Last week I did something unheard of at work. I took off during the middle of the shift for a nature hike. (Yes someone else was covering in my absence.)
I had seen a news blurb that the Spring Creek Forest Reserve was giving guided walks to see a rare Texas wildflower called the "Trout Lily". It is also known as the "Dog Tooth Violet" and is not so rare in northern parts of the country.
The Spring Creek Nature Reserve is also a rare find in the paved over metro-plex. It is a bottomland hardwood forest that has been virtually untouched by all the building around here.
Called the spouse and asked if we could have a middle of the after noon date....and oh yeah bring all my camera equipment ;-) So we went to the nature walk. Over 50 other people from as far away as Denton showed up to see the trout lilys. The weather was perfect and the woods refreshing.
Took lots of pictures then went back to work to finish shift. What a great day.
Here is what a single lily flower looks like. The Wichita Indians that lived here first used this plant for healing. It is said to have antiseptic properties.
Just for Ylee I'm adding some of these ae WU photos.
Also known as dog tooth violet
Also known as dog tooth violet
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The mottled leaves reminded the earlier flower namers to call it the trout lily because they thought the leaves looked like trout skin. Remember, not many people had good eyeglasses back then.
For you science types this is called "Erythronium albidum" from the Lily family (Liliaceae)
It would be nice if one could bring a 2'x2' color sample home to really see how the light plays with the new wall color. Incandescent versus store florescent...and the new style bulbs all do different things with color...which brings us to natural light if there are windows. You all sound like pros at DIY and decorating so I'm sure it will look really nice which ever color you pick.
I love the single one you posted in your header.
And you get cedar waxwings! So do we, and they look the same! Yeah!
Now, what surprises me is that we have a little flower called the "dog violet".... it is even a different genus. It is a viola rather than erythronium.
I am glad you could get out and about and have a "date" mid afternoon! So romantic.... even if it was with 50 others!!! lol
Very nice!
Took me a while to work up the courage to come in here and take a whiff! Lot better than I would have expected.
Have a nice day!
I am afraid with our drought this winter that there won't be any wildflowers in our deserts. The Joshua trees are full of buds though.
It looks to be another pretty day here, albeit windy.
Must resist the urge to go buy outdoor plants until the end of March.
My indoor "Great Wall of Plants" is persnickity. That is why there have been no photos. They take turns dropping all their leaves, looking to be at deaths doorstep and then spring back all healthy but really lop-sided. Not at all bonsai like. Seems the little rebels want to choose their own shapes. Fine.
Hi Sandi, amazing we actually have some of the same birds besides sparrows and crows. These little guys are so fun to watch. Have had more than usual this winter.
Hi Rob, that was my reaction when I saw the news blurb on the trout lily tour. Then curiosity got the best of me.
Hi Skye, It really was fun to leave work for a bit to walk in the woods with a tour guide telling us all about the area and the flowers...and yes to have someone after all these years and my lack of hair that wants to still come out and play.
Hi Calpoppy, spring wild flowers are one of those things that make you feel there is something divine and spiritual in the world. Texas Hill Country is a place like no other during the spring with bluebonnets, red indian paintbrush, yellow coreopsis and many others. It was not real great the last two years due to drought, but this year if we get more rain it may be magnificent.
The Trout Lilies and your photos of them are breathtaking. LOVE them. Thank you so much for sharing.
This photo is for Calpoppy, it's the Texas Hill Country spring. They have lots of prickly pear cactus so in honor of desertness, here's bluebonnets and cactus.
This is my yard's humble offering.
At the moment there are about 8 people putting down mulch throughout my yard. While they are working I am hiding inside as they are walking all over the little flower stalks peeking through the earth. They are being 'careful' but they do not have any idea that they are stepping on my precious future blooms. I am going to cry after they leave as I inspect my trampled babies.
It was really nice of you to let us tag along. Some great photos which I will go rate as soon as I'm done here. Looks like I can't rate my favorite though: the prickly pear with bluebonnets and wild mustard and something white. The colors just pop in that one with all that verdant spring green. That's worthy of an AC.
Desertness is honored by your picture! :)
With your new camera a trip to the hill country this spring would be a must do.
I put up a thistle sock yesterday. I am trolling for goldfinches!!
It sure is nice to get outside and enjoy nature. My daily walks with Abbey give me a chance to get out of the house. It would be alot nicer if I had spring flowers to look at but all we have at this time of year id snow and black trees. I remember, as a kid, my mother would go out to an area of sand hills just south of here and pick wild mushrooms, Saskatoon's and occasionally hazel nuts.
