This week is Fiesta San Antonio time and the wildflowers continue to spring to life with their own Fiesta celebration of color. This Texas season has been one of the best wildflower shows for many years. The bluebonnets are still to be seen, but the masses are dwindling. We are now into the yellows, reds, and pinks. Quite the sight when you turn a corner on a Texas HIll Country road and see carpets of color running through the fields.
Indian Blanket – Also called firewheel, Indian Blanket flowers from April to June. When viewed in mass, its brilliant combinations of red, orange and yellow resemble brightly woven tapestries. It makes a good choice for beach fronts and erosion control.
Black Eyed Susan – Part of the Sunflower Family, Black-eyed Susan is often known as Brown-eyed Susan. A prairie species found throughout Texas. Stiffly upright to sprawling, grows 1 – 3 feet. Stems are usually solitary nearer the base and branch near the middle creating a clump or mound. Flower head is 2 – 3 inches across, appearing by itself at the end of a slender stem. 8 – 20 yellow petals surround the eye catching brown cone, which is quite prominent. Blooms from May – November, so we will have these around for a while.
Showy Evening Primrose – I know you’ll ask, so yes, it’s also known as Oenothera speciosa. This is a favorite wildflower from the Texas group. showy evening primrose must form a thick fleshy root before bloom, and it takes some time from seed. It’s native to hot dry areas, and the seed loves those conditions. A delicate, pastel colored flower that suddenly appears all over the place.
