UPDATED, July 10 Chapter Meeting: Annual Chapter Meeting plus “Native Texas Plants Database Overview/Demonstration” with Randy Pensabene and Gary Bowers

Updated July 7, 2025 due to location change. News! Due to the severe rains in Central Texas, the July 10 meeting will be at the Georgetown Public Library, 2nd floor. A water main break and road closures are affecting the previously announced location which was the Georgetown Parks & Rec Admin Building.

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Join NPSOT-Williamson County Thursday, July 10, 2025, for our annual chapter meeting and a Native Texas Plants Database Overview/Demonstration focusing on Williamson County with Randy Pensabene and Gary Bowers. Free and open to the public. The meeting begins at 7:00 PM.  

  • Results of the chapter board election will be announced. (Link to election details.)
  • Membership anniversary pins will be presented to recipients attending in person. (If not attending this meeting in person, the pins will be provided another way after the meeting.)
  • A presentation featuring NPSOT-Williamson County Chapter’s new Texas native plants database (more info below).

==> News! This month, if you attend in person, we’re at the Georgetown Public Library, 2nd floor, 402 West 8th St, Georgetown, TX 78626Georgetown Parks & Rec Administration Building, 1101 N College St, Georgetown, Texas 78626

Come early (6:30 PM) for expert advice, to check out the seed swap board, or just to visit.

==> To attend via Zoom register at https://npsot-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/vKF9n7OAQhS6FikdcS7oVQ#/registration

About the featured topic: Randy Pensabene and Gary Bowers will present a new plant database website developed by the Williamson County Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas (NPSOT-Wilco). Designed specifically for residents of Williamson County, the site offers a clear, concise, and user-friendly way to discover recommended native Texas plants for home landscapes.

image from plant database
Sample image from database. June 2025.

About our guest speakers:

Randy Pensabene is a past president of the Native Plant Society of Texas, Williamson County Chapter, and is involved in the chapter’s native plant garden projects and native plant sales. She has also converted her yard from the typical hedges and non-natives to a beautiful low-water, National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitat using Texas native plants. She enjoys sharing her enthusiasm for our Texas native plants and teaching others about their beauty, drought-tolerance, and benefits.

Gary Bowers grew up in northeastern Tennessee and has always had a keen interest in nature and the outdoors — though he harbors a special passion for trees. Since moving to Central Texas in 2012, he has discovered the wonderful variety of Texas native plants. Gary is a past president of the NPSOT-Williamson County Chapter and has also served the chapter as an instructor for the chapter’s Native Landscape Certification Program (NLCP), a field trip leader, and more. Gary works as a software developer in order to pay for new plants.


At every meeting, we give away a book — about native plants or the meeting topic — to one randomly chosen in-person attendee!


Have an idea for a speaker?  Let Program Leader Susie Hickman know via  email to wilco-chapter@npsot.org.

NPSOT-Williamson County meetings are free and open to the public. We hope you attend!  Meetings may be in person, virtual, or both, so be sure to check details in the meeting announcement. Meetings are announced on our website, our calendar and Facebook. See upcoming topics on our page Wilco Home or on our Calendar.

Meeting reminder, June 12: “Mycology 101 for Gardeners & Growers” with Angel Schatz

Join NPSOT-Williamson County on Thursday, June 12, 2025, when our featured topic will be Mycology 101 for Gardeners & Growers with Angel Schatz.  Free and open to the public. The meeting begins at 7:00 PM.  The guest presentation begins after a short business meeting.

==> This month’s in-person location is the Georgetown Public Library, 2nd floor, 402 West 8th St, Georgetown, TX 78626. Come early (6:30 PM) for expert advice, to check out the seed swap board, or just to visit.

==> To attend via Zoom, register at https://npsot-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/FUhQTaCmQSGtcZCYjqsG4g#/registration

See the original meeting announcement at this link for details about our speaker and the topic.


At every meeting, we give away a book — about native plants or the meeting topic — to one randomly chosen in-person attendee!


* If we have permission from our guest speaker, we record the presentation for our YouTube channel. (See a list of past topics at this link.)

Have an idea for a speaker?  Let Program Leader Susie Hickman know via  email to wilco-chapter@npsot.org.

NPSOT-Williamson County meetings are free and open to the public. We hope you attend!  Meetings may be in person, virtual, or both, so be sure to check details in the meeting announcement. Meetings are announced on our website, our calendar and Facebook. See upcoming topics on our page Wilco Home or on our Calendar.

June 12 Chapter Meeting:  “Mycology 101 for Gardeners & Growers” with Angel Schatz

Join NPSOT-Williamson County on Thursday, June 12, 2025, when our featured topic will be Mycology 101 for Gardeners & Growers with Angel Schatz.  Free and open to the public. The meeting begins at 7:00 PM.  The guest presentation begins after a short business meeting.

==> This month’s in-person location is the Georgetown Public Library, 2nd floor, 402 West 8th St, Georgetown, TX 78626. Come early (6:30 PM) for expert advice, to check out the seed swap board, or just to visit.

==> To attend via Zoom, register at https://npsot-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/FUhQTaCmQSGtcZCYjqsG4g#/registration

woman holding mushroom

About our topic:  Join Central Texas Mycology for a talk to learn the basics of mycology and how fungi is entangled in all parts of our life. We will cover some basics on mycology, how fungi benefits our entire ecosystem, plants and our health.

Angel will be bringing mushroom grow blocks to upcycle for everyone in attendance. Learn how to use them here.

And check out the bilingual resources at this link, provided by our speaker.

About our speaker: Angel Schatz radiates passion for understanding the ecosystem of central Texas and making mycology education accessible to anyone who shares interest. Formerly an experience designer and animator in the tech world, she hopes to inspire more people dial into the wood-wide-web.


At every meeting, we give away a book — about native plants or the meeting topic — to one randomly chosen in-person attendee!


* If we have permission from our guest speaker, we record the presentation for our YouTube channel. (See a list of past topics at this link.)

Have an idea for a speaker?  Let Program Leader Susie Hickman know via  email to wilco-chapter@npsot.org.

NPSOT-Williamson County meetings are free and open to the public. We hope you attend!  Meetings may be in person, virtual, or both, so be sure to check details in the meeting announcement. Meetings are announced on our website, our calendar and Facebook. See upcoming topics on our page Wilco Home or on our Calendar.