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Spring 2008 wildflower scouting trip Started by FlowerPower at 03-02-2008 11:49 AM. Topic has 15 replies. WildflowerHaven... » Texas Wildflowe... » East Texas » Spring 2008 wildflower scouting trip Hunting Texas Wildflowers - New Book!

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03-02-2008, 11:49 AM FlowerPower Joined on 03-08-2005 The Woodlands, Texas Posts 136 Spring 2008 wildflower scouting trip March 1, 2008, a very warm and sunny day revealed some encouraging signs and some disappointment. Leaving The Woodlands via FM1488 (heavy construction to widen this busy highway is under way) we saw a smattering of coreopsis along the roadsides between Magnolia and US290. FM1155 through Chappell Hill to FM2193 to TX105 to TX50 look very promising with lots of rosettes with leaves the size of a quarter to a half dollar. There were even a few (very spotty) in bloom. One sad note for fans of the Antique Rose Garden is that their main building burned up in a fire about a week ago. The good news is that all the roses, flowers, trees and other buildings are unaffected and they are doing business as usual. The hillside in Independence where the historic markers and Texas flag have replaced the old wooden building is nicely covered with bluebonnet rosettes. Back on Scenic 390 to Old Baylor was very promising. The field around the great old live oaks is covered with white crow poison flowers and there are lots of BIG bluebonnet rosette clumps (the largest seen all day). There is also a smattering of Indian paintbrush in bloom. A lady that lives near by said her backyard is covered with bluebonnets. Scenic 390 to Burton was sparse as far as any bluebonnets that I could see but had some nice patches of baby blue eyes and henbit (some nice fields of the later). Just off of 390 at Longpoint on FM2679 “the field” is very promising with lots and lots of bluebonnet rosettes. The road sides of US290 looked nice and green but I didn’t stop to do a close up inspection. On TX237 in Round Top I found grape hyacinths (I think) where I expected to find bluebonnet rosettes—especially in the field around the historic church and graveyard. One other cool find was two large mountain laurels just covered with blooms right along the highway. As I approached them to take pictures I was enveloped with the sent of grape Kool-Aid. Very COOL!! The steep banks on either side of TX71 were really green and lush with bluebonnets and Indian paintbrush in bloom (maybe one percent already?). It looks very promising! But as we got back on TX159 going toward Fayetteville and Industry things looked much drier and the fields in Industry are not looking good. The big old house that always has such a beautiful wildflower yard has sold and is occupied and is being remodeled. The yard looked very dry! The field that runs down from the church to TX159 and Main has been partially mowed and is very dry. There were some wildflowers in bloom but no bluebonnet rosettes that I could spot. Industry and Bleiblerville had burn ban signs posted so you know it is dry. As we crossed into Washington County on TX109 it was like someone had turned on the green machine and things looked pretty good again. The fields off of TX36 on Phillipsburg Church Road are covered with bluebonnet rosettes. So my early take on this area is that it all could do with some more spring rain. But the areas around Brenham are in the best shape for now. With the price of gas so high I doubt that I will do anymore scouting and just try to make it out a couple times for photos in two or three weeks. I managed to take a few photos and have tried to arrange them to follow this report: http://grigsbys.smugmug.com/gallery/4439942_4jSjS I hope someone can help me ID the yellow flowers in Industry? Also if you notice any flower that I have mis-IDed please let me know. I hope this will help you make your plans for late March and early April? Think Rain!! Flowers will brighten your day whether mild or wild, Murry!    Report

03-02-2008, 6:50 PM gregner Joined on 03-28-2006 Posts 41 Re: Spring 2008 wildflower scouting trip the yellow flowers appear to be groundsel; disappointed to hear about Industry, radar rainfall looked promising    Report

03-02-2008, 8:47 PM RichO Joined on 02-15-2005 San Antonio, TX Posts 637 Re: Spring 2008 wildflower scouting trip Murry, Thanks for the very excellent scouting report. It is good to hear there were signs of bluebonnets in the area. I am a bit surprised to hear of the poor showing in the Industry area...I am still hoping the areas between Schulenburg and Industry will yield some nice scenes if the spring rains come soon. Your report points out that we need sightings along with the rainfall maps. Thanks again for the report! RichO Hunting Texas Wildflowers    Report

