Daisy Girl Scout Troop 42420 from Eanes Elementary showed up for the first Saturday of the month hike of Madrone Canyon Trail, despite the cold and wind. In fact, there were so many girls and chaperones that Jean and I split into two groups. Once we got down into the canyon, below the steps and out of the wind, we could concentrate on looking for new blooming plants.
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| As you may know, the Texas Bluebonnet (Lupinus texensis) is the state flower. Each inflorescence is made up of many blue flowers with white patches. Sometimes you'll see the patches are reddish. Studies have shown that the white patch turns red due to the age of the flower, thus the viability of the pollen in it. The bees will avoid the flowers with the reddish patch and go to the ones that are white containing the viable pollen, conserving energy and achieving pollination--a win-win! |
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| Descending the stairs into the canyon to get out of the cold wind, we saw Prairie verbena (Glandularia bipinnatifida). |
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| At the start of the trail, we're greeted by Blackfoot daisy (Melampodium leucanthum). |
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| Let's face it, there are lots of small yellow flowers. But if you look closely at the back of the petals of Four-nerve daisy (Tetraneuris scaposa), you see four veins. |
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| Did you know, the orange color of the Indian paintbrush (Castilleja indivisa) are not the flowers, but bracts like a poinsettia? |
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| We picked a Wild onion (Allium canadense) to identify it by its onion scent. |
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| Wright's skullcap (Scutellaria wrightii) was amply represented in the canyon. |
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| Daisy Troop 42420 from Eanes Elementary and chaperones |
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| Handsome Sphix moth rests on the library window. |
The next Madrone Canyon Trail hike will be May 5th, Cinco de Mayo, wind, rain or shine!
Paula
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