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Last Friday (3/16/2007), I took a short trip out to Government Canyon SNA. I was hoping to check on the Mountain Laurel along Laurel Canyon trail and a few patches of bluebonnets hidden along Wildcat Canyon trail. However, the trails were closed that day due to the 6-8" rainfall from the previous two days.
I was able to check on the picnic area that is next to the main office and park store. This area underwent a prescribed burn before Government Canyon opened last year. Although it is a small area, it holds promise for being a nice wildflower meadow. The only problem I see is that there are no designated paths or trails in an around the picnic area. This means that over time, people will likely trampled the seedlings and mature plants.
In a back portion of the picnic area there is a smaller area that is fairly covered with a mixture of bluebonnts and phlox. This is photo of one section of that area:
As you come into the SNA, there is a large field to the left. This field extends in the subdivision that runs along the southwest side of the SNA. Many years ago, prior to the building of the subdivision and prior to Government Canyon SNA, that field was solid with bluebonnets and it ran for over 200 yds along Galm Road. The portion of the field on Government Canyon SNA property has been designated as a part of their prairie restoration. On Friday, I was able to spot a mixture of bluebonnets in bloom and seedlings not yet ready to bloom in the field. Hopefully, the "prairie restoration" will continue.
If you are interested in getting a closer look at a few wildflowers and getting some hiking in at the same time, then Government Canyon SNA is a good place to do both. Note the SNA is only open Friday through Monday (closed Tuesday - Thursday) and you have to vacate the trails by 6:00 pm.
RichO
Hunting Texas Wildflowers
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