Category: Native Plants

Posted on

Self-Guided Field Trip: See Monarch Butterflies in Taylor, TX

** ARCHIVED POST – LINKS AND IMAGES MAY NOT WORK**

— by Kathy Galloway

The Native Plant Society of Texas – Williamson County Chapter’s Field Trip Committee has found a terrific location for you to observe the migrating monarch butterflies before they all pass through Texas in early November. Murphy Park in Taylor has two garden areas with native plants and lots of butterflies.

Liberty Garden is located right inside the entrance of the park. It consists of a small, fenced formal garden that contains several native plant species. The butterflies seem especially interested in the Fall Aster and the Gregg’s Mistflower, but you can also find Turk’s Cap, Pavonia, Inland Sea Oats, and Yaupon Holly Trees, to name few. Don’t miss the two large planting beds flanking the entrance drive which also have lots of native plants.

Murphy Park Butterfly Garden is a small, certified Monarch Waystation located in a round planted area in the parking lot between the swimming pool and the lake. This garden is dedicated to Ms. Betty Jackson, a former member of our chapter, who was a life-long educator and supporter of ecology who inspired the garden. The garden is a little bit overgrown but the butterflies don’t mind and there are several different species of native plants here. See if you can spot the milkweed in this garden.

On the afternoon we visited, there were at least 20 butterflies, monarchs and queens, flitting around on the Gregg’s Mistflower. There was also a duck sitting on her eggs in her nest which she located within the butterfly garden, so be careful not to disturb her. We noticed the butterflies seem to like the Murphy Park Butterfly Garden location much more than the same plants in Liberty Garden.

This field trip involves minimal walking, but there are trails in the park if you wish to explore and enjoy the fresh fall air. Bring water, sunscreen, and insect spray and let us know if you have luck spotting the monarchs. Post your photos and videos on Facebook or Instagram with the hashtag #NPSOTMurphyPark and we can all share in the fun.

Directions from I-35:
• Head east for about 15 miles on Highway 79 in Round Rock
• Stay on 79 through Hutto and into Taylor
• Turn left onto Sloan St and travel .6 miles
• Turn right onto W Lake Drive for .9 miles
• Turn right into the park and the Liberty Garden will be right in front of you. The Butterfly Garden is in the parking lot to the left by the lake.

** ARCHIVED POST – LINKS AND IMAGES MAY NOT WORK**

Posted on

Congratulations, Pamela Parker Caird, on your winning video!

** ARCHIVED POST – LINKS AND IMAGES MAY NOT WORK**

Congratulations to chapter member Pamela Parker Caird for winning Best Video in this year’s NPSOT Video Contest!  The Society announced contest winners on October 9 during the awards presentation at NPSOT’s Virtual Fall Symposium.

Pamela’s outstanding entry, Going Wild with Natives in Texas, is jam-packed with information, including an interview with Kelly Simon, author of Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife, and information from Pamela’s own experience wildscaping her family’s property in Liberty Hill.  You don’t want to miss it!

Access Pamela’s video at this link on the Society’s YouTube channel or click on the image.    See this link for video contest rules.

Congratulations, Pamela!

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Also during the October 9 awards presentation:

Bob Kamper’s photo won in the Edwards Plateau ecoregion category and tied for Best in Show. See this October 17 announcement and congrats post for details.

Randy Pensabene was presented the Benny J. Simpson Fellows Award which the Society announced last month. See this September 9 announcement and congrats post for details.

** ARCHIVED POST – LINKS AND IMAGES MAY NOT WORK**

Posted on

Congratulations, Bob Kamper, on your winning photograph!

** ARCHIVED POST – LINKS AND IMAGES MAY NOT WORK**

Chapter member Bob Kamper’s photo won in the category for the Edwards Plateau ecoregion in this year’s NPSOT Photo Contest and also tied for Best in Show!   The Society announced contest winners on October 9 during the awards presentation at NPSOT’s Virtual Fall Symposium. Congratulations to Bob!

Describing his photo of Prairie Celestials, Nemastylis geminiflora, Bob says:

“The photo was taken in a protected nature preserve area in Southern Williamson County that is over a cavern which is habitat for an endangered species. Usually the bloom period for the Prairie Celestial ends around April 1st, but this year extended to April 18th. I walked out to look around, and this was one of many blooms open and bejeweled with drops from a light rain.”

Prairie Celestials, Nemastylis geminiflora
Prairie Celestials, Nemastylis geminiflora. Photo by Bob Kamper.

There was a lot of competition.  Click this link to see all 51 entries and 10 ecoregion winners.  Read about the photo contest rules here.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Also during the October 9 awards presentation:

Pamela Parker Caird won the Best Video Contest. See this October 17 announcement and congrats post for details.

Randy Pensabene, NPSOT-Wilco Past President, was presented the Benny J. Simpson Fellows Award which the Society announced last month.  This award honors recipients for their service to the Society and “embodies grass roots recognition” of an awardee by their fellow NPSOT members.  See this September 9 announcement and congrats post for details.

** ARCHIVED POST – LINKS AND IMAGES MAY NOT WORK**