Tag: plant identification

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Field Trip on Saturday, December 10, 2022, Hidden Springs Preserve Plant Survey #6, 1:00pm

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— by Kathy Galloway

image of a sign

  • What:   Hidden Springs Preserve Field Trip, Plant Survey 6 of 12
  • When:  1:00 PM – 3:30 PM, Saturday, December 10, 2021
  • Where:  978 CR 224, Florence, TX.
  • Our field trip is free and open to the public, but the preserve is not open to the general public.  See important details later in this post.

We’re continuing our plant survey work with plant survey #6 of 12.

Be prepared for extensive walking on uneven, open terrain. Wear sturdy walking shoes, a hat, and sunscreen, and bring water, field guides, and something to take notes on and with.  People at all plant knowledge levels can help on survey field trips. Beginners are welcome.  There are NO restrooms available.

Please plan on arriving by 1:00 PM – there is a padlock on the front gate, and it will be locked shortly after 1:15PM. Reservations are not required. Please feel free to contact Kathy Galloway (contact form here) beforehand if you have any questions. We will follow the latest CDC instructions for Covid safety.

Directions:

  • Take IH-35 north to Exit 266 (Florence/Killeen/195).
  • Turn left and follow SH 195 toward Florence.
  • Go through Florence, take the TX 138 exit (you will be near the City of Florence’s water tower with the bison on it), and then turn left onto TX 138.
  • After a little over two miles, turn right onto CR 224.
  • After about half a mile, at the fork in the road, bear to the left and stay on CR 224. Note that a car GPS system may indicate that you should bear to the right – this is incorrect.
  • After another half a mile, look for a green metal gate on your right (north side of street). There is a large wooden sign “Hidden Springs” sign between two flagpoles behind the fence. The address is 978 County Road 224, Florence, TX, but there is no number on the gate. (The gate is across the street from 981 CR 224.)
  • When you arrive, directions will be given as to where to park.

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For NPSOT members, Nov 17, preview “Native Plant Society of Texas Native Plant Database”

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From Meg Inglis, NPSOT Executive Director:

When: Thursday, November 17, 2022, 12 – 1 pm, via Zoom
What: NPSOT Native Plant Database demo

Claire Sorenson, Jon Lienhard and Stephanie Long saw a need and then took the initiative to create a Native Plant Society of Texas Native Plant Database. Their prototype uses Austin-area native plant information. Please join our demonstration of the database and give feedback. The session is free and open to all Society members!

Register at this link

You must log in to your Native Plant Society account to successfully register for the meeting. When you “Click to register online”, a “Log In” screen pops up. If you do not already have a login for the Native Plant Society – or if you have forgotten your login – fill in your email address and click “Recover Account.”

Immediately after registration watch for a registration confirmation email with Zoom meeting and Dropbox folder links. If you do not see the email, please check your junk mail.

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Adopting an Orphaned Kiosk

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– by Belinda and John Buescher

John and Belinda Buescher like to walk along a trail that connects their neighborhood (Parkside at Mayfield Ranch) to Williamson County’s Southwest Regional Park. The path is charming – bordered with Indian Blankets in late spring, punctuated with prickly pear, and dancing with butterflies in the summer. In winter the wind whispers through stands of little blue stem.

The county had constructed an information kiosk where the neighborhood trail met the park trail. But it had been neglected in recent years and had become, well, less than inviting:

image of an info kiosk
The orphaned kiosk.

The Bueschers offered to “adopt” the orphaned kiosk and spruce it up with native plant signs that NPSOT’s Field Trip Committee had already developed. The signs would be affixed with Velcro so they could be switched out seasonally. Committee Chair Kathy Galloway arranged a meeting with the park manager, Toby Bonnet, who enthusiastically accepted their offer.

The couple compiled a list of native plants along the trail. Kathy McCormack, a fellow NPSOT Field Trip Committee member, arranged for the printing and lamination of the signs. Toby consolidated the park information that would need to remain in the kiosk, leaving half of the display area for NPSOT information. Belinda ordered Velcro squares; John bought a vinyl tablecloth and a staple gun. And the fun began!

image of an info kiosk
Work underway.
image of completed kiosk
John, Belinda, and the finished kiosk.
image of completed kiosk
Up close.

NPSOT has now been invited to update all the kiosks in the park!

Photo credits:  “Before” photo by John Buescher.   Remaining photos by Kathy McCormack.

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