Texas Bluebonnet Trail

Like I mentioned previously, on Monday my wife and I spent the day touring one of the Texas Bluebonnet Trails. Turns out Randy did the same thing. His pictures came out better than mine, so drop by over there for a look.

Anyway, here's a few of the shots I took. (ETA - click on the pix for a larger version - much sharper, more color, and more detail.)

The first two are of a hillside running along an old country road. The split rail fence adds a nice touch.

The next two show the effects of the long-term drought we're still experiencing here in Central Texas. The first one shows a dock sitting high and dry, with wildflowers and other plants taking over the exposed lakebed.

The one below shows how much the lake has shrunk as a result of the drought. This is Lake Buchanan, one of the larger lakes in this part of the country. The shot was taken from what used to be the shoreline. If you look at the very top of the horizon you can see the current water level. It is about 25 feet below normal. The lake is 37% full. Put another way, it is 63% empty. We've gotten enough rain lately to hold things steady, but we need sustained heavy rains to refill the lakes around here.

The area around Lake Buchanan is characterized by numerous granite domes and outcroppings. Here's one, with a carpet of bluebonnets below it.

Another sign of spring in the Hill Country is yuccas in bloom. Here's a nice batch. (Yucca is not just decorative. It also has many uses, including but not limited to food, fiber, and soap.)

And here's a long-distance shot showing blooming yuccas dotting a hillside (the white dots are the yucca plants).

This country has its own character. It can be both beautiful and harsh at the same time (kind of like my second ex-wife). Here's an example. Note the cactus and bones at the base of the flowering yucca.

Another example: a lovely butterfly that committed suicide by flying into my truck's brushguard.

Finally, a close-up of bluebonnets and Indian paintbrush, peacefully co-existing. People could learn a lot from flowers...