Are you ready to go native?  What makes a plant a “native”?  Why should we care?  If I buy Lantana at a box store, isn’t it a native?  If I want to attract birds, bees and butterflies, what should I plant?  Are cedars and mesquite native?  Are their good and bad natives?  What's wrong with St. Augustine?  How do I balance the demands of my HOA with water restrictions?  What is the difference between a native and an adapted plant?  How can I tell if a plant is really a native plant?

Presenters from the Native Plant Society of Texas, Linda O’Nan and Jan Warren, will answer these questions and so many more.  Their talk will be followed by a hike along two of our most popular tails where they will take you on a field trip through a true native plant wonderland.   Bring you questions!  See you out on the trails!

COVID:  The situation is fluid and FOBCNWR will comply with COVID guidelines in effect at the time of the event, in accordance with Federal, Travis County, and Austin Public Health restrictions.  As of this posting, masks will be required and the benches at the Pavilion will be marked off with 6' of social distancing, with the exception of members of the same household who can sit together.  This is the reason we are limiting the total number of participants such that the those on the "walk" portion of the event stay within guidelines.

Suggestions for post field trip activities:

The little town of Bertram, just north up 1174:

True Italian Pizza and other delights -- Fratelli's on 29 in Bertram

Arts and crafts – Mosaic Gardens – fused glass, jewelry, goat milk soap, mosaics, and other art from local artists
Distillery – Flanigan’s Distillery – a fun tasting experience
The Pecan guy – his pecan cake won the Texas-wide HEB cook off contest.  He has a little coffee shop in the lobby of the Bertram library.  (warning – it’s additive!)

If you’re heading back to Austin on 1431:
Lunch at Flat Creek Winery just down Singleton Bend Road, about half way to Lago Vista, wood fired pizza, salmon, risottos and pastas, a lovely view and some of the best wines in the hill country (they have the awards to prove it!)  They also have a wonderful Frisbee golf course, a fun wine-themed gift shop, and of course, a tasting room.