03-17-2008, 12:04 PM Bill Purcell Joined on 06-29-2005 Posts 45 Re: Spring 2008 wildflower scouting trip I made my first trip out to the Brenham area yesterday (Sunday, 3/16), and found things to be very similar to what Murry reported a couple weeks back.  Like Murry, I'm probably going to limit my number of trips this season due to gas prices, but I'm hoping to earmark some of my tax return for gas money to allow me a bit more freedom for travel and photography. Overall, coverage is quite sparse and bluebonnets are hard to find - but there are a few areas where paintbrush is beginning to show in numbers, and it's still pretty early in the season, obviously.  The best areas I found so far were along the northern tier of Washington County, basically from Longpoint to Gay Hill and Independence.  The field on FM2679 is showing a nice carpet of orange, but most of the color at this time is well away from the road.  The Waller / Hempstead area is surprisingly bleak.  I saw only small clumps of tickseed, and very little phlox or sandyland bluebonnets.  Flowering wild onions are everywhere, and unfortunately, there's an abundance of the invasive wild mustard showing up in many areas, particularly near Whitehall and Navasota. Back to bluebonnets - I only saw them in a few patches.  On SH6 between Hempstead and Navasota there are some nice spots, but grass in the median is already tall and might obscure viewing very soon.  I did see a few more patches along FM roads and county roads near Whitehall.  I also encountered a couple nice patches on Seward Plantation Rd. near Independence, and also at baylor Park. Otherwise, the larger fields and pastures across SE Texas still say that it's unequivocally winter.  Grasses are tall and brown, and there's little indication of what might be soon to come as far as blooms go.  Wildflowers in any sort of abundance are still a few weeks away, and the ultimate outcome for the season is still in doubt.  I stopped in several favorite locations and scanned the ground with both eyes and binoculars, and failed to locate any significant areas of BB rosettes.  The ones I did see were very small.  Nonetheless, we have more rainfall coming tomorrow, and there's still 3-4 weeks before the climatological peak, so this post shouldn't be read with too much doom and gloom.  I probably won't make another trip out there for at least two weeks, so I'll be interested to see what others observe in the interim. - Bill.      Report

03-17-2008, 4:46 PM tony_texas Joined on 01-03-2006 Posts 30 Re: Spring 2008 wildflower scouting trip Hi all I have my annual wildflower pilgrimmage planned for April 1-6 and intend to go to the Brenham area based on reports so far and also my detailed knowledge of the area.  I will make the usual detailed reports when I get there which I've just realized is only 2 weeks away!  I may see how things develop and possibly push it back a week. I'm hoping the recent rains (with more forecast for tomorrow) are going to have the same effect as last year where things really improved through March. I also plan to spend more time in Ennis this year but doubt I'll get over there until after the Brenham trip for an initial report. Best wishes Tony    Report

03-17-2008, 5:54 PM RichO Joined on 02-15-2005 San Antonio, TX Posts 637 Tony and Bill Bill, Thank you very much for a timely and very valuable report. What you are seeing sadly mirrors what I have been seeing here locally. It is just still so dry. The recent rainfall we had did very little awaken anything except the invasive plants. I have seen some pink evening primrose along with cutleaf groundsel. I even saw what looked like from the car a blanket flower. It was too close to the curb and I could not slow down where I was. The bottomline is there is less than 10% coverage of any wildflowers where I have checked here in San Antonio. Tony, I was thinking of going to Brenham this weekend, but based on Bill's report I do not think it would be a weekend to go. We are getting rain tonight...not sure it will rain in Brenham, but forecast calls for 1-2 in here. Perhaps in two weeks conditions will improve. Like Bill, I have walked around in my usual spots looking for rosette and they are either absent or very small. The few plants that are blooming are also small in comparison. I am thinking about going to Ennis in mid-April...hopefully a few spots will have developed by then. RichO Hunting Texas Wildflowers    Report

