APRIL
SHOWERS BRING MAY FLOWERS...
unless you live in the South
by Timothy C. "T.C." Baker
Staff Photographer
Victoria Advocate
Victoria, TX
As the rest
of the you are still weathering winter, many areas in the
south are showing early signs of spring, possibly a bit earlier
than "normal."
It is always a challenge to work assignments this time of year with everyone
gearing up for spring, expecting vibrant, colorful blooms with blue sky
backgrounds. Sometimes this is not an easy task if Old Man Winter just won't
let go. Even here in the south, spring can come late.
This year however,
that hasn't been the case. Evergreen pear trees were
blooming in February. Saucer magnolias began flowering in late-February and
early-March. Redbud sprays followed suit in mid-March. And now wildflower
season is right around the corner. As a matter of fact, by the time you are
reading this journal entry, I'll be out driving the highways of South Texas
in search of oceans of bluebonnets blanketing pasturelands, dotted with
Indian paintbrushes. It is still
early enough for me to enjoy the season, but sooner than
later, I'll will be dreading the calls from readers and editors
with suggestions of
where our next flower photos should be taken. But it won't be long until the
flowers succumb the South Texas heat and I'll be out looking for pictures of
parched ground and dusty fields. Guess I should enjoy the color while it
lasts.
|
Spring is in the Air - February 17, 2004 - Although spring
hasn't officially
begun, many ornamental trees in the Crossroads area are blooming
like mad
such as this Saucer Magnolia on Wheeler St.
© Advocate Staff
Photographer T.C.
Baker
|
Lanceleaf Coreopsis - Coreopsis
lanceolata Compositae
The Lance-leafed Coreopsis, is also known as Tickseed and
Goldenwave. Its
usual height is 1.5 to 2 feet. They are yellow with a yellow
center and 2-3
inches in diameter. The range is along roadsides, prairies,
and edge of
woods in East and Southeast Texas. It can also be found
in most of central,
midwestern, and southeastern United States and northern
Mexico.
©
Advocate
Staff Photographer T.C. Baker
|
|
Lupinus texensis, the favorite of tourists
and artists, provides the blue spring carpet of Central Texas.
It is widely known as THE Texas bluebonnet. It has pointed
leaflets, the flowering stalk is tipped with white and hits
its peak bloom in late March and early April.
© Advocate Staff Photographer T.C. Baker |
|
Gardening Page - March 10, 2004 - Blooming
kaffir lilly provided by a local
nursery for a gardening page feature.
©
Advocate Staff Photographer
T.C. Baker |
|
Timothy C. "T.C." Baker
Staff Photographer
Victoria Advocate
Victoria, TX
http://www.victoriaadvocate.com
mailto:tcbaker@vicad.com
NPPA National Secretary/Executive Committee Member
http://www.nppa.org
mailto: secretary@nppa.org |
