Natural History Wanderings

WildflowerHaven   posted the following wildflower bloom report on for 6/22/12:

Southern McCulloch County (Katemcy/Voca) has many large displays of plains coreopsis.   At the intersection of RR 1851 and RR 1222, there’s a great mix of basketflower, horsemint and coreopsis.   Scores of hummingbird moths were buzzing around and nectaring from the blooms.  On the SE side of Brady, there are large fields either side of TX 71 full of basketflower and blooming yucca.  On US 377 south of town, there are excellent roadside displays of gaillardia, horsemint, coreopsis and Mexican Hat – particularly on the slopes either side of the San Saba River.

I took Katemcy Rd. and Old Mason Rd. toward Mason, and saw intermittent (but dense) fields of mixed wildflowers.  As I reached RR 386, the scenery exploded with a vast expanse of blooms.   The area surrounding the intersection of RR 386 and RR 2618 is a solid carpet of coreopsis, and many of the side roads in the area have excellent displays as well.   Numerous other wildflowers are sprinkled in the mix, including phlox, vervain, sleepy daisies, lazy daisies, gaillardia and horsemint.  Almost all of the fencelines along this stretch have a solid line of white brush which is blooming profusely with very fragrant flower clusters.

Just SE of Midland in West Texas, there is a significant “desert bloom” of an unknown species of white flower.  The bloom clusters look a lot like spectacle pod, but the foliage is quite different (long, wavy, green/gray leaves).

To see all reports and links to photos at WidlflowerHaven go to: http://community.wildflowerhaven.com/forums/5/ShowForum.aspx