May 9 Chapter Meeting: Archeology and Ethnobotany in Texas Botanical Gardens with Susan Reynolds

Join NPSOT-Williamson County on Thursday, May 9, 2024, when our featured topic will be “Archeology in Texas Botanical Gardens / Ethnobotany in Texas Botanical Gardens” with Susan Reynolds, ED, Texas Botanical Gardens & Native American Interpretive Center.  

Free and open to the public. The meeting begins at 7:00 PM.  Our guest speaker’s presentation begins after a short business meeting.

==> This month, if you attend in person, we’re at 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/tZEkfu6qqTIpGNXPq_BjGEpgYnlFCXCnDcef#/registration

About our topic: There will be two separate, but short presentations.
1. Archeology – Topics covered will include Texas prehistoric peoples, the Texas Archeological Society, artifacts in the gardens, active sites in Mills County.
2. Ethnobotany – Definition, role in the creation of the Texas Botanical Gardens, interesting plants growing there.

Texas Botanical Gardens video link. Provided by speaker.

About our speaker: Susan Reynolds retired from a 30 year career as an award winning band director in California and Texas in 2022. She has always loved plants, gardening, and digging things up from the side of the road and now serves her community as the Executive Director of the Texas Botanical Gardens and Native American Interpretive Center (TBG) in Goldthwaite, TX. She is the organizer, grant writer, fundraiser, and “general flunkie” for the Board of Directors. On March 28, 2024, Susan spearheaded the Grand Opening of the new Demonstration Gardens at the TBG’s office, a ground up, grassroots project that netted nearly $52,000 in grants and just over $18,000 in gifts.

Susan and her husband of 40 years enjoy her retirement and the “Mimi and Pop Pop” time they get with their two grandsons, Asher and Shiloh.


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 [email protected].

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.

Field Trip Reminder, parking update: Museo Benini and Middleton Ranch Hike, Saturday, April 27, 2024

[4/14 directions updated. Left on FM 2147.]

This parking info has been added to the Middleton Ranch (working cattle ranch) portion of April 27’s field trip ==> If you are uncomfortable driving your vehicle on the ranch roads, you may park inside the gate and we will transport you to the property and back to the gate.

See the full field trip announcement at this link, including important info on what to wear for the ranch hike.

  • What:   Museo Benini and Middleton Ranch Field Trip
  • When:  Saturday, April 27, 2024
    • 10:30 AM-11:30AM – Museo Benini
    • (optional) 11:30 AM – Middleton Ranch hike
  • Where: 
    • Museo Benini, 3440 FM2147, Marble Falls, TX 78654.   Directions: From FM 1431, take 281 south for about 2.5 miles to FM 2147.  Turn left on FM 2147 and proceed 3.2 miles to Museo Benini.
    • Middleton Ranch directions will be provided at the field trip

Our field trip is free and open to the public. Reservations are not required.

image of blooming wildflower
On Middleton Ranch

Field Trip: Museo Benini and Middleton Ranch Hike, Saturday, April 27, 2024

[4/14 directions updated. Left on FM 2147; 4/12, option to park inside Middleton Ranch gate added]

— by Cindy Chrisler

  • What:   Museo Benini and Middleton Ranch Field Trip
  • When:  Saturday, April 27, 2024
    • 10:30 AM-11:30AM – Museo Benini
    • (optional) 11:30 AM – Middleton Ranch hike
  • Where: 
    • Museo Benini, 3440 FM2147, Marble Falls, TX 78654.
      • Directions: From FM 1431, take 281 south for about 2.5 miles to FM 2147.  Turn left on FM 2147 and proceed 3.2 miles to Museo Benini.
    • Middleton Ranch directions will be provided at the field trip
  • Our field trip is free and open to the public. Reservations are not required.

Meet at Museo Benini at 10:30 AM to tour the site and view their wildflowers.  Optionally you may enter the museum and visit the artwork (free admission).

At 11:30, those who wish to continue to the Middleton Ranch will be given directions and a waiver to sign.  It takes about 20 minutes to get from the museum to the Middleton Ranch.  The ranch roads are one-way gravel, and there are some ruts and steep hills, but you do not need high clearance. (My husband’s MG can handle the road!)  You are invited to bring a picnic lunch and eat in the shade of live oak trees.  Bring lawn chairs and your picnic lunch.  The chapter will provide a dessert and water.  Bathrooms are available.  After lunch, Cindy Chrisler will lead a guided hike around the property, and you may wander after that until 5:00 p.m., although you may leave earlier if you like.

If you are uncomfortable driving your vehicle on the ranch roads, you may park inside the gate and we will transport you to the property and back to the gate.

Wear clothing appropriate for the weather, including closed toed shoes and long pants if you plan to go on the guided hike at the Middleton Ranch.  Participants may also want to use insect repellent. 

The Middleton Ranch is a working cattle ranch and cattle roam freely.  Some terrain is uneven, steep, and rocky in places. The guided hike will mostly be on flat areas, but there are some spots that are steep and rocky and we will cross a shallow creek twice.

Above: flowers at the Middleton Ranch

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See photos from other field trips ==>