Most of you have probably noticed the rather late and colorful autumn tree foliage in north central Texas. Ideal weather conditions are, apparently, responsible for this phenomenon.

10/26/2008

My Indian Summer Sunday Morning God, I Hate Gas Drilling Hike turned out to be more than expected. While evil-doers ripped into ancient prairie soil within earshot, I contemplated the contrast between short sighted human greed vs. Mother Nature's long term, yet fragile, superiority. Blah blah blah. It's too early in the morning for such thoughts. I needed a distraction.

The high season for Tandy Hills wildflowers has long passed. The plein air artists have yielded to the burning sun of July and retreated into their air-conditioned studios. Who could blame them?

Of all the amazing wildflower species at Tandy Hills Natural Area, themost unexpected may well be, Texas Bluebells, Eustoma grandiflorum, (or Eustoma exaltatum ssp. russellianum, according to BRIT and Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.)

Unexpected, not only for their large, colorful blooms, but because they grow in very shallow soils and dry conditions. It is not unusual to find these cheerful flowers blooming madly in full sun in middle of a drought.

1) Beethoven's Ninth

2) Fest T-shirts

3) New book of THNA Wildflowers

4) Behold...Barbara's Buttons!

5) Dr. Kuban's Ecology class video, Part 2

6) Edible Estate: The Case Against Lawns

7) Prairie Fest pics

Greetings from Tandy Hills Natural Area-

One by one, the flowering plants of Tandy Hills Natural Area, are taking their turn in the Spring spotlight. Trout Lily flowers have yielded to Creek Plum, a large colony of which can be found along the main trail. Monarchs and other butterflies were swirling around the plants in ecstasy when I took these photos. Puccoon, Purple Paintbrush and a host of other rare species are shyly waiting in the wings, waiting for the earth to warm a bit more. As you can see from the bottom two photos, when it does warm up, the results are striking.

A Prairie in Pieces, is the cover story of the February 2008 issue of Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine. Henry Chappell writes about the beauty and diversity of the Black;land Prairie. Describing it accurately as, the most endangered habitat in Texas, Chappell tells and how it got to be that way and the importance of protecting what remains. (Side-note: The author fails to mention how natural gas development is the single greatest threat to our remaining prairie.) Pick up a hard copy or read it online, here: http://www.tpwmagazine.com/

The dead of winter is upon us. Braving the cold wind on a recent hike at Tandy Hills Natural Area, I observed that last seasons tall grasses have begun their slow motion freefall to Mother Earth. The colorless, skeletal remains of Eryngo lanterns belie the deep purple of their recent youth. Lanky limbs of False Gaura bend easily in the chilly breeze. Bleached, leathery fans of Compassplant and dried husks of Prairie Primrose litter the cold ground. It’s winter, all right. Not a mosquito in sight.