Natural History Wanderings

Wildflower Haven has the following report for the area outside of San Antonio

I spent all Friday afternoon touring the Floresville, Stockdale, Nixon, New Berlin, LaVernia areas. I came in from I-37 along SH-97.  Overall, I would say the area is nearing peak, but not there yet especially when it comes to the paintbrush.  A few spots reminded me of 2010, but most areas were about average to above average and were still lovely.  The number of spots was above average. Patches and stretches of bluebonnets mixed with other wildflowers were easy to find.  The really “photographic” landscape shots took a bit longer.  I also think compared to past photos I have taken of the area, that most areas will fill-in more this next week. I would concentrate your scouting on side roads between Stockdale and Nixon, and between Floresville and LaVernia.

Notable routes covered:

South on I-37 past 1604 to SH-97:  Several long stretches of Texas bluebonnet (Lupinus texensis) variety mixed at times with phlox, and groundsel.  The picnic areas just south of Verdi RD on both sides had some nice patches and stretches of wildflowers. These would be great places to stop and get close-up shots. I wish more rest/picnic areas were like these.

East on SH-97 to Floresville:  A few patches and stretches of wildflowers were spotted along with one field with a long dense area of sandyland bluebonnets (Lupinus subcarnosus).

 

East on SH-97 Floresville to Stockdale: Numerous roadside wildflowers including some scrambled eggs, phlox, prickly poppy, groundsel, bluebonnets, and paintbrush.  Several large fields moderately dense with bluebonnets mixed with groundsel.  Parts of this route reminded me of 2010.

South on SH-123 from Stockdale: Found the spot that one of our Facebook posters reported.  The field is less than a mile on the right going south.  Field is mixed with groundsel and bluebonnets.

Northwest on FM-1681 from Nixon:  Several large fields of bluebonnets at times mixed with paintbrush.

Church RD and Single Oak: The field that was so great in 2010 is coming along. I don’t think it will be like 2010, but it has filled in nicely since I visited on 3/20.

Lutheran Church on Church RD: Same here. Paintbrush beginning to really fill-in nicely and in the field next to the church area. Some of this actually beginning to look better than 2010.

CR-307 west from US 87: Several nice bluebonnet fields along this route.  I stopped at one small field near CR-307 and CR-317 with two horse just to the right of the area of bluebonnets. I waited a bit but the horses refused the photo shoot opportunity. Perhaps they were waiting for their agent to approve the deal.

Various roads: I traveled many other roads and saw the same thing over and over again – Fields of bluebonnets and paintbrush mixed with other wildflowers.  It was not difficult to find them, but not all were photographic.

See photos at:  Floresville – Stockdale: Wildflowers are popping up!.