03-20-2008, 4:15 AM tropicdiver Joined on 04-09-2006 Austin, Texas Posts 7 Re: Spring 2008 wildflower scouting trip I'll be going out to the Brenham area for several hours on Friday (March 21st) to see what's happening and will let you know what I see. Life is short. Break some rules. Bob Phillips    Report

03-20-2008, 3:47 PM FlowerPower Joined on 03-08-2005 The Woodlands, Texas Posts 136 Re: Spring 2008 wildflower scouting trip We'll all be anxious to hear what you think and see out there :D Flowers will brighten your day whether mild or wild, Murry!    Report

03-20-2008, 7:59 PM tony_texas Joined on 01-03-2006 Posts 30 Re: Spring 2008 wildflower scouting trip Yes, I'll be waiting with baited breath!  I'm planning to go ahead with my April 1-6 visit as I'll find it hard to go a week later and past experience in the Brenham area has made me often wish I went on the earlier end of the season than the end.  I've often regretted the way the grasses overtake the flowers when going later.  I'm quietly hopeful that with the recent rains and sunshine forecast for the next week or so that things will rapidly improve when I arrive in just under 2 weeks. Is this not the most exciting time of the year in Texas?! BTW, I am a Brit who's lived here now for 6 years and am now a certified wildflower nut!  If anyone else is in the area when I am let's meet up at the Brenham Flyer diner at the airport. Tony    Report

03-21-2008, 3:53 PM tropicdiver Joined on 04-09-2006 Austin, Texas Posts 7 Re: Spring 2008 wildflower scouting trip I just got back from putting nearly 300 miles on the road, today, and I'm afraid it is still too early to get excited about wildflowers in the Brenham area. I left Austin this morning and drove down 71 east past LaGrange and turned north on 955 towards Industry. During this drive, I saw small amounts of mostly bluebonnets in the median of 71. The growth did pick up a bit around LaGrange, but still has a long ways to go. Off of Main Street in Industry (east of town), there was about an acre of phlox growing, but not no more than 30% +/- full. Other roads around Industry show some promise, but I'd say at least 10 ~ 14 days off. One intersection in particular was Pilcik Road and Mertz Road (north side of Mertz Rd.). Also went down Bleiberville Road to Warmke Road and to Krueger Road and on to Williams Creek Road. These areas show promise, but I feel I was there about 2 weeks too soon. Not much happening around Chappell Hill, but I did see a couple of large fields of yellow flowers (greenthreads??) north of Chappell Hill on 1155. The Copelyn Springs Road also had lots of rosettes and shows signs of promise, perhaps, a couple more weeks down the road. The biggest concern I have with a couple of weeks down the road is the grass and weeds that are competing with the wildflowers, also. I'm sure it will end up much nicer than it was, today, even if the grass and weeds are thick. Over all, today, was rather disappointing. Independence was probably the one bright spot and it still is nowhere near "Wildflower Heaven" status or how I remember seeing it last year. The spot on the east side of town is growing well, but isn't as dense as last year. The old Baylor Park is rather colorful (am comparing it to everything else I saw, today), but isn't anywhere near as dense as last year, either. Taking 50 from the south to Independence, also looks like it will be nice within the next two weeks, too. Saw lots of rosettes and flowers just starting. Finally, I know a few people made it over to the Long Point area, last year. Remember the Zilinski Road and how wonderful it was? It was like night and day, today. There is hardly anything there. Last year was an artist's canvas full of colors and this year, someone forgot to bring the paint. I took 390 back to Burton and there wasn't much happening out there, but it was very green and the huge live oaks were beautiful with new leaves on them. Cross your fingers and think early April and hope for some more rain and some sunshine and hopefully, things will turn around. Life is short. Break some rules. Bob Phillips    Report

