Tag: pollinator garden

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Trip Report: July 12’s Progressive Field Trip

— by Nancy Pumphrey

Eighteen people joined us for the Progressive Field Trip on Sunday, July 12, 2026.

group of people
Pollinator Garden at Williamson County Landfill. Photo credit: Nancy Pumphrey.

We started at the Williamson County Landfill Pollinator Garden in Hutto. We go out there on Sundays when the landfill is closed so no big trucks are zooming around. The day of the field trip, the garden was full of butterflies enjoying the Gregg’s mistflower. Grasses and sunflowers and lantana were blooming. Gary Bowers and the Wacky Weeders have done a great job tending the garden and keeping the plants looking good. We were visited by Sherrell Cordas, the Community Relations Manager for Waste Management. Waste Management presented the garden with a Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) Certificate and also donated money for the garden this year. And even though July is not the best time to view the landfill garden we could see all the good work that has taken place.

blooming wildflower
Williamson County Landfill Pollinator Garden. Photo credit: Gary Bowers.

Our next stop was the garden in Murphy Park in Taylor — lots to look at as we walked around. The garden is a Monarch Waystation, with its restoration fueled by a grant from Bring Back the Monarchs.  We enjoyed seeing butterflies and bees on the plants. We noted the care taken to trim the pecan tree that has volunteered there. The garden is near the park’s pond which also sports an egret rookery. Some native sabal palms grow nearby in the park. Leland Haefner and his crew of volunteers have done a fantastic job stewarding this garden back to life.  The Taylor Parks and Rec department added the fencing and repaired the irrigation system so new plantings were protected as baby plants. The switch grass was impressive but will now need to be moved to a new location as the grasses are blocking the view.

egrets
Murphy Park. Photo credit: Frances Fortanely.

Our last stop was Plowman’s Kitchen in Taylor for a well deserved hydration and lunch break. This was a great outing, especially considering the heat!

We welcome all volunteers who might want to get involved in the upkeep and maintenance of either garden. Send an email to wilco-chapter@npsot.org for more information.

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See photos from this trip and many other field trips in our album =>

Field Trip Photo Album

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Recording Available for October 10’s topic, “Building a Future With Flowers: Lewisville’s Sustainable Solution” with TJ Gilmore

The video recording from our chapter meeting on October 10, 2024 featuring “Building a Future With Flowers: Lewisville’s Sustainable Solution” with TJ Gilmore is now available on our YouTube channel. The presentation begins after a short chapter business meeting.

See more recorded topics on our YouTube channel. Like and Subscribe!

See our page Prior Guest Speakers for a list of past meeting topics by year.

Business slides for recent chapter meetings are here, listed by date. (If this particular meeting’s business slides were not added yet, they will be soon. Please check back later.)

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.

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Meeting Reminder October 10: “Building a Future With Flowers: Lewisville’s Sustainable Solution” with TJ Gilmore

Join NPSOT-Williamson County on Thursday, October 10, 2024, when our featured topic will be “Building a Future With Flowers: Lewisville’s Sustainable Solution” with TJ Gilmore, mayor of Lewisville, Texas. 

This month’s guest speaker will be joining us via Zoom from Lewisville.

  • The meeting begins at 7:00 PM. The guest presentation begins after a short business meeting.
  • Our meetings are free and open to the public.

Read about the topic and speaker in this meeting announcement.

==> This month’s in-person location is the Georgetown Public Library, 2nd Floor, 402 W 8th St, Georgetown, Texas 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/tZcod-6rpj0vHNbqaLOu16d146ngFuPBxCTO#/registration

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 wilco-chapter@npsot.org.

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.