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Brenham area April 1-6, 2008 Started by tony_texas at 04-01-2008 7:36 PM. Topic has 29 replies. WildflowerHaven... » Texas Wildflowe... » East Texas » Brenham area April 1-6, 2008 Hunting Texas Wildflowers - New Book!

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04-01-2008, 7:36 PM tony_texas Joined on 01-03-2006 Posts 70 Brenham area April 1-6, 2008 Just arrived in the Brenham area.  Summary so far would be disappointing overall.  Not much better than the leaner years I've visited.  However, as always there are some nice spots and a couple I've identified which might actually make good photos with pleasing compositions.  It was very windy today so my plans for macro work were futile.  Cloudy and calm tomorrow which should be perfect. FM1155 from where it leaves 105 is very sparse.  Found one nice mixed field near its intersection with Krueger Rd.  Flewellyn Rd (an old favorite of mine) had quite a mixture of flowers, several I don't know the name of.  One big bluebonnet field with at least 50% - 60% coverage.  Also some prickly pears mixed in with the flowers. FM390 North from 105 has some nice dense patches, one in particular at the intersection on the west side just before Husemann Rd with longhorns in the BB's.  If the light had been better it would truly have been my best shot of that type.  Not much on FM390 going east to Independence.  Old Baylor looks past peak to me but still lots of flowers of many varieties. FM50 south to 105 is very sparse - the worst I can ever recall seeing.  Couple that with a natural gas rig flame and I wished I'd gone another way back to the motel! Phillipsburg Church Rd is something of a shock to those who saw it last year.  It's hard to believe it could look so barren.  There is a house with a nice white fence and bluebonnets where the road flips over to Wonder Hill Rd but apart from that it was dispiriting. Mt Vernon Rd had a nice mix of flowers and one nice fenceline dominated by paintbrush.  Also one very dense BB field with I guess about 70% coverage.  There are a lot of paintbrush around this year.  The field in front of the old house with the farm machinery in front has about 10% BB coverage at best. "The Field" on FM2679 again is quite a sight with paintbrush all the way to the horizon and BB's in the foreground.  What is it with this spot?!  Hard to take a good photo but as a visual spectacle it's quite something. FM390 just west of Gay Hill has a nice scene with hay bales in bluebonnets and yellow flowers.  It's some way from the road but with a telephoto I have a feeling it may make a good sunrise shot.  Between Gay Hill and Independence there are a small number of very dense BB stands but not that frequent. That's it for now.  Meeting up with Murry at the Southern Flyer tomorrow and plan some macro shots while conditions are favorable.  Will probably head south to Industry and a little beyond on Thursday for some more scouting to see if things are any better down there.   Just a few snaps from today: http://www.pbase.com/tony_texas/2008_04_01_tx_wildflowers Tony    Report

04-02-2008, 4:06 AM FlowerPower Joined on 03-08-2005 The Woodlands, Texas Posts 244 Re: Brenham area April 1-6, 2008 Terrific report even if it's not what I'd like to hear! I'll see you for lunch and we can swap wildflower stories!! Flowers will brighten your day whether mild or wild, Murry!    Report

04-02-2008, 8:11 AM Bill Purcell Joined on 06-29-2005 Posts 74 Re: Brenham area April 1-6, 2008 Good stuff, Tony!  I was out again on Sunday, but have had a ton of things going on, and haven't had a chance to report or post any new images.  Overall, there's not much I can add to Tony's report - and once again, the big picture is rather disappointing.  However, there are a few specific locations I can recommend: New Wehdem Rd. - There's a large house with a veritable "moat" of bluebonnets surrounding it.  It's well back from the road, so a zoom lens is probably required - there's also decent coverage of BBs and paintbrush in the foreground field closer to the road. Old Highway 36 - Just south of Old Nelsonville Rd., there's a field with tons of baby-blue-eyes and other mixed wildflowers.  Near the intersection with FM 2754, there's a nice field of PB with BBs beginning to show. Emshof Rd. - Couple of fields beginning to show a nice mix of BB, PB and primrose - still a week or two away from peak. Navasota/Whitehall - not much to see yet, but there were a few fields right along FM 362 that were showing significant numbers of early BB blooms.  Once again, viewing in another week or two could be some of the better stuff encountered this spring. I was considering a trip out toward Gonzales/Shiner/Cuero this weekend - has anyone heard any reports from the area? Thanks, Bill.      Report

