Texas: Wild and Free…and Floral

They mean it when they say “everything in Texas is big.” The personalities, the views, the hats (of course!) and — oh my god — the cocktail glasses. No lie. They must have started life as small fishbowls.

But this is not to say the small things don’t deserve their accolades, too. I was staying at the Wildcatter Ranch, set in the VAST cattle country west of Ft. Worth, when I began to notice the real beauty of the Lone Star State. Not just the strapping cow boys (they helped), but to the natural beauty that O. Henry and Annie Proulx so perfectly capture. Especially on the small scale. Specifically, the wildflowers I saw peaking through the chaparral.

No offense to all the big things, but check out how Texas does things “little.” FYI, I took all these shots with a Canon T3 (Flower setting).

Indian Blanket, and it’s not hard to see how it got the name. It’s nice to see something red from Texas that doesn’t have to do with retrograde politics.

Pink evening primrose. Up until the point I took the photo, I don’t think I had ever seen a primrose before. So that’s checked off the list.

Blue bonnet. I took this pic right outside the Wildcatter Ranch gates.

Yarrow. I learned this was once used to treat cuts and bruises.

Cold Hardy Pink Texas Sage, aka Salvia greggi. This is one of those rare instances where the scientific name is less of a mouthful than the common one.

Texas thistle. This one was still a little shy; probably the only thing in the state that was.

Gray vervain. And it is TINY. So small, in fact, that the camera couldn’t auto-focus. Had to go manual.

Shrubby boneset. Also known as a mistflower. And sure enough, it was a little misty the morning I took this shot.

Wouldn’t you know that the one potted flower I took a photo of, as opposed to all the wild ones in the chaparral,  was the one flower I could not identify? Still very pretty, tho.

Probably an Indian blanket that had not bloomed yet. Don’t quote me.