A night of fellowship, gratitude, and glowing achievements—see highlights of our Annual Gala, where members, partners, and Spring Class graduates were recognized for a remarkable year.

Take a joyful look at this year’s Fall Training Class and the adventures, mentors, and moments that helped our newest naturalists take flight.

Naturescapes returned to the Walkers’ Gallery with another impressive juried exhibition celebrating the beauty of the natural world. Discover the award winners and learn more about this year’s contest.

This month’s cover highlights the lively Snowy Egret, along with a companion feature on the rare sight of both Snowy and Great Egrets together at Plum Creek. Learn what sets these look-alikes apart.

A visit to Native American Seed revealed the rhythms of restoration—from blooming fields to the delicate timing of harvest.

HCMNs traded work gloves and loppers for paddles and picnic plates. It was a day to relax, laugh, and celebrate the people who give so much to our natural spaces.

Costumes, games, native plants, and fluttering wings—this year’s Monarch Fest was a joyful celebration of pollinators and the people who care for them.

Support vital research on winter bird populations. Grab your binoculars and help count the colorful visitors at bird blinds across Hays County.

At the 2025 Annual TMN Meeting, Hays County Master Naturalists helped showcase the knowledge, talent, and spirit that define our chapter.

Hearing the whistling wings of a flock of Teal overhead keeps me waking up before sunrise, putting on waders, and waiting patiently for the ducks.

Snakefessst 2025 slithered into the San Marcos Discovery Center with record crowds, dazzling snake displays, snake yoga, and a 14-foot python named Gomez. A hiss-terical success!

Floodwaters rise and recede rapidly but leave lasting scars on the landscape. Learn why land practices matter.

Flutter into fall fun at the San Marcos Discovery Center—plants, crafts, games, and milkweed await October 11.

On the Wildlands, this volunteer finds joy in seed collecting, native plant propagation, prairie restoration, and more. Explore opportunities that could inspire you too.

Yes, they’re creepy, and you can find them right here in Hays County.

A brief stop at the Discovery Center last October offered a serendipitous kaleidoscope of fall butterflies.

“Can’t trust that day,” the song goes. But on Mondays in San Marcos, you can count on dedicated volunteers. Their early-morning cleanups protect a river teeming with life—turtles, herons, and rare Texas Wild Rice.

These familiar anurans offer two seasons’ worth of “NatureWatch” moments, from spawning choruses to tiny toads hopping into the leaf litter.

Every property tells a story. The HELM team helps landowners “read the land” and discover the potential of their acres to thrive with native plants and wildlife.

Don’t miss the Naturescapes Awards Reception at the San Marcos Activity Center on Saturday, September 27, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m..