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Where Have All the
Wildflowers Gone?
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by
Carol Seminara, HCMG |
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Wildflowers, by
definition, are
flowering plants that
grow on their own in a
wild or natural state.
They are uncultivated:
able to grow, go to seed
and established
themselves in a region
all without our
agricultural assistance.
They are beautiful and
random, and it’s the
indeterminate, ephemeral
nature of their display
that gives wildflowers
such a romantic hold on
our imaginations. |
Texans have enormous
affection for our
wildflowers in general
and bluebonnets in
particular, thanks in a
great part to the
efforts of Lady Bird
Johnson, our
environmental former
First Lady.
Also called Texas
lupine, Buffalo clover,
Wolf-flower or El Conejo
(“The Rabbit,” in
Spanish), bluebonnets
are native,
spring-blooming annuals,
members of Fabaceae (Pea
Family). Tradition has
it that the flower was
named to reflect its
brilliant color and the
sunbonnet-shape of its
petals.
Backyard bluebonnets in
bloom. Despite the
long-lasting drought,
pockets of resilient
bluebonnets can be found
around the Hill Country.
These are volunteer
plants growing in the
columnist’s yard. |
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In 1901 the Texas
Legislature adopted
Lupinus subcamosus
as the official state
flower of the Lone Star
State. Later, in 1971
because there are at
least four other species
of bluebonnet growing in
Texas, that legislation
was amended to include
L. texensis and
“any other variety of
bluebonnet not
heretofore recorded.” |
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We’re so crazy about our
bonnets of blue that we
have an Official Texas
State Flower Song –
“Bluebonnets,” by Julia
D. Booth and Lora C.
Crockett (so designated
by a House Concurrent
Resolution in 1933); an
Official Bluebonnet
Festival – Chappell Hill
Bluebonnet Festival;
and, so designated in
1989, an Official Texas
Bluebonnet Tartan
designed by June
MacRoberts under the
guidance of the official
registrar for tartans,
the Scottish Tartan
Society Museum. |
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Much has been made about
the dearth of
bluebonnets decorating
our local landscape this
spring. The flowers are
out there, but not in
the multitudes of recent
seasons. Two years ago
the 11-mile scenic
Willow City Loop drive
(from Fredericksburg go
north on Texas highway
16 heading for Llano
then take a right on FM
1323) was awash in so
much blue it looked as
if the area was dotted
with lakes. |
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My private patch of
volunteer bluebonnets is
presently up and
blooming, although I’ve
noticed the plants are
smaller and less
vigorous than last
year’s. A couple plants
have already gone to
seed. Frequently, early
bolting is an indication
of a stressed plant
that’s merely trying to
survive to grow another
day. |
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According to a 2/17/09
press release from Damon
Waitt, senior botanist
from the Lady Bird
Johnson Wildflower
Center, the cause of
this paucity of posies
is the “exceptional
drought in Central
Texas.” To have a
spectacular spring
showing of bluebonnets,
and their buddies the
Indian paintbrush (Castilleja
indivisa Engelm.),
you need a lot of
rainfall the previous
fall. Our current
drought, which is
officially classified as
“extreme” by the U.S.
National Drought Monitor
for Texas, is one of the
driest 17-month periods
on record (beginning
9/01/07, through
1/18/09). |
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“When rain is sparse in
the fall,” Waitt said,
“fewer wildflowers
develop, producing fewer
seeds to set the stage
for the next season’s
displays.” Therefore,
less rain equals few
flowers today and fewer
flowers tomorrow. |
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All is not lost.
According to Waitt,
those of us living in
the Hill Country should
be able to find some
roadside color this
year. Pink evening
primrose a.k.a. Showy
primrose (Oenothera
speciosa) will
benefit from the reduced
competition, while
members of the sunflower
family such as Englemann
daisy (Engelmannia
pinnatifida) are
adapted to drier
climates and usually
succeed in dry years. |
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Other hardy species that
do well in these dry
times include Indian
blanket (Gaillardia
pulchella), Mexican
hat (Ratibida
columnifera) and
Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia
fulgida). |
If, however, you are
entertaining
out-of-state visitors or
you just need your
annual bluebonnet fix,
there are a couple of
Web sites that detail
the latest wildflower
sightings.
•
Lone Star Internet
features info on what’s
blooming where from
folks out looking for
flowers
•
WildflowerHaven Community
organizes its sighting
posts by region |
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•
Bluebonnet Cam
at the
Wildflower Center
has a video of a
particular bed of
bluebonnets every hour.
When the bluebonnets are
in season it’s a virtual
flower peeping at its
best. |
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Carol Seminara is a
certified Hill Country
Master Gardener. Her
column appears every
other week in the
Kerrville Daily Times.
If you have questions
about gardening, contact
Hill Country Master
Gardeners in the Kerr
AgriLife Extension
Office at 257-6568. Or,
email
kerr@ag.tamu.edu |
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© 2009 Carol Seminara
Photographs by Joe Houde
Studio, Fredericksburg,
Texas except where
otherwise noted |
