Each year I determine that I will not post another wildflower photo.   Then I do.     Today’s wanderings eventually took my wife and I to Burnet County, Texas, on the cusp of the Texas Hill Country.   The first part of the day was spent searching in vain for a waterfall near Belton, Texas.   We never found it.    After a while, we decided to wander west.   These photos, in Burnet County, are the result.    Lady Bird Johnson did much to promote their beauty.  For that, I will always be grateful. 

Even if you live far away from Texas, you’ve probably heard of Round Rock, Texas.    During many years away from the Lone Star state, I wasn’t aware there was actually a “round rock.”    But there is.   Today, while on assignment in Round Rock, I stopped by the rock, where I found a fly fisherman enjoying a peaceful Saturday afternoon on Brushy Creek.   Before the town was Round Rock, it was  Brushy Creek.    This scene is along the Chisholm Trail, a cloudy afternoon with occasional bits of rain.    I’m presenting this in both color and black and white.   My preference is black and white this time, but am open to your thoughts.   Carry on, friends.

Advance notice, friends.    This is something that’s grabbed my attention in a big way.   There’s a group, based near Granger, Texas, called the Mustang Heritage Foundation, dedicated to the preservation of wild mustang horses.    Many of these beautiful creatures can be found in ten western states.   And many of them struggle to survive.   This group has been bringing these horses into the world of humans for a few years.  One of their programs, began in 2013, pairs veterans with mustangs.   The veterans, chosen by the foundation, travel to Oklahoma where they choose a horse to train, and “gentle.”    Note that these are horses who’ve lived in the wild their whole lives.  The veterans and their horses return to Granger, where for eight weeks, they bond.   While not mandatory, most veterans, at the end of their sessions, hold onto their new friends.    A number of veterans have been through things we’d not wish on anyone.  Some have difficulties acclimating to civilian life.   This program helps.    This week, I attended a graduation ceremony for some of these veterans.   In the opening image, the three veterans who took part salute during the pledge to the flag, the flag held by one of the veterans’ trainers, astride a mustang called (appropriately) Heritage.   The photo I like shows a U.S. Army veteran in a lighter moment with his horse, who he calls Chuck Wagon.   Chuck Wagon loves toying with that cap.    Note that this veteran deals with Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD).  He’s had 14 surgeries.  He deals with humans as best he can.  But Chuck Wagon is helping him in ways you cannot imagine.   I’ll be doing more on this group.

This was along County Road 124 tonight, not far from Granger, Texas.   One field had an abundance of Texas Bluebonnets and Indian Paintbrush.   The final photo shows a small patch of Evening Primrose wildflowers next to a farmer’s field.   In farm country, wildflowers are often mowed down to make way for crops, but these Evening Primrose, also called buttercups, do a good job of anchoring many fields.

The Masters is on the horizon very soon.    As I’ve mentioned before, the few times I covered it for the Atlanta Journal & Constitution were taxing and stressful, but nevertheless it’s one of the great golf tournaments in the world.   I can’t recall the year I took this photo of two Masters champions,  Tom Watson (front) and Byron Nelson, but it had to be early-mid 1980s because it was shot in black and white.   At some point, everything shot at the Masters was color.    Nelson, a Texan, won the tournament in 1937 and 1942.   Watson received that honor in 1977 and 1981.    A Nelson quote: “One way to break up any kind of tension is good deep breathing.”   I like that.

Tonight’s wanderings took me just ten minutes from home.   My purpose for the visit was not the photos posted here.   Those, hopefully, will come later.   The clouds looked billowy, surrounded by a sweet blue sky.  Completing the scene was a large aircraft.   En route home, I stopped for a few shots of a barn I like.  These days, the old structure seems to be getting overtaken by a quickly-growing tree.  The fields around it are loaded with Spring crop planting.   After a day filled with sinus issues, combined with our annual income tax appointment,  photo therapy was a blessing.

Hopefully, I’m getting this right when calling this a lily.   After identifying an evening primrose wildflower a winecup earlier this week, one must be careful.   Tuesday’s walk took by this flower.   Yesterday afternoon, I stopped by to ask for permission to photograph it.   The lady was more than happy to oblige.  

We’re expecting possible stormy weather tonight in Central Texas.   As  I wandered around the Blackland Prairie tonight, clouds were already making an appearance, partially covering the sun a little bit before sunset.   After a night of storms, Wednesday morning skies were expected to clear.  Hopefully, folks will fare well this evening, but I do like the moodiness of these images.   Be safe.

Here’s a few photos taken tonight in and around Taylor, Texas, including (again) baby ducks, this time at Murphy Park, a gaggle of geese, also at Murphy Park.   And winecup wildflowers, delicate and sweet.  The winecup closeups are at Murphy Park, while the grouping is along a farmer’s field just west of town.   And there’s a windmill, too.  There will always be windmills around here. 

The bluebonnets are in bloom!   Tonight I moseyed over to Palm Valley Lutheran Church in Round Rock.   The field in front was filled with wildflowers, even a few Indian Blankets.  When I finished my photo session, I met a very nice family taking their own photos.   After taking a a few shots with their camera, I took a few  of them, too.   Spring brings pollen, but also a bit of Texas sweetness.