Poinsettia Celebration in Brenham at Ellison’s Greenhouses invites the public to view a five-acre sea of different colored holiday plants before they are shipped out to florists around the state, Nov. 21-22. 409/836-0084 or http://www.brenham.org.

Glowfest and Weihnachtsmarket in New Braunfels combines hot air balloons in the evening at Prince Solms Park and unique gift shopping at the Civic Center during the day, Nov. 20-22. 800/572-2626.

Night Skies Over the LBJ Ranch provides telescopes and assistance to view the stars on a reservation basis on Nov. 21. 830/644-2420.

Coming up …

The Eagles have landed along the shores of Lake Buchanan. The first bald eagles of the season were sighted on Oct. 21. The North American bald eagles begin their annual migration south each autumn from Alaska and Canada depending upon the weather, and remain in the Hill Country and other locations around the state until late winter. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department estimates that 300 to 350 eagles winter in Texas every year with about 10 percent sighted at Lake Buchanan. The Vanishing River Cruise offers daily cruises on the lake looking for the majestic birds and other wildlife. Eagle Awareness Week at the cruise about 20 miles west of Burnet includes falconry shows by nationally known falconer John Karger Nov. 30 through Dec. 6. In addition to the regular two-and-a-half-hour round trips, Vanishing River also provides the Ultimate Eagle Experience, a four-hour, 36-mile cruise, on Saturdays. 800/4-RIVER-4 or http://www.vtrc.com.

This article appears in November 20 • 1998 and November 20 • 1998 (Cover).

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Gerald E. McLeod joined the Chronicle staff in November 1980 as a graphic designer. In April 1991 he began writing the “Day Trips” column. Besides the weekly travel column, he contributed “101 Swimming Holes,” “Guide to Central Texas Barbecue,” and “Guide to the Texas Hill Country.” His first 200 columns have been published in Day Trips Vol. I and Day Trips Vol. II.