A Summertime Palette of Color

Sunflowers are growing wild  in fields around Central Texas, but soon they will be gone.   I’ve been passing this glorious display of Mother Nature’s handiwork for several weeks, in a field along Texas Highway 29, not far from Georgetown’s East View High School.   Just yesterday, I determined it was time to find out who oversees this slice of Texas sweetness, knocking on nearby doors.   A second visit late Thursday led me to the home of Francisco Ochoa, who watches over  the 50 acres, adorned not only with sunflowers, but Ochoa’s 20 head of Brangus cattle.  Mr. Ochoa and his daughter, Kaleigh, 11, led me across the street for a closer look, where I visited with the curious cows while  Kaleigh picked a few flowers.  Mr. Ochoa says in past years the field has been home to various crops, but this year, the decision was made to let nature work its magic.  Kaleigh enjoyed her romp, passing along a small gift of color to dad, then offered some to the curious photographer, who at first politely declined.  Not to be deterred, Kaleigh managed to leave a few in my car.   “You don’t  turn down flowers from a child!” my wife explained.  Now I know.  This morning, my little treasures sat in a small vase on the kitchen table.   They’re beginning to shrivel now, but I’m happy to have had them, for at least a while.