BOTANY

Shield Ranch

16037 Hamilton Pool Rd
Austin, TX 78738
Google Map to Shield Ranch Entrance

Budget extra time to reach the ranch house 2.5 miles down the road from the entrance.
Parking is limited so please carpool

Meet at the ranch house at the end of the road once you turn onto the property! You’ll see this small sign at the entrance:

Sign at the entrance!

Date: 04/14/2018

Start Time: 8:30 AM
End Time: 3:45 PM

Directions from Austin:
Drive to the city of Bee Cave via Bee Caves Road, Southwest Parkway, or Highway 71. From Bee Cave, take Highway 71 west. Turn left at the traffic light at Ranch Road 3238 (Hamilton Pool Road). Look for the Shield Ranch sign and entrance approximately three miles on the left, across from Verde’s Restaurant.

We will be meeting in the ranch house about 2.5 miles into the property! Follow the paved road and it will end at the ranch house.

Bring:

Your own lunch!
Water, travel mug, notebook, pen/pencil, the usual
Loupe or magnifying glass to see those grass details if you have one

Wear field appropriate clothes!

We’ll be outside for about 3 hours in this class doing various activities. Wear long pants, closed toed shoes, sun protection and a light long-sleeve layer. I like to bring a cotton long-sleeve button-up in my bag with me. It helps beat the sun and elements.

Angela England

Professional Ecologist

Angela England (CAMN Class of 2014!) will be speaking to us about plant basic biology and anatomy, surveying the features of a handful of locally abundant plant families, and leading a discussion on non-native and invasive plants.

She received her undergraduate in Zoology from the University of Texas, and her Ph.D. at the University of New Mexico.

Angela previously worked for Bat Conservation International for 8 years, and Hamilton Pool Preserve for 1 year. She is currently with the City of Austin’s Watershed Protection Department for the past 3 years.

Tom Watson

Retired Botanist

Tom received his B.S. in Biology at Sul Ross State University and went on to study Botany at UT Austin with a specialty in Plant Taxonomy where he received his Ph.D.

Tom has taught botany classes at the University of Texas and the University of Montana. He has been a dedicated member of the Hays Co. Master Naturalist for 14 years and volunteers regularly with the Wildlands Conservation Division of Austin Water Utility for land management over the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone.

Tom has also performed work as a Systems Analyst for Verizon, Dell Computer, & TX Dept. of Human Services.

Reading Material:

Unit 11: Plants from the Curriculum
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