— by Cindy Chrisler
A warm, sunny day greeted the dozen NPSOT members and guests who met at Tejas Park on April 12, 2025, the western-most park in the Lake Georgetown Corps of Engineers complex.
The hike began at the parking lot and campground where a mowed meadow had a surprising number of flowering forbs. The lack of rain and temperature fluctuations in the past month have delayed flowering, but the group was able to identify Berlandier’s Yellow Flax, Texas Paintbrush, Texas Bluebonnet, Williamson County Winecup, Carolina Woolywhite, and Prairie Verbena just in the meadow.
Following a trail behind the campground, the group observed Indian Breadroot, Liatris, Elbowbush, and Gum Bumelia. A spur off the trail following a firebreak revealed both Lindheimer’s and Texas Paintbrush, including a yellow variant of the Texas Paintbrush, as well as Artemesia, Gumweed, Little Bluestem, and more winecup.
Returning to the main trail, the group descended to the North Fork of the San Gabriel River and found large stands of Bushy Bluestem, several species of sedges, American Water Willow, and Late Boneset. The trail back to the parking lot was a shady avenue of Cedar Elm, Texas Ash, and Hackberry adorned with vines of Saw Greenbriar, Grape, Pitcher’s Leatherflower, and Snapdragon Vine.
Back at the parking lot, we realized we had time to caravan to another entrance to Tejas Park to view a small meadow of Bluebonnets. This “secret” entrance is an unmarked gate with a pedestrian entrance. Although the Bluebonnets had peaked, it was the largest collection of flowers. We had time to visit a riparian site of a seep that feeds into the San Gabriel River and found Sycamores, Inland Sea Oats, and Rough-leaf Dogwood. The cool shade was welcome relief from the rising heat.
The trip concluded at the pedestrian gate, with hope to return to Tejas Park in the coming weeks to enjoy more flowers as they reach their peak later in the season.
Photos by Cindy Chrisler
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