Botanizers are a bit like birders. They’ll go to great lengths to see a particular plant. This year, West Texas is a paradise for botanizers. Since we are having such a fine year out here, I’m adding wildflower photos as soon as the plants come into bloom so that folks can know what’s blooming right now. Here’s last week’s crop.
One of the prettiest Prickly Pears out here.
The Spiny-fruited Prickly Pear is named for its prickly fruits.
Rough Mortonia
Rough Mortonia looks almost crustacian when not blooming, but is covered with tiny cream-colored blossoms now.
Leatherstem
I’ve shown this one before. It has good medicine for sore gums.
Rainbow Cactus
This common Echinocereus blooms in different colors. The blossoms are usually yellow, but this year there’s a lot of salmon-colored flowers.
Wolfberry
This spiny shrub puts out bouquets of tiny flowers in many colors. They are particularly nice this year.
Range Ratany
This plant is showy in a different way. Dark wine-colored flowers contrast distinctly with the yellow soils of the Pen Clays.
Bluestar
There’s no blue in the blossoms of Amsonia longiflora, but the flower buds are tipped with a pale blue just before opening.
aneyefortexas 
You’ve confirmed what I heard: there were excellent wildflower displays in the Trans-Pecos this spring. I wish I’d made it out there.
Good tour, and I saw a rainbow cactus w/ orange and yellow flower petals like your’s…never have before, just pale yellow. A response to more rain and timed differently?
See you here in El Paso at Flora Fest!
Sorry we missed your visit. I do not get texts sometimes and just saw yours on a new device I bought. We were on the Funky Chicken Coop Tour when you were here. See: https://www.flickr.com/photos/austincooptour/sets/72157651391072540/ (we’re the first 5 photos (you’ll see Brant in one pic). We want to visit the TP soon! John W. Vinson, Attorneyjvinsonlaw.com johnvinsonatty@yahoo.com From: aneyefortexas To: johnvins0n@yahoo.com Sent: Friday, April 10, 2015 3:25 PM Subject: [New post] More New Arrivals #yiv4131067197 a:hover {color:red;}#yiv4131067197 a {text-decoration:none;color:#0088cc;}#yiv4131067197 a.yiv4131067197primaryactionlink:link, #yiv4131067197 a.yiv4131067197primaryactionlink:visited {background-color:#2585B2;color:#fff;}#yiv4131067197 a.yiv4131067197primaryactionlink:hover, #yiv4131067197 a.yiv4131067197primaryactionlink:active {background-color:#11729E;color:#fff;}#yiv4131067197 WordPress.com | aneyefortexas posted: “Botanizers are a bit like birders. They’ll go to great lengths to see a particular plant. This year, West Texas is a paradise for botanizers. Since we are having such a fine year out here, I’m adding wildflower photos as soon as the plants come into bloom” | |
I am very grateful for this post. Yesterday while we were leading a tour at Hueco Tanks State Park & Historic Site I photographed a white flower that looked a lot like the wooly bluestar. And then today I got your post, and was able to identify my flower. Thank you. I love it when blog posts are useful as well as beautiful to look at.
Thanks! Keep them coming!