Tag: Godwin Ranch Preserve

Three NPSOT-Wilco members conducted the fourth and final plant survey at the Godwin Ranch Preserve in Georgetown on Sunday afternoon, November 16. The survey was scheduled for the afternoon in anticipation of cooler weather by mid-November, but a heat wave kept temperatures in the mid 80s. Dry conditions over the past month led to a reduction of flowering plants, but nearly 60 species were observed either as green plants or as seed heads on dry vegetation.

Crowpoison was the flower of the day, followed by Texas Snakeweed. Grasses were abundant, but the meadows are largely KR Bluestem. Other grasses observed were Sideoats Grama, Little Bluestem, Silver Bluestem, Heller’s Rosette Grass, Purple Threeawn, and Plains Lovegrass. Some trees and shrubs looked water stressed, especially the Eve’s Necklacepods and Cedar Elms. Oaks and Texas Persimmons seem to be faring better during the dry spell. Several Texas Lantana bushes were poised to bloom in the next few days. Leaves of multiple stands of Drummond’s Rain Lily were noted, and rain later this week should trigger a massive bloom.

This survey concludes the study for the Godwin Preserve. Observations from the four surveys conducted across the last twelve months will be compiled and presented to the Godwin Ranch Preserve Manager, Eléonore le Corvaisier. The NPSOT surveys and observations in iNaturalist will provide a baseline for species at the preserve for future reference.

Cindy Chrisler
Field Trip Committee

— by Cindy Chrisler

Eight NPSOT members assembled at 8 a.m. to conduct a plant survey at Godwin Ranch Preserve in Georgetown on Sunday, August 24, 2025. This was the third of four surveys we will conduct to establish a plant list for the preserve.  Nearly two inches of rain in the past week along with even more rain over the past month made for lush grass growth, although few forbs were blooming.  The early start and low humidity made for a pleasant walk through the customary loop used for this survey.  

In the two hours spent on the survey, we observed about 60 species of plants. Most were native species, but we also found invasives such as chinaberry, common hedge parsley, King Ranch Bluestem and Johnson grass. Recent moisture allowed nostoc (witches’ butter) and mosses to thrive on rocks and bare soil along the trail. We identified a number of grasses, including Little Bluestem, Silver Bluestem, Sideoats Gramma, Texas Gramma, and Heller’s Rosette Grass. Pasture Heliotrope was blooming, and we identified seed heads for Firewheel, Upright Prairie Coneflower, Greenthreads, and Beebalm. Doveweed was abundant, and a few Drummond’s rain lilies were spotted. Perhaps the highlight of the survey was finding a Rio Grande Copperlily, an unexpected find. Milkweed vines were prominent, but we so far have been unable to definitively identify the species. Native oaks, Ashe Juniper, Cedar Elm, and Eve’s Necklacepod are interspersed around the preserve, and are decorated with several species of lichens.

Late summer is not the optimal time to observe birds, but we were able to identify the songs of White-eyed Vireos and Lesser Goldfinches and spotted a black-chinned hummingbird. We found tracks for feral hogs and raccoons in the muddy trail, and scat of jackrabbits and coyotes. We also discovered a shed antler from a white-tailed deer and the skull of a feral hog. 

The fourth and final survey will be held in November.