![]() ![]() Marcus (3 and 4), and Stephanie Brundage (5) Wildflowers Wall of Fameġ. Photos courtesy of Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center,īy Al Braden (1), Norman G. If you’re catching the wildflower bug, read on for where to experience a spring show. “But if you’re on foot, you might actually stop and say, ‘Oh, little bluets,’ and look how sweet they are.” “You might drive by some roadsides at 60 miles an hour and your attention might be caught by mealy blue sage blooming,” she says. Hunting for wildflowers on foot provides more opportunities for encounters and allows plenty of time to admire the intricacies of each flower. DeLong-Amaya says that while you might momentarily spot wildflowers while zipping down the highway, nothing beats hiking across a nature preserve, or any natural area. You don’t have to go far to encounter these incredible plants. These little adventures helped her discover a love for nature.Įmbarking on similar expeditions can help you and your family connect with Texas’ great outdoors. Using a book about wildflower identification as their guide, she and her father would traipse through their neighborhood, explore while camping, and wander while hiking to find the species from their book. Stop and Smell the WildflowersĭeLong-Amaya nurtured a passion for wildflowers growing up in rural Michigan. The name “wolf flower” possibly came from early settlers’ mistaken idea that the plant “devoured” nutrients from the soil (it actually enhances the soil), or because the plant is poisonous when consumed. The ‘Wolf Flower’: Bluebonnets’ botanical name, Lupinus, comes from the Latin word for wolf. The Bluebonnet House, Fredericksburg: Drive to 413 W.Bluebonnet Trails, Ennis, April 1-30: Get info here.Bluebonnet Festival, Burnet, April 8-10: Register here.Big Bend National Park, February-March: Make a reservation here.Edward’s University, Austin, March-April: Learn more about the campus bluebonnet fields here. Our guide will help you discover the best regional destinations for spotting wildflowers, introduce you to different varietals you’re likely to encounter, and maybe even inspire you to grow wildflowers right in your own yard. This spring, we urge you to head out in search of other beautiful flowers and plants Texas has to offer. ![]() “And we’re also just a big state, frankly.” Texas has vast range, from coastal to desert to subtropical to prairie to woods. “We’re blessed in Texas to have a lot of interesting plants that take advantage of different soils and geologies,” DeLong-Amaya says. Andrea DeLong-Amaya, director of horticulture at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, says the secret lies in the size and scope of the state’s natural landscape. Texas is home to a rich and vibrant diversity of wildflower species, and each region boasts its own peculiarities. Others, like the desert-dwelling ocotillos, are rarer and more subtle in their splendor. Some wildflowers, like sunflowers, are common yet intrinsically beautiful. Pollination is the first step in creating new plants.Photo by Aaron Bates Beyond the Bluebonnets The reason wildflowers bloom at different times of year is to give them the best chance of getting pollinated. Wildflowers begin blooming in the early spring and continue to bloom throughout the summer months into the fall with the peak generally coming mid-summer. On the other hand Columbine is an example of one of the common wildflowers that grows better in shady areas. One of the common Rocky Mountain wildflowers that grows well in full sun is Blue Flax. Certain wildflowers grow better in areas that receive lots of direct sunlight such as open meadows while other wildflowers grow better in shady areas, such as under trees. Things To Keep In Mind About Wildflowersĭifferent kinds of wildflowers grow at different elevations and aspects, similar to how different trees grow better and dominate at different elevations.įor wildflowers, the elevation and aspect are important factors in influencing where they will grow, but perhaps more important is the amount of light they are exposed to. Here are some of the common Rocky Mountain wildflowers you may encounter when you are out exploring. The Rocky Mountains are home to a big variety of wildflowers, from yellow glacier lilies to the purple lupine and pink geraniums. It is so cool when we see flowers we know, kind of like seeing an old friend. I always love to see beautiful wildflowers blooming when I go for a hike with my kids. Of the hundreds of different wildflowers in the Rockies, here are the ones you are most likely to see when you go hiking or camping. Some of the common Rocky Mountain wildflowers include Lupine, Columbine, and Indian Paintbrush. ![]()
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