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During my recent vacation, I was able to substantiate my hopes and previous forecast that Palo Duro Canyon would be teeming with wildflowers. On 6/4, I visited the park, and was greeted with masses of gaillardias on the canyon floor. Tahoka daisies, prickly pear and various other species were blooming as well, but gaillardias were the most numerous by far.
I made the hike up to the "Lighthouse" formation, and enjoyed a near-constant wildflower display in the fields adjacent to the trail. However, the abundant rainfall which made the wildflower displays possible also provided ample breeding ground for airborne pests - the mosquitoes and biting flies were swarming out there, and made stopping for photography rather unpleasant. I also found some nice, but isolated wildflower displays on the High Plains in Dallam and Hartley Counties.
The highlight of the trip occurred while doing some storm chasing in the Permain Basin - I'd lived out there for nearly 15 years previously, and have never seen such masses of wildflowers - the bloom density in many locations rivals that of any Hill Country scenes I've run across to date. Along the roadsides between Midland and Lamesa, there are plentiful basketflowers, sleepy daisies, Tahoka daisies, sunflowers, Mexican Hat, chicory, plains blackfoot ... the list goes on and on. In an area where one rarely sees anything apart from mesquite and pumpjacks, these sights are truly extraordinary.
As I was driving back across the state the other day, I saw more wonderful sights in the Hill Country - solid masses of flowers, but in different color combinations than there were 4-6 weeks ago. It's hard to believe the magnitude of this extensive wildflower bloom all across Texas in '07 - week after week and month after month, the show continues - and it's almost time for the bluebells to show. Wow ...
My latest set of images can be seen here: http://imageevent.com/mpurcell/txwf2007
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