The sand hills were formed a long time ago and were the mouth of the Assiniboine River where it emptied into glacial Lake Agassi.
Hope you get a chance to get out and about soon.
Another epic event for today is that it is my Dad's Birthday. He will be 80 years old. We are going to have a nice restaurant dinner to celebrate.
Can you believe this guy still works and drives hundreds of miles around North Texas to deliver the quilts he does the top stitching on?
Hope I'm in such good shape when I get to his age.
Hi Shen, that is some neat info. It never occured to me that fly fishers were in addition to being artists, naturalists as well. Thanks.
Hi BC, My Lindt is safe, the co-worker is diabetic. We work real well together because we both believe in team work and doing a good job so it's nice for a change to be on shift with someone else.
You know, I used to know what the white flowers were called. Will have to go back to the Lady Bird Johnson Wild Flower Center near Austin to get re-schooled.
Wait, just went to web site and the plant is a Texas Prickly Poppy.
Great web site to ID wildflowers Link
Hi Calpoppy, Thistle Socks are like finch crack. You should have some in no time. Wonder if they can smell it wafting through the air?
Our Hill Country is just borderline scrub/desert region. It is made up of pink granite, limestone and shallow topsoil. Seems to be the place in Texas where the prickly pear is happiest to grow.
Hi Plapman. I know Roxie wishes I would take her for long daily walks and to the dog park more often so she can run. I'm kind of a weather weenie these days and if it's too windy or too cold her walks get pretty short. Today the wind is averaging around 20mph so it will be a short walk.
Okay it's off to house duties before the work week starts tomorrow. Have a great week!
Hope work goes well for you!
How many branches came down? Not many I hope.
I went out to replace my solar outdoor lights. They do not really give much light, but look so pretty when they are on and you look out into the garden at night. I do have two "power-supplied" lights which run on a transformer. They do a wonderful job on lighting the pond and the back patio, so the rest are for "decoration"! But I do need some sun to get them to work!! lol
Hope you had a great time with your Dad... my dad was still delivering orders when he was 80, then he fell and damaged his shoulder, so couldn't drive for a while, and never got back to it. Having to get up and do something each day, where he interacted with people, was what kept him going ... but once he stopped:(
So we all need to keep on interacting - whether in real life or on the 'net - it makes each day "interesting" !!
Happy Saturday :)
So, once again like a deja vu
Hi Ylee, your welcome. Will try to do a few more WU posts. It's your week now so here's to a good safe shift.
Hi Sandi, the birthday dinner with Dad was great. Really hope I'm in as good of shape as he is at 80. I'm thinking he could still beat me in a foot race.
Hi Plapman, Roxie and I are liking the weather these days (minus rain days, but we need those).
Hi Calpoppy, that is so great your birds are showing up on time with all this strange weather. Atleast they are being consistant. Orioles and finches are so fun to watch. Your porch has to be like front row to one of the best shows on nature TV.
Hi Briarcraft, those are very true words. It is the little things we remember. Am so hoping that your hip surgery will give you a whole new outlook on happy little things.
Karen, Cadbury has got to be another name for Easter. All their candies are so nicely wrapped and colorful. The best thing is that they taste as good as the wrappers! Just looking at that picture makes me smile.
Abbey was the reson I detoured over to see the 2. If I see a kid I usualy take Abbey over and let the kid's pet her. Kids and dogs belong together. I once intoduced Abbey to a kid who was excited at seeing Abbey and the parents thanked me because the poor boy had never petted a dog before.
Enjoy the day.
I thought of you as I tucked into my third chocolate!!! lol
Funnily enough, I think I might go and take some photos, before I eat them all ... again, your influence!
Later .....
Anyway, have fun at the convention!
That is great you took an extended lunch break and went out and took beautiful photos.
How cool is that!
And your photos are beautiful.. I really enjoyed looking at them.
Trying to get "caught up" with my WU friends' blogs today and hopefully tomorrow..
seems like I have not been around in weeks..
Hope you are feeling good and enjoying your beautiful Texas spring!
Enjoyed seeing the wild violets - trout lily.
:)
..............
Happy St Patti's Day to YOU!!!
St Patricks Day Graphics
I have a question for the chocolate expert.
Is there a way to make chocolate bar type chocolate from cocoa powder? I think melting down chocolate chips would be cheating. It seems that you need coca butter which I have no access to.
Have a good day.
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