04-02-2008, 3:41 PM FlowerPower Joined on 03-08-2005 The Woodlands, Texas Posts 244 Re: Brenham area April 1-6, 2008 Pat and I had lunch today, Wednesday 4/2/08, with Tony at the Southern Flyer Diner in Brenham and had a good lunch and visit. It is always nice to put a face with name. I think the word for this years wildflowers is "patches" as opposed to vistas. I shot 2GB of photos in the morning around the NE side of Brenham and in the afternoon probably not even 1/2GB in the Industry area. Coming out of Chappell Hill on FM1155 turn into the CH subdivision and drive the circle of paved roads. Most of the unsold lots (acres) in this country subdivision are covered with BB and PB. If you see Dairy Farm Road you've gone to far. Double back to the last entrance. There is a very nice BB field on scenic 390 on the right as you travel north towards William Penn off of TX 105. It is well hidden behind trees and almost looks like a lake. This is a few acres in size but difficult to photograph. The old blue house on the sharp corner has BB and PB in the front yard but those three awfull dogs are lose and will chase you and your car. Down a little further on 390 there is a pretty large and nice field of BB that if you go to the west end you can include a big old white house in the background. Independence is nice with good BB, PB, and yellows(?). The blue house back by the ARE wholesale fields has a front yard full of PB. Old Baylor is very nice but I agree with Tony that the BB are at prime or a little past. Lots of folks out painting the park. Tony when we left the diner I turned right and went down to Old Indpendence Road and turned left and there is a field on the left that is covered with yellow flowers with a curving stream. Across the road are lots of horses and cows. In Brenham near Market and Main (US290) there is a quaint blue house with a front yard full of bluebonnets and a for sale sign. 109, 2502, 159 have a few scattered nice areas of PB but is almost void of BBs. The field at 159 and main has a nice mix and there is a ranch across 159 that has a nice field of phlox. But even with a hurricane this area just isn't going to happen this year IMHO. Anyway I'll give way to tony for a better report from his motel tonight. I need to get cracking on the processing now. BTW it was overcast with little wind and was just perfect for those closeups today :0) Flowers will brighten your day whether mild or wild, Murry!    Report

04-02-2008, 4:51 PM RichO Joined on 02-15-2005 San Antonio, TX Posts 934 Re: Brenham area April 1-6, 2008 Thanks for Tony for the detailed report. I am sad to hear you did not find a better showing. Some spots are actually popping up here in the last week...still nothing like even an average year. Based on your photos, I would say that it is the year of the paintbrush and the color there far exceeds anything I have seen here in San Antonio. Nice work on the photos...I hope you will be able to share more. RichO Hunting Texas Wildflowers    Report

04-02-2008, 4:56 PM RichO Joined on 02-15-2005 San Antonio, TX Posts 934 Re: Brenham area April 1-6, 2008 Murry, Is this the blue house you mentioned? http://www.pbase.com/richo/image/27583964  If it is then that matches my expectations. RichO Hunting Texas Wildflowers    Report

04-02-2008, 7:26 PM FlowerPower Joined on 03-08-2005 The Woodlands, Texas Posts 244 Re: Brenham area April 1-6, 2008 Rich, Yes that is the blue house in Independence near the Antique Rose Emporiums rose fields. No blueblonnets just paint brush this year. It seems that every place that had good bluebonnets last year (with a few exceptions) have paint brush this year. One other thing I didn't mention earlier was that on FM1488 between FM362 and Field Store Community the yellows are amazing! I think it is a mix of coreopsis and daiseys. And on US290 there use to be an old house, windmill and BB field just south of Chappell Hill that was a real traffic stopper. Well the house and windmill are gone but the field has bluebonnets this year :) Flowers will brighten your day whether mild or wild, Murry!    Report

