Williamson County – Page 13 – NPSOT-Williamson County Chapter

June 12, 2023June 14, 2023

Field Trip Report: Beautiful Vistas at Tejas Park

— by Nancy Pumphrey

We wish all of you could have been with us on the field trip to Tejas Park on Saturday, June 10. The first part of the walk was through the woods with sightings of American germander, snapdragon vine, and black-eyed Susan. The river was on the left and we peeked down there. We pressed on and walked out to the open area.

group of people on field trip — Tejas Park field trip, June 10, 2023

WOW, what a sight! The whole field was blooming! Monarda, American basket-flower, black-eyed Susan, Indian blanket, prairie acacia. Then we came upon a devil’s claw (Proboscidea louisianica), another great sight. Then a dung beetle came by pushing a piece of dung 10 times bigger than itself… But the star of the day was the American basket-flower. It was so stunning to see so much of it in full bloom.

We wound up the walk with lots of water and Sue’s lavender brownies. It was a beautiful day and a great field trip. Hope you can come with us next time.

image of American basket-flowers — American basket-flowers, Centaurea americana

image of black-eyed Susans — American basket-flowers, Centaurea americana

Photos by Nancy Pumphrey

Click the button to see photos from some of our past field trips.

Field Trip Photo Album

June 6, 2023June 6, 2023

Landfill Pollinator Garden Workday, Sunday, June 11, 2023

Come help during a workday at the Landfill Pollinator Garden on Sunday, June 11, 2023 from 8am-11am. We need 5 to 6 people to help trim and clean up the garden. Bring boots, tools, hat, bug spray and water.

If you can come, or if you have questions, please let Nancy Pumphrey know by filling out the form at this link. (Check “Projects/Community Gardens” in the form.)

Park across the street from the garden in the Recycling Center lot at 101 Landfill Road, Hutto.

About the garden:

The Pollinator Garden is a collaboration of NPSOT-Williamson County, Good Water Master Naturalists, and Williamson County Waste Management, located at the entrance to the Williamson County Landfill, at the corner of FM 1660 and Landfill Road, in Hutto, TX. The garden includes a Monarch Waystation and is a Certified Texas Wildscape.

June 4, 2023June 6, 2023

Field Trip Committee meets with Eagle Scout candidate

— by Cindy Chrisler

The NPSOT-Williamson County Chapter’s Field Trip Committee met with Zachary Adams, an Eagle Scout candidate, at Brightwater Park in Round Rock on June 1 to evaluate his proposed project to put plant signs along the park’s crushed granite trail. Zachary, his older brother, and his mother met committee members and walked the path to discuss the project’s scope and identify plants of interest to include in his request for signs.

In addition to single-species signs usually provided by the NPSOT-Wilco chapter, a multi-species sign may be considered for small wildflower meadows along parts of the path. The park also has a manicured pollinator garden with a mix of native and non-native species.

The park and the associated pollinator gardens are maintained by the Fern Bluff Municipal Utility District and Zachary will partner with them as well as NPSOT for his project. Zachary sent a request for assistance via the chapter’s website. The Williamson County Chapter is very pleased to work with Zachary on this project.