03-21-2008, 6:09 PM RichO Joined on 02-15-2005 San Antonio, TX Posts 637 Re: Spring 2008 wildflower scouting trip Bob, Thank you for a very detailed and timely report. I know it will be very valuable information for those planning a trip to the Brenham area this week or in the next 2-3 weeks. I think we would have seen more improvement if there had only been a bit more rain in March. Thanks again for your efforts to report on your findings.   RichO Hunting Texas Wildflowers    Report

03-21-2008, 10:07 PM tony_texas Joined on 01-03-2006 Posts 30 Re: Spring 2008 wildflower scouting trip According to weather.com the Brenham area got 0.39in on Mar 3, 0.61in on Mar 6, 1.18in on Mar 10 and 0.8in on Mar 18.  This gave me a lot of hope that with some good sunshine in the next couple of weeks and maybe a few more showers things may well improve.  If not, might be a year to improve on my macro work with solo flowers! As soon as I get in the area on April 1st I'll post a report. Regards Tony    Report

03-22-2008, 6:07 PM RichO Joined on 02-15-2005 San Antonio, TX Posts 637 Re: Spring 2008 wildflower scouting trip Tony, I guess what I was looking at was more south of Brenham near Industry.  If you look at the fall rainfall maps for the Brenham area, the areas south of Brenham were the only areas that came close to average rainfall in all of the southern part of Texas. In November the Schulenburg to Industry area got above normal rainfall, but all of Washington county was below average.  My hope was that the same narrow band from Schulenburg to Industry would get near normal or above normal rainfall in February - March....but they did not. The situation flipped...areas close to or north of Brenham got more rain in the past 60 days than the areas south of Brenham. So the areas that would have had a better chance of having seedlings ended up getting below normal rainfall when the plants needed it in the past 30-60 days. Last year we brought the drought of 2006 to an end in March, 2007 with well above normal rainfall. I was hoping we would have experienced at least something like that. The forecast was calling for a continuing La Nina, but I was hoping for a return of at least normal rainfall...that has not happened. I am still optimistic that there will be some spots that will develop in the Brenham area, but they probably will be not as extensive as last year. The next area to hope for is Ennis... Ennis received normal to just above normal rainfall in September (but slightly below normal rainfall Oct-Nov), and in the past 30-60 days their rainfall has been above normal (much of that coming in the past 14 days). I am hoping that Ennis received enough rainfall in the fall to encourage normal germination of bluebonnet seeds and that that crop survived through the winter below normal rainfall. If Ennis has an average crop of rosettes then given the recent rainfall, they should have close to an average showing... I wish we had some seedling reports from the Ennis area. I do appreciate your contributions and reports....eye witness reports still trump all of the speculation! :)   RichO Hunting Texas Wildflowers    Report

03-23-2008, 7:44 PM FlowerPower Joined on 03-08-2005 The Woodlands, Texas Posts 136 Thanks for the report Bob! It looks like we could get some more rain in SE Texas towards the end of this week so maybe that will help? The grasses and weeds do look like they will be a bit problem though. Flowers will brighten your day whether mild or wild, Murry!    Report

03-24-2008, 6:46 AM tony_texas Joined on 01-03-2006 Posts 30 Re: Spring 2008 wildflower scouting trip I guess we are all masters of hope and speculation.  One of these days we should charter a light plane and do some aerial reconnaisance to save 100's of miles on the road! I guess when I looked at your rainfall maps I saw Brenham was on the slightly low side but not very dry like the Hill Country.  All will be revealed in a week or so's time.  I will try and hit a number of favorite areas around Brenham, north and south, on Apr 1 to get a quick assessment of areas for further investigation and make a posting that evening. I have been surprised by the Brenham area in the past after mediocre early reports and I'm hoping for the same again.  My main focus is photography and for some time I've been planning to do a lot of close-up work of the individual flowers on one of these trips and this might be the year if sweeping vistas aren't revealed.  Whatever happens, the peace and solitude of a few days in the back country lanes are reward enough! I am also thinking of hopping over to the LBJ wildflower center in Austin for some close-up work. As for Ennis, I really didn't do that area justice last year and plan to get over there after the Brenham trip - probably the weekend of Apr 12-13. Tony    Report

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