04-02-2008, 7:38 PM tony_texas Joined on 01-03-2006 Posts 70 Re: Brenham area April 1-6, 2008 It was a lot of fun meeting up with Murry and Pat today and that diner really is a well kept secret.  Great food and company and the poodle skirt / juke box thing is fun - must get my kids there one day. I did very little new exploring today, concentrated on "making hay while the sun shines" because of the bright overcast weather and light wind.  Took close-ups most of the day using very long telephoto + extender + extension tubes to get very shallow DOF and nice blown backgrounds in general (Canon 30D + 70-200 + 1.4X + 25mm to 50mm of Kenko extension tube for those that may be interested).  It worked very well. Did some work at the Antique Rose Emporium - not sure if this counts as "real" flower watching and photography! Almost got a great sunset but turned to thick cloud about 20 minutes before.  Maybe tomorrow. Had a look at one or two back roads around Gay Hill and found little.  Also checked out Dillard Rd and Whitman Rd near 105 and found almost nothing. Thanks for the tips Bill and Murry - I will explore to the south a little more tomorrow as it's supposed to be blowing a gale again. Gallery updated with a few from today. http://www.pbase.com/tony_texas/2008_04_01_tx_wildflowers Tony    Report

04-03-2008, 7:14 AM FlowerPower Joined on 03-08-2005 The Woodlands, Texas Posts 244 Re: Brenham area April 1-6, 2008 I really like your closeups Tony! Nice work!! Flowers will brighten your day whether mild or wild, Murry!    Report

04-03-2008, 12:00 PM tony_texas Joined on 01-03-2006 Posts 70 Re: Brenham area April 1-6, 2008 Thanks Murry! Explored south and SW of Brenham this morning.  Weather is very windy and cloudy – not really good for photos of any kind.  This whole area is not good for bluebonnets but has quite a variety of other flowers in certain spots and one or two sights I’ve never come across before.  Dierking Rd has a couple of large paintbrush fields, about 60% coverage.  Similar field on New Wehdem Rd + a nice area of phlox near intersection with Bleiblerville Rd. Arning Rd has a very large paintbrush field that goes way back, almost like "the field" on FM2679.  About 70% coverage I would guess.    Also a large house on that road with a very dense mixed flower area in front.  The field Bill mentioned on old TX 36 just south of Old Nelsonville intersection is really something.  I can’t recall seeing anything quite like this mix of flowers going back into the field before.  Quite a rainbow of colors.  I plan to go back in better light (and less than gale force winds) to do some close-ups. Old Nelsonville Rd just south of Glaeser Rd intersection has a lovely bluebonnet and primrose fenceline with the road curving off into the distance.  Industry very disappointing.  Checked out Star Hill Rd which has been excellent in the past for BB's and it was almost devoid of flowers apart from in front of one house which I guess gets irrigated.  The yard is about 60% covered in BB + PB.  Just south of town on 109 there is a very large yellow field on the west side. FM2502 is very sparse and the field in front of the Lutheran Church at the 109/2502 cross is bone dry – tall, dry grass.  It was a sea of blue last year.  FM 332 is pretty barren. Finally, if you need a fix of that concentrated bluebonnet aroma?  Go to the area between Walmart and La Quinta on 36 just south of Brenham.  Overpowering smell - very dense area of bluebonnets and most looked to be at their absolute peak with only a few gone to seed.  Surprisingly it doesn't seem to be that well trampled yet.  I may go and lie in it for an hour this afternoon....... So my recommendation for this area is just either side of FM2754 from where it leaves TX 36 to the south.  Gets worse as you go west from there.  Try and see Old TX 36 near Old Nelsonville junction. As always, gallery updated with a few shots for the record. http://www.pbase.com/tony_texas/2008_04_01_tx_wildflowers Tony        Report

