Category: Native Plants

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Ricky Linex and the Sept 25 NPSOT-Wilco Fall Native Plant Sale

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— by Beth Erwin

We are excited to announce we will have a guest star with us for our fall plant sale on September 25, 2021 at Berry Springs Park & Preserve (inventory news later in this post).  Ricky Linex, author of Range Plants of North Central Texas will be on hand during our sale.

Ricky’s book is an indispensable manual for landowners in central Texas. Identifying the plant is one thing. The excellent photos help you there. But understanding why a plant is or isn’t there, and how that affects your management goals is information not easy to come by. We will have a limited number of copies available for sale at $25 each and Ricky will be happy to sign them, or your already-acquired copy.

In addition to being on hand to answer questions, Ricky will lead two walks on the park grounds. The first walk will start at the Birthday Pavilion at 9AM. The second walk will be at 11AM. Walks are limited to 15 people.

At 1PM, Ricky will speak at the Tonkawa Pavilion on “Native Plants, Pollinators” and “Thanksgiving, a Time for Reflection, Appreciation and Thanks.” He will discuss the importance of native plants for livestock forage, native plants for all species of wildlife and how pollinators are so vitally important for the survival of flowering plants.

We are aware that we have lots of new landowners with questions about how to manage their land for the love of Texas and the rest of the planet. We also have folks who have acquired land with the intention of homesteading with the same ideals. It is our hope that they will take advantage of having an expert on hand for the day and come with their questions. If you know someone like that, pass on this information.

About the sale

The NPSOT-Wilco plant sale will be held September 25, 2021, at Berry Springs Park & Preserve, 1801 Co Rd 152, Georgetown, TX 78626 in the Main (Tonkawa) Pavilion.  10:00 AM—3:00 PM.  (Note that Ricky’s first walk begins at 9AM.) Cash, checks, and major credit cards accepted.  We prefer that all customers wear masks and maintain social distance.

Plants to be offered

We have an initial list of plants to be offered at the sale.  Find the current list at this link.  If we update the list, we’ll send a new blog post out to alert subscribers.

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New Plant Signs at Lake Creek Trail

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— by Kathy McCormack

An Eagle Scout candidate recently worked with the Native Plant Society of Texas (NPSOT) Williamson County chapter and the Williamson County Parks & Recreation Department to install six new interpretive plant signs at the western end of Lake Creek Trail.

Sugar Hackberry, Celtis laevigata
Sugar Hackberry, Celtis laevigata

Maps for the new signs on this southern Williamson County trail can be found at the bottom of our chapter’s Interpretive Plant Signs webpage. A laminated interpretive plant sign has also been posted in the trailhead kiosk.

There is ample parking for this flat, paved 0.25-mile section of the trail. Check out the new signs when you get a chance!

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Online Chapter Meeting September 9: The NEST Empowerment Center’s Butterfly Garden with Bebe Johnson

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Join NPSOT-Wilco online on Thursday, September 9, 2021, at 7:00 pm,  when Bebe Johnson will present The NEST Empowerment Center’s Butterfly Garden. You must register in advance to attend.  Register at https://npsot-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIvd-uoqzsoEtQv39dZMl_g5ZuVNRSRHMmM.

The NEST Empowerment Center is part of The Georgetown Project, a local nonprofit providing services that support their mission:  “A community where no child is hungry, hurt, alone, or rejected, and where all children and youth believe they are loved, respected and treated with dignity.”  The NEST Empowerment Center helps GISD high school students who are homeless, at-risk, or living in transition.

At this month’s meeting, The Georgetown Project’s Bebe Johnson will share information about their collaboration with NPSOT-Williamson County to create The NEST Chrysalis Dreamscape, located at The NEST Empowerment Center as part of its SPARKS patio.  The collaboration began in 2019.  (Some background from our chapter can be found here.)

Bebe has been The NEST Empowerment Coordinator since 2014. Previously, she worked at WilCo Juvenile Services as the Coordinator of a county-based Truancy Diversion program serving 9 school districts. Prior to that position she worked for LifeSteps, Williamson Council On Drugs, as a Prevention Director, Coalition Director and Interim Executive Director.

Bebe is a native of Eastern Williamson County and lives on the small ranch where she grew up. She is the proud owner of 2 mules, cows, chickens and dogs.

Gregg's mistflower, Conoclinium greggii
Gregg’s mistflower, Conoclinium greggii

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

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.

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