Springtime in Texas, following a wet fall and a mild winter, means wildflowers. Now, the Hill Country and parts of central Texas get most of the publicity for those flowers, especially the bluebonnets and Indian paintbrush…and rightly so. But I have to say that even in the desert climes of west Texas, under the right conditions, Mother Nature can paint some wonderful pictures. Like this one:
This is a ranch a few miles north of Fort Stockton on Highway 18. (Those white dots are sheep moving across the pasture.) The yellow flowers are known in these parts as antelope clover, according to my plant expert brother. Google doesn’t recognize that name and I’m sure there’s another more official title for the plant, but that’ll do for our purposes. Anyway, the countryside is covered by these flowers for miles on end. I’ve lived in west Texas for decades and have never seen such a widespread display.
I also understand that the Big Bend region is practically lush with wildflowers thanks to the unusually wet fall and winter. No matter where you live in Texas, you won’t be far from a visual feast this spring!
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Eric, you’re absolutely right about the Big Bend. Those who can’r make it to the Hill Country to see the bluebonnet (varieties) and other wildflowers are encouraged to head south to the Big Bend … somehow they seem especially colorful with the red/brown rock terrain as a backdrop.
Thanks for sharing that photo!
That’s astounding.
Eric, the shot you took looks almost like a mirror image of this one! Right down to the mesa in the background. It’s Coober Pedy in the spring.
It always amazes me how wonderfully empty Texas is! There isn’t a house or a car or strip mall, or even a highway anywhere in sight.
You live in some fabulously beautiful country! “Nothing to do but breathe!!”
Fort Stockton: The Coober Pedy of Texas. Or, perhaps, Coober Pedy is the Fort Stockton of Australia. I’ll let the respective Chambers of Commerce work that out.
But you’re right about the “majestic desolation” of the region. You can draw a 50 mile radius circle around the town and capture only about 15,000 people…and that includes the traffic on I-10 (the presence of which detracts somewhat from the illusion of isolation!).
Jeff, this website confirms your confirmation. “Waist-high bluebonnets” at Big Bend…what a sight!
1 The DESERT AND THE PARCHED LAND will exult; the steppe will rejoice and BLOOM.
2 They will BLOOM with ABUNDANT FLOWERS, and rejoice with joyful song.
Isaiah 35:1-2
Thanks for sharing the photo! You are right…absolutely stunning. I havent been to that part of Texas in YEARS. Hubby is of the ambition to make it out there to look at the stars.
best,
sharon
Eurasian, that’s a great Biblical reference, especially considering the season we’re in.
Sharon, this is definitely the year to make that trek, if you want to see the countryside at its best! McDonald’s Observatory also puts on a great show over in the Davis Mountains, about 70 miles west of where this photo was taken.
I saw bluebonnets in Midland yesterday! I saw a few growing along side of Holiday Hill Road. Although they are in someone’s side yard, I’ve only seen a few others ever in Midland.