04-03-2008, 3:54 PM FlowerPower Joined on 03-08-2005 The Woodlands, Texas Posts 244 Re: Brenham area April 1-6, 2008 Tony, Good report and pix! I saw that field of bluebonnets near Wal-Mart and figured they would be badly trampled so I didn't stop. To bad because I love that smell too!! Good to see you are finding something to shot. The Texas blue eyes mixed with the reds are quite something. I agree that there are some different mixes this year--maybe the ones that prefer it a little drier and warmer?? I sure would like to hear about Ennis. It could be the BB haven for 2008? Flowers will brighten your day whether mild or wild, Murry!    Report

04-03-2008, 4:56 PM RichO Joined on 02-15-2005 San Antonio, TX Posts 934 Re: Brenham area April 1-6, 2008 Tony, Once again, thank you for a very excellent report...detailed and timely. Did you happen to travel down 2502 near Bleiblerville? I remember seeing a field of paintbrush there in past years. I am wondering if it might be doing well. And how about the field west of Industry on 159 at Hofheinz Rd? Very nice work on the photographs...great close-up shots. RichO Hunting Texas Wildflowers    Report

04-03-2008, 6:03 PM FlowerPower Joined on 03-08-2005 The Woodlands, Texas Posts 244 Re: Brenham area April 1-6, 2008 Rich, I did go down 2502 Wednesday and there was a big nice field of paintbrush on the west side. There were a few other nice PB sites also. Here is the link to the photos that I have processed from my shoot Wenesday in the Brenham area: http://grigsbys.smugmug.com/gallery/4439942_4jSjS The new photos start on page three. I'll try to get the rest up this weekend but no promises. Flowers will brighten your day whether mild or wild, Murry!    Report

04-03-2008, 7:41 PM tony_texas Joined on 01-03-2006 Posts 70 Re: Brenham area April 1-6, 2008 I didn't bother with Hofheinz Rd - Industry was just so barren I didn't want to waste any more time there.  I went west on 2502 from the Lutheran Church so didn't see what was going on in Bleiblerville.  I might still take a peek as there was a vast PB field in front of an old house on Cherokee Rose Lane a couple of years ago (land-owner is a Scot, we chatted for a few minutes). Murry - I like those pix very much. I did a small amount more exploring.  Took FM2621 off FM50 and then Palestine Rd.  Nothing really up there apart from a few decent sized PB patches. Spent the rest of the day around the North side of Brenham.  Near the old art gallery just east of the FM390/FM50 junction there is a small but very dense BB patch.  Strong aroma. I think I found my ideal sunset and sunrise spot for a pic with flowers but that also works well as a photographic composition.  We'll see - 3 more sunrises to have a go at before I leave. Updated gallery with a few more. http://www.pbase.com/tony_texas/2008_04_01_tx_wildflowers Tony    Report

04-04-2008, 11:35 AM tony_texas Joined on 01-03-2006 Posts 70 Re: Brenham area April 1-6, 2008 Explored a little more this morning before the rain/wind drove me indoors. There is a lovely front yard on FM2679 just south of the famous field.  Nice mixture of flowers including what looked like foxglove to me.  Pic in the gallery.  Zibilski Rd has some very dense bluebonnet stands in one area – like 3 thick bands across the field.  Very strong aroma due to their density.  Also has a very pretty bank with mixed bluebonnets and primrose on the north side. Quail Run between Zibilski and Mt Vernon has a very large primrose field with some paintbrush mixed in.  By far the largest primrose display I’ve seen on the trip.  Checked out Sempronius and Phillipsburg Church Rds again just to see if things had changed and they had not. On Tegeler Rd near FM2754 there is an extremely large bluebonnet field in the distance – I didn’t try to get there and I don’t think any roads go close by.  On Old TX 36 the paintbrush field mentioned by Bill has not really filled in much with bluebonnets yet but is still quite a nice sight. That’s about it for scouting today – will go and do some close-ups now nature’s spritzer has done her thing.  A few added to the gallery. http://www.pbase.com/tony_texas/2008_04_01_tx_wildflowers Tony    Report

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WildflowerHaven... » Texas Wildflowe... » East Texas » Brenham area April 1-6, 2008

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