field trips – Page 4 – NPSOT-Williamson County Chapter

June 21, 2024June 23, 2024

Field Trip: Tree Walk at Rivery Park on June 29

What: Tree Walk with Gary Bowers at Rivery Park, Georgetown.
- (This trip was originally planned to be at Old Settlers Park, Round Rock.)
When: Saturday, June 29, 2024, 8:00 am to 10:00 am.
Where: Meet at the Rivery Park parking lot, Georgetown, Texas.
- Google GPS location is 30.648088822636854, -97.68497180641552 or see this link.
- If navigating with the what3words app, use ///mixture.blog.drill.

NPSOT field trips are free and open to the public.

Learn about local trees and enjoy a lovely walk along the San Gabriel River. Please remember that even though it’s early, it’s still going to be very warm! Bring water, snacks, a hat and sunscreen to protect yourself. We’ll walk until it gets too hot, no more than a couple hours of easy strolling.

An Extra Invitation for You: On June 27 at 7pm, just a couple days before the tree walk, Gary Bowers will present The Trees of Williamson County at Good Water Master Naturalists’ monthly meeting. Gary gives this talk to a number of groups and is very knowledgeable about his trees! GWMN is extending an invitation to join their meeting by Zoom to hear Gary’s talk.

Gary’s presentation follows the business section of GWMN’s meeting agenda. It’s suggested that you join that evening no later than 6:55pm in order to hear Gary’s talk starting at 7pm. Register ahead of the meeting using this GWMN link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0tf-uprz0uE9Tp-98Lsb72PJiUsIbtLfR5#/registration

See photos from other NPSOT field trips in our album=>

Field Trip Photo Album

May 20, 2024

Trip Report: Critchfield Conservation Preserve, May 18

— by Cindy Chrisler

Grant Critchfield hosted this field trip at the Critchfield Conservation Preserve outside of Jarrell, TX. The preserve is very close to the Pecan Springs Karst Preserve managed by the Hill Country Conservancy and shares the same geologic structures and an arm of Pecan Creek.

Recent rains at the Critchfield Preserve made for an interesting hike for the dozen members attending as we had to skirt puddles of mud and water. The transition from spring to summer meant that there were fewer blooms, but didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the group. We toured a pasture dotted with openings to small karst caves and Gaillardia, forded a swollen creek, and toured along the creek bed and an elevated meadow.

Although identification was a bit difficult, we identified three species of milkweed vine: pearl, anglepod, and plateau (a fourth, star milkweed vine, is present on the preserve as well). Antelope horn milkweed are setting pods. Prickly poppy and Texas thistle were still blooming to the delight of many pollinators. Two mature bur oaks were encountered, one along the creek and the other providing a magnificent canopy.

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

Field Trip Photo Album

See field trip plans on our Home page.

May 18, 2024

Trip Report: Russell Park Hike, May 11

— by Gary Bowers

A group of ten doughty native plant enthusiasts mustered at the Good Water Loop trail head at Russel Park at 8:30a on Saturday, May 11 for a 3 mile out and back hike.

After a short meet and greet, supply checks, and application of various insect defenses the intrepid group set off in a westerly direction for a 1.5 mi trek to the Walnut Springs primitive campground.

While making steady progress, the group stopped along the way to investigate and discuss numerous native plants, talk about the geology and history of the area, and generally hike along and enjoy a varied trail.

A small sample of the native plants that were seen and discussed were: Ashe Juniper (Juniperus ashei), Texas silverpuff (Chaptalia texana), Purple leatherflower (Clematis pitcherii), Navajo tea (Thelesperma simplicifolium), Prairie Bishop’s Weed (Bifora americana), and assorted milkweeds.

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

Field Trip Photo Album

See field trip plans on our Home page.