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Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Started by xseption at 03-31-2006 8:14 PM. Topic has 2 replies. WildflowerHaven... » Texas Wildflowe... » Central Texas » Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Hunting Texas Wildflowers - New Book!

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03-31-2006, 8:14 PM xseption Joined on 03-02-2006 Richardson, TX (DFW) Posts 202 Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center I went to the Wildflower Center in mid-March and was surprised to learn a few things. First off, I met a botanist who has been working there for a little over a year. I was investigating some bluebonnet stands that were in a small area covered with a red granite mix of soil. It was an experiment he was trying out. An experiment I asked? Yes, since the Wildflower Center is basically located in a grassland type of ecosystem, not really suited for wildflowers. If there were some cattle grazing, then the yield would considerably higher. Evidently, the cows don't eat the wildflowers. Cows consume grass and grass takes resources away from growing wildflowers. No grass gives more nutrients and water for wildflowers. Bad news for bluebonnet fans: the experiment was not working. The botanist is thinking of seeding the whole field directly behind the main building with bluebonnets. Good news for bluebonnet fans: there are some stands of bluebonnets at the wildflower center. Some other wildflowers are there as well, just not a profusion. The photos include maroon bluebonnets (courtesy of Texas A&M) as well as baby blue bluebonnets. Also, I saw Mt Laurel (I believe it is Mt Laurel), spiderwort, and buttercups. There were also some indian paintbrush, but very few and just beginning to flower. The botanist suggested that early to mid-April would be a better time to visit. two cents and then some ...    Report

04-01-2006, 10:06 AM RichO Joined on 02-15-2005 San Antonio, TX Posts 637 Wow! Great work! Edd, Those are great photos...very nicely done! Thanks for the report! As to prairie grasslands and wildflowers...they do go well together if: 1. the grass is warm season grass (warm season grass goes dormant in the winter and remains dormant until the temps rise enough in the spring.) 2. there is something that intensely grazes, but does not overgraze the grassland, burn off the grass or mows the grass. The bison would come in the millions and intensely graze the grass prior to the fall when the grass became too lignified. Wildfires also played a role in removing the dry lignified grass as well as limiting the expansion of cedar from the canyons. The bison would move on and not continue to graze one spot, giving that area time to grow mature forbs prior to the return of the grass. Note: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center along with many of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Management Areas conduct prescribed "burns" to help accomplish the same thing that wildfires do. These prescribed burns are done when the humidity is high and the winds are low so that the burn can be controlled. I find that the best displays of bluebonnets and other wildflowers are on well managed rangeland that is intensely grazed by not overgrazed. Where there is  overabundance of deer or goats the areas rarely have much of anything growing much less wildflowers. Although wildflowers are not a top item on the menu of a deer, they will eat them when other preferred food sources are not around particularly in the winter.   RichO Hunting Texas Wildflowers    Report

04-01-2006, 12:07 PM xseption Joined on 03-02-2006 Richardson, TX (DFW) Posts 202 Re: Wow! Great work! thanks for the great info ... large individual photos are in my gallery ~ edd two cents and then some ...    Report

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