I love exploring the Texas Hill Country and often find myself at the base of a cliff. I always remember the advice I received from a geology professor about not climbing road-cut cliffs because of the hazard created by falling rocks.

Sentinel Peak Preserve is the newest and largest park in Hays County (over 530 acres). You can follow its development and all the other new open spaces made available by the passage of the 2020 Hays County Parks and Open Spaces Bond here.

On Saturday, May 14, eight Hays County Master Naturalist volunteers braved the hot weather and helped with maintenance at Charro Ranch Park in Dripping Springs, Texas. The park is a northern Hays County treasure. Come out and see for yourself!

One question landowners ask when the HELM team pays them a visit is “What should I do about all this cedar?” We start by dispelling myths surrounding cedar.

Schulle Canyon Natural Area is a beautifully conserved green space located right in middle of San Marcos proper.

“Got a minute? Let’s go relax in Patsy Glen.” In 2014, I’d just moved to Wimberley, and a new friend’s invitation was irresistible. A glen, or glenn from old Gaelic gleann, is a small, narrow, secluded valley, forested, sometimes with a stream running through it.

Hays County Master Naturalist welcomes our new Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Advisors, Blake Hendon and Archis Grubh.

Mmmm hopsy, not heavy. With a hint of orange peel! It was a tall cold glass of eight-dollar deliciousness on a sweltering spring day. At invitation of the Driftwood Heritage Conservation Society, Hays County Master Naturalist’s education outreach Wild About Nature (WAN) had an April 10, 2022, Sunday gig out at Vista Brewing Company in Driftwood, Texas.

Have you noticed all the beautiful wildflowers popping up around your property? Most depend on animals to move their pollen around so that we can enjoy flowers again next year. Butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds aren’t their only pollinators. Beetles, flies, and other insects also move pollen from flower to flower.

It was the first time since 2019 that Wimberley Outdoor Educators was able to lead their Birding Field Trip for Third Graders to the Patsy Glenn Refuge, which is located behind the Wimberley Community Center.

Padre Island is recent in geologic history, under 5000 years old. The island is shaped by the day-to-day actions of the prevailing southeasterly winds, currents, waves, and tides, especially storm tides. April is the windiest month. Those steady 20-mph southeasterly flows can wear you down if you are out in it all day.

The Nature Conservancy was very happy to partner with Hays County to protect this property that is not only significant for its conservation value but has also been so important to so many people over the years. We are excited to see how it develops as a public park and natural area.

• Hill Country Dusk To Dawn - Mimi Cavender, Rui Cavender

• Lights Out Texas - Betsy Cross

• March Madness At Charro Ranch Park - Michael Meves

• The Hays Humm is Moving - Irene Foelschow, Tom Jones

• Spring Bling - Constance Quigley

• Notes From the Field - Devin Grobert

• Geology Outreach - Tom Jones

• Climate Change and the Master Naturalist - Steve Wilder

• Images of Aransas National Wildlife Refuge - Betsy Cross

• Enchanted Rock Natural Area - Tom Jones

• Frozen Birding - Dick McBride

• What is a Naturalist? - Constance Quigley

• Charro Ranch Workday - Michael Meves

• HELM Network News - Christine Middleton

• Book Report: The Book of Hope by Jane Goodall and Douglas Abrams - Steve Wilder

• San Marcos Flint - Tom Jones and Patty Duhon

• San Marcos River Foundation Second Annual Tree Planting - Dick McBride

• 2021 San Marcos Christmas Bird Count - Lance Jones and Betsy Cross

• Drought Concern - Tom Jones

• Meet Your Master Naturalist - Andrew Rider, Irene Foelschow

• Graduation & Gala Photos - Tom Jones, Betsy Cross, Eva Frost

• The First European Settlement in Texas - Art Crowe

• Beautiful Day … at Arnosky Family Farm - Susan Nenney

• Beautiful Night - Betsy Cross

• Fledge and Fly - Newsletter Team

• Newsletter Team Group Photo - Newsletter Team

• Good Night Sky - Mimi Cavender

• Texas Master Naturalist 2021 Annual Meeting - Cindy Cassidy, Mimi Cavender, Betsy Cross, Tom Jones

• Recovering America's Wildlife Act - Michael Mitchell

• Naturescapes 2021 Awards - Art Arizpe

• Boo Hole Halloween - Mimi Cavender

• Book Report, Pilgrim At Tinker Creek - Steve Wilder

• Spooky Species - Mimi Cavender

• Tales From The Devil’s Backbone - Tom Jones

• Life On The Edge - Mimi Cavender

• Scary Squash - Mimi Cavender

• Arachno Phobia - Mimi Cavender, Constance Quigley, Betsy Cross, Eva Frost

• A Hays Archipelago: Home Island Wild - Steve Wilder, Mimi Cavender

• Mussel Beach - Lee Ann Linam

• The Upper Blanco River - Tom Jones

• 2021 Reunion Highlights - Betsy Cross

• The New Residents - Roger K. Allen

• Little Armored One - Betsy Cross

• Wild About Blue Hole - Mimi Cavender

• Wilder Geodes - Tom Jones, Steve Wilder

• July Colors - Bold & Beautiful - Constance Quigley

• Slender Snake Cotton - An Unusual Plant - Marilyn Brister

• Up Your Community Collaborative Rain, Hail & Snow Network (CoCoRaHS) Game - Art Crowe

• Merlin's New Sound ID Feature - Betsy Cross

• HaysMN 2021 Armadillo Class Field Trip - Westcave Outdoor Discovery Center - Lacey Smith