April 25: Plants
With nearly 525 acres of natural space at Garey Park, there is so much room for plants to blossom! From flowers and trees, to bushes and vines – we have it all growing throughout our park. Plants provide valuable food sources to wildlife, help reduce soil erosion, promote biodiversity, and improve overall air quality. They are a hugely important part of our natural ecosystem! Learning a little bit about the plant life that grows around the trails can really enhance your visit to the park. Plants are great indicators about the types of wildlife you might encounter, or about the natural landscape of the region!
Park Activities
Come out to Garey Park on Sunday, April 25 to participate in these activities during park hours (8 a.m.-7:30 p.m.).
Activity Kit: Parts of a Flower (first come, first served)
Free for annual passholders or with the purchase of a Garey Park day pass
Stop by the gate house and pick up all of the supplies and instructions for an activity to help your child learn about the basic parts of a flower. They’ll make a flower with the provided supplies, and then label the different parts of the flower. Use the info. on the back to learn about how each part of the flower helps it grow and thrive!
Wildflower Scavenger Hunt (PDF)
Print out the check list and head out to the park to see how many wildflowers you can spot! Be sure to stay on the designated trails.
Geocaching
We’ve got three new geocaches just for Family Nature Fest! Download the Geocaching app to get started today. You will need to create an account before you can log any geocaching finds.
Bioblitz
Help us chronicle plant, animal, and fungi species at the park! We have a huge variety of species on our 525-acres – help us document them all.
From experts to novices, all curious minds are welcome. With iNaturalist as a tool, anyone can be a naturalist! Participation is as easy as taking a photo and recording a date, time and location (your phone does this automatically via geotagging) and uploading to iNaturalist.org via the phone app or website. You can explore and make observations on your own time and pace, and as often as you’d like! Observations can be made with photos or sound recordings. Participate in our Family Nature Fest Bioblitz from April 22-25.
Facebook Schedule
Head over to the Garey Park Facebook page (facebook.com/gareyparkgtx) to check out the videos premiering today!
10 a.m.
Facebook Video Premiere: Wildflower Walk
Noon
Facebook Video Premiere: Storytime and Handprint Flower craft with the Georgetown Public Library
Handprint Flower Craft (PDF) – download the instructions to create your own handprint flower at home!
Plant Activity Sheets
Texas State Wildflower and Tree Fact Sheet (PDF)
Plant Resources
Plant Book List – Adults
Check out this book list curated by the Georgetown Public Library, featuring books about plants for adults!
Plant Book List – Kids
Check out this book list curated by the Georgetown Public Library, featuring books about plants for kids!
Aggie Horticulture Gardening/Native Plant YouTube Video Library
Central Texas Gardener Gardening/Native Plant YouTube Video Library
