, Godwin Ranch Preserve Plant Survey

— by Cindy Chrisler

  • What:    Plant survey and tour of the Godwin Ranch Preserve
  • When:  9:00 AM to 11:00 AM, Saturday, May 24, 2025
  • Where:  Near the corner of DB Wood Road and Williams Drive in Georgetown. 
  • Members and non-members are welcome! No RSVP is required.

Join NPSOT members on the second of four scheduled plant surveys at the Godwin Ranch Preserve in Georgetown. This 100 acre preserve is a mitigation for the construction of Lakeline Mall in Austin and will not be developed. Plant lists will be combined to form a master list for the preserve.

All levels of plant identification expertise are welcome. Even if you don’t know plants, each participant is an observer and may notice and draw attention to something others do not.

Park at the CVS Pharmacy and walk east along Williams Drive to the gated entrance (a quarter mile or less).  There will be a NPSOT sign at the gate.  If walking that distance is a problem, you may be dropped off at the gate but there is no parking along Williams Drive or in the preserve.

There are no restrooms or water, so please plan accordingly. Bring your own water and snacks.  Wear long pants, closed toed shoes, use bug spray and sunscreen, and wear a hat. 

We will walk around a mostly flat mowed path for about a mile and a half. There are some rocks and stumps that may pose a trip hazard, and walking sticks are recommended. In addition to plants, you will see several species of birds. You may put observations on iNaturalist but please obscure any rare plants.

If you have questions, please contact the Field Trip Committee (contact form here).

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

Field Trip Album

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Field Trip: Godwin Ranch Preserve Plant Survey, Saturday, May 24, 2025

— by Cindy Chrisler

image of wildflower
Godwin Ranch, March 2025. Photo by Cindy Chrisler.
  • What:    Plant survey and tour of the Godwin Ranch Preserve
  • When:  9:00 AM to 11:00 AM, Saturday, May 24, 2025
  • Where:  Near the corner of DB Wood Road and Williams Drive in Georgetown. 
  • Members and non-members are welcome! No RSVP is required.

Join NPSOT members on the second of four scheduled plant surveys at the Godwin Ranch Preserve in Georgetown.  This 100 acre preserve is a mitigation for the construction of Lakeline Mall in Austin and will not be developed.

Park at the CVS Pharmacy and walk east along Williams Drive to the gated entrance (a quarter mile or less).  There will be a NPSOT sign at the gate.  If walking that distance is a problem, you may be dropped off at the gate but there is no parking along Williams Drive or in the preserve. 

There are no restrooms or water, so please plan accordingly. Bring your own water and snacks.  Wear long pants, closed toed shoes, use bug spray and sunscreen, and wear a hat.

Depending on the number of people who show up, we will take a walk around a mostly flat mowed path for about a mile and a half. There are some rocks and stumps that may pose a trip hazard, and walking sticks are recommended.  If time allows we may break up into groups to survey different habitats within the preserve. 

You may put observations on iNaturalist but please obscure any rare plants.  In addition to plants, you will see several species of birds.

If you have questions, please contact the Field Trip Committee (contact form here).

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

Field Trip Album

Posted on

Trip Report: A Walk in Tejas Park

— by Cindy Chrisler

Williamson County Winecup
Williamson County Winecup

A warm, sunny day greeted the dozen NPSOT members and guests who met at Tejas Park on April 12, 2025, the western-most park in the Lake Georgetown Corps of Engineers complex. 

The hike began at the parking lot and campground where a mowed meadow had a surprising number of flowering forbs. The lack of rain and temperature fluctuations in the past month have delayed flowering, but the group was able to identify Berlandier’s Yellow Flax, Texas Paintbrush, Texas Bluebonnet, Williamson County Winecup, Carolina Woolywhite, and Prairie Verbena just in the meadow. 

Following a trail behind the campground, the group observed Indian Breadroot, Liatris, Elbowbush, and Gum Bumelia.  A spur off the trail following a firebreak revealed both Lindheimer’s and Texas Paintbrush, including a yellow variant of the Texas Paintbrush, as well as Artemesia, Gumweed, Little Bluestem, and more winecup. 

Returning to the main trail, the group descended to the North Fork of the San Gabriel River and found large stands of Bushy Bluestem, several species of sedges, American Water Willow, and Late Boneset.  The trail back to the parking lot was a shady avenue of Cedar Elm, Texas Ash, and Hackberry adorned with vines of Saw Greenbriar, Grape, Pitcher’s Leatherflower, and Snapdragon Vine. 

Back at the parking lot, we realized we had time to caravan to another entrance to Tejas Park to view a small meadow of Bluebonnets.  This “secret” entrance is an unmarked gate with a pedestrian entrance.  Although the Bluebonnets had peaked, it was the largest collection of flowers.  We had time to visit a riparian site of a seep that feeds into the San Gabriel River and found Sycamores, Inland Sea Oats, and Rough-leaf Dogwood. The cool shade was welcome relief from the rising heat.

The trip concluded at the pedestrian gate, with hope to return to Tejas Park in the coming weeks to enjoy more flowers as they reach their peak later in the season.

Texas Paintbrush
Texas Paintbrush

Photos by Cindy Chrisler

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

Field Trip Photo Album