Tag: field trips

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Trip Report: Hidden Springs Preserve on August 3, 2024

— by Cindy Chrisler

group hiking in field

It was hot but green at Hidden Springs Preserve, where NPSOT-Wilco members conducted the 11th plant survey of the 12 planned for this location. A rainy July kept vegetation green in spite of the summer heat.   

Three new members joined four field trip committee members to conduct the survey.  The seven participants ventured to a pond in the north central part of the preserve, and observed such species as Texas Bluebells, Snow on the Mountain, Buttonbush, and Humped Bladderwort.  Blackfoot Daisy, horse crippler and prickly pear cacti, sideoats gramma, two leaf senna, and Dakota mock vervain were also observed. The remote area that was explored and the abundance of species found engaged the group for more than the two hours scheduled for the field trip.

In 2021, the NPSOT-Wilco Field Trip Committee was invited to conduct a plant survey at Williamson County’s Hidden Springs Preserve (not open to the public). The result was the committee’s plan to visit the property every calendar month of the year over a 2-3 year period. The 12th and last plant survey for Hidden Springs Preserve will take place in September.

image of plants
image of flower
image of flower

Photos by Cindy Chrisler


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

Field Trip Photo Album

See field trip plans on our Home page.

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Field Trip: UT’s Billie L Turner Plant Resources Center (herbaria) on July 20, 2024

— by Kathy Galloway

Post updated July 11: Registration for this field trip is now closed.

This field trip is limited to 20 participants. Sign up with the form in this post.

We will meet no later than 9:45 am at the west side of the University of Texas Tower (Main Building) so that we can start the field trip as close as possible to 10:00 am. For those that register, we will provide a map with recommended parking (San Antonio Parking Garage (2420 San Antonio)) and the Tower marked.

Please allow enough time from your starting point for driving to Austin, parking, and walking to the Tower so you are sure to arrive by 9:45 am.

About registration:
– After you submit the registration form, you’ll be contacted by the Field Trip Committee with confirmation about your requested space(s). (If you do not hear back within a day or so, send an email to wilco-chapter@npsot.org.
– If you need to cancel your registration or update your info after you’ve submitted the form, please send an email as soon as possible to wilco-chapter@npsot.org.
– =>> Click here for the signup form <<=

If you have questions before the trip, contact the Field Trip Committee here.

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See photos from other field trips ==>

Field Trip Photo Album
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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

Live oak at Garey Park
Live oak


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

Field Trip Photo Album