Natural History Wanderings

Gary Regner Photography reports on March 20

Spring Equinox: Great Expectations, Bitter Dissappointment

I traveled over 350 miles in search of wildflowers, and the highlight of my day was dinner at Sea Island Shrimp House. I did not find one scene worth photographing along my route.I traveled south from Austin on US 183 to Lockhart. Along US 183/SH 130 there were a lot of bluebonnets, but not as many as previous years, and there are no places to take pictures. From there on to Luling on US 183. Not many bluebonnets, but a lot of paintbrush, mainly along the road. From Luling I traveled south on TX 80 to Belmont, again lots of paintbrush along the road, but little else. Alt 90 west to Seguin usually has many nice mixed fields, but this year they are sparse, a below average year. There were some nice fields of paintbrush close to Seguin. I then travelled to New Berlin to check out Church Rd. Very few wildflowers, mainly paintbrush; pales in comparison to previous years. On towards Floresville through Sutherland Springs and along FM 539. Well below average, bluebonnets almost non-existent. Only good field was of groundsel. From there I traveled west on Hwy 97 to Pleasanton, and then TX 173 west to Big Foot. Again few wildflowers, Sandyland bluebonnets are scarce, only some paintbrush, prickly poppies and sandwort. West further to Moore and then north on IH 35. Some Texas bluebonnets and paintbrush along the Interstate, but well below average. Saw a few nice fields of magenta phlox south of Devine and one large field of Sandyland bluebonnets along the frontage road just south of Natalia. This field was at peak. Otherwise few wildflowers, the worst I’ve seen for this area. I then headed north through Lytle and then east through Somerset, again well below average and disappointing. Hopped over to check out Jett Rd off of Hwy 16, again few wildflowers and disappointing.All in all, what it was well below an average year for the areas I saw. I have, however, read some good reports from the Poteet area, so looks like I may have circled all around the best areas south of San Antonio.