Stengl Lost Pines Biological Field Station

Stengl Lost Pines Biological Field Station SLP is a University of Texas field station located in Bastrop County, providing teaching and research opportunities in the beautiful Lost Pines habitat.

After many dry months, SLP has finally had several days of rain. This much needed moisture has revealed hidden forest c...
04/22/2026

After many dry months, SLP has finally had several days of rain. This much needed moisture has revealed hidden forest components that were mostly dormant. This is a fine example commonly known as jelly fungus. It’s rubbery gelatinous body can repeatedly dry out and rehydrate after heavy rains.

An old established honey bee hive near the station headquarters is splitting off to form a new colony. This cluster of ...
04/14/2025

An old established honey bee hive near the station headquarters is splitting off to form a new colony. This cluster of bees is surrounding a newly formed queen to keep her protected. They will, as a group, venture of to find a new place to establish a colony. While, a frequent occurrence, it's rare to witness such an event. This cluster stayed on the ground for 3 days before dispersing to parts unknown.

SLP has some beautiful sunsets this time of year.
02/03/2025

SLP has some beautiful sunsets this time of year.

Fungal spores are typically microscopic and unnoticeable to the naked eye. Sometimes, when thickly concentrated you can...
08/23/2024

Fungal spores are typically microscopic and unnoticeable to the naked eye. Sometimes, when thickly concentrated you can see them. Most often that occurs when a puffball is disturbed releasing a dense cloud of spores. Here, we have a little help from a spider that spun a web just below this mushroom. As the spores released, they remained concentrated blanketing the spider web in a brown dust.

Rarely seen at SLP before the Pine Pond Fire of 2022, Red-Headed woodpeckers are now much more common on site. One of o...
06/10/2024

Rarely seen at SLP before the Pine Pond Fire of 2022, Red-Headed woodpeckers are now much more common on site. One of our wonderful volunteers recently captured these great photos.

09/15/2023

Not exactly a drought buster, but yesterday's 0.83" of rain sure was welcome. First significant rain since Spring.

Wonderful teaching moment here at SLP. Master Naturalist volunteers teach Stengl/Wyer REU students from around the worl...
06/25/2023

Wonderful teaching moment here at SLP. Master Naturalist volunteers teach Stengl/Wyer REU students from around the world the techniques and importance of collecting plant specimens and creating an on-site reference herbarium.

Another beautiful Spring is unfolding before us here at SLP.
04/07/2023

Another beautiful Spring is unfolding before us here at SLP.

SLP’s pollinator garden has moved into its yellow phase. Looking great.
05/17/2022

SLP’s pollinator garden has moved into its yellow phase. Looking great.

UT Herpetology students proudly display cricket frogs they have caught for observation. Often SLP gives students like ...
03/30/2022

UT Herpetology students proudly display cricket frogs they have caught for observation. Often SLP gives students like these their first opportunity to closely engage with their organisms of study.

Address

405 Old Antioch Road
Smithville, TX
78957

Telephone

(512) 237-9656

Website

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