The Yellow Flowers Are Back

I've been exploring the equestrian trails in Bear Creek Pioneers Park in the past 10 days. Currently there is a massive bloom of yellow wildflowers, and it is almost as good as the bloom that happened last year (see this post).

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The blooms are mainly two types, just like last year: prairie buttercups and golden ragwort (also called golden groundsel or butterweed).

Shake & blur
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The prairie buttercups are small, yellow flowers on plants that reach about a foot tall or less. There are multiple blooms per plant, but the blooms do not occur in clusters.

Prairie Buttercup
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The golden ragwort also have small, yellow flowers, but the plants are generally taller and can reach heights of two feet or more. There are multiple blooms per plant, and the blooms are usually in clusters.

Golden Ragwort
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Snakes are common to the reservoir area, and it's about this time of year when they frequently turn up on the trails. This western cottonmouth hissed and showed me its white mouth as I approached.

Cottonmouth
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I get frequent reminders from family and friends about watching out for snakes. Yes, of course, I'm watchful and careful. Snakes are everywhere and you cannot avoid them. I go slow and make so much noise, that I rarely see them (they're probably scared off long before I get there).

The flowers have just peaked out, I believe. Some of the buttercups have just started going to seed as of my last outing (Mar. 28). I've been out to shoot four times now; my first visit was Mar. 20.

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It's great to be out shooting again. And it's just a great that this place is so close to home.

The wildflower season, in general, is not good this year. However, this little area in Bear Creek Park seems to be doing really well. The blooms are not quite as thick as last year, but they are still pretty good.

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I'll have more to post from this area. I've made four trips out there, and I might go a couple more times while the blooms are still going.

Texas Wildflowers 2010, Part 4

Continuing with the wildflower theme...

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All of these were taken on the equestrian trail in Bear Creek Pioneers Park. The creek pictured in the photos is Bear Creek.

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I think I've identified the flowers now. The smaller, lower yellow flowers found along the trail and in the woods are prairie buttercups. The taller flowers that line the creek banks are golden ragwort (also called golden groundsel or butterweed).

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I visited the this area 5 times to shoot the flowers. When I started, the flowers were peaking and I noticed slight deterioration in my subsequent outings. The area flooded last weekend and now the flowers are in poor shape (the ones that are still left).

Texas Wildflowers 2010, Part 3

For several weeks now, I've been noticing a huge crop of yellow wildflowers growing in the woods in Bear Creek Pioneers Park (in the Addicks Reservoir). I see this area on my commute to work. Last week, I stopped after work and spent some time there with my camera.

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The flowers are thick. A beautiful yellow blanket covers most of the equestrian trail in the park and the surrounding woods. They are particularly thick along Bear Creek (the photo above).

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I stalked around in the woods, wading in knee-high flowers, to explore along the creek. Then I hit the muddy trail and found a near-continuous road of yellow.

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I'm not sure when these peak, but I think it's about now. I'm planning on going back this week.

BTW, I've also attempted to identify these flowers and I believe they are golden groundsel.