Patsy Glenn Refuge is a tranquil wooded area not far from a busy intersection in the middle of Wimberley. The silence is often broken by the ruckus of birds jockeying for a place at the refuge’s bird feeders and birdbaths.
Volunteers led by local naturalist Patsy Sue Glenn and the Wimberley Birding Society began working on the 1.8-acre park in 2001. What was considered surplus property behind the community center became a haven for wildlife and native plants.
The refuge honors Patsy’s commitment to the park before she passed away in 2007.
Besides being a pleasant place to visit, the refuge is also an outdoor classroom. The kiosk at the base of the chimney swift tower displays color photographs identifying the area’s flowers and birds. Most of the plants along the walking path have name plates for easy identification.
The refuge’s short hiking trail meanders to the back of the property to a wildlife viewing platform. Along the path is a spacious bird blind providing unobtrusive views of the bird feeders.
You don’t have to be a serious birdwatcher to appreciate this little patch of paradise.
Patsy Glenn Refuge is open during daylight hours and there is no fee to visit. It is easy to find at the stoplight at RR 12 and River Road behind the senior center, and at the back of the parking lot. For more information on the refuge, go to www.wimbirds.org/refuge.
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Day Trips: Patsy Glenn Refuge, Wimberley
A version of this article appeared in print on Apr 1, 2016 with the headline: Day Trips: Patsy Glenn Refuge, Wimberley
This article appears in Our Next (P)resident.
