Natural History Wanderings

I traveled to northeast Texas for business this week, and was surprised by the increase in wildflowers over the last several weeks. I spotted many more fields of bluebonnets, some were thickly covered, but most were only spotty in coverage. This was mainly in the northern Hill Country. Patches of wildflowers could be seen in the Abilene area, mainly low lying yellow flowers, probably bitterweed. There were many others in bloom, including western primrose, Tahoka daisies, yellow Gaillardia, and dyssodia, but not in large colonies.

• – US 190 between Brady and Lometa: wildflowers scattered along the roadsides including bluebonnets, prairie paintbrush and phlox; occasional fields of bluebonnets, some thickly covered. Rating 2-4
• – Hwy 183 between Lometa and Leander: scattered roadside bluebonnets, occasional fields of bluebonnets, some thickly covered. Some nice fields just north of Leander. Rating 2-4
• – There were occasional fields of bluebonnets along the route from Sweetwater to Brady through Bronte, Ballinger and Eden, but they were widely scattered ; Rating 2-4