A spring hike at the beautiful Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge’s Doeskin Ranch trail often leads to unexpected photo opportunities. This wildlife refuge is just outside the Austin city limits and offers a nice view of the Hill Country and good hiking trails. The specific trail I took was the Rim Rock loop starting near the parking area.
The loop is nearly 2 miles (3.2 km) long and has approximately 300 feet (91.5 meters) of elevation. It’s not a challenging trail, but the elevation gain can be moderately demanding. In the small pond area at the beginning of the trail, a beautiful field of Prairie verbena, also known as Dakota mock vervain (Glandularia bipinnatifida), bloomed.
These pink or purple flowers are very common in the spring. This perennial is native to North America and can be found from the United States down to Nicaragua. The flowers can grow up to 1 foot (30.5 cm) tall and form beautiful clusters, as seen in this photo. They are very drought-tolerant and like dry to medium, very well-drained soil.
As I headed towards the field to get some photos of these flowers, I was surprised at the number of Eastern tiger swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) and Pipevine swallowtail (Battus philenor) butterflies going from flower to flower.
The trail is very popular, but you can still hike for hours without passing another soul if you visit the refuge on a weekday.
That is the story behind the shots. If you liked this post, you may also be interested in others featuring Austin, Balcones Canyonlands NWR, Doeskin Ranch, Eastern tiger swallowtail, FlowerHour, Macros, Pipevine swallowtail, Prairie verbena, Rim Rock Loop, Texas, Wildflowers, and Wildlife. Until the next time, keep clicking and capturing the beauty your eyes find.
For Terri’s Flower Hour #8.
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Hammad Rais
Hiking amongst these beauties is definitely something. Very lovely captures 🙂
Egidio Leitao
Thank you, Hammad.
Steve Schwartzman
Not only is prairie verbena very common in the spring, but isolated flowers appear throughout the rest of the year, making this wildflower an almost constant presence. I hadn’t realized it grows as far south as Nicaragua.
Egidio Leitao
That is true. Thanks for pointing that out.
margaret21
A lovely plant to have as a ‘common’ one.
Egidio Leitao
It is indeed. Thanks.
Anne Sandler
Beautiful Egidio.
Egidio Leitao
Thanks, Anne.