It's a beautiful time of the year in Texas right now. Ah...wildflower season. The roadsides and fields are bursting with colorful blooms. A couple of days ago, Beatrix and I visited The Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center. The photos above were taken there. It's a poor place to have your camera battery die 7 minutes into exploring, but that's what happen to me that day. Sweet Beatrix...she gets me and my attachment to the camera. She asked me, "What are you going to do, mama?" I just told her that I'd have to rely solely upon my memory today.
The weather here has been so peculiar. It's cold and rainy right now. I'm still wearing wool socks and layers. The heater is on and this is how it has been for the last month or so with warm and (very) windy days tucked in between here and there. I love it, but I'm receiving a wonderful lesson on how much fun sunshine really is when it comes to photography. There have been so few shadows and sun rays to play with these days. Lots and lots of gray.
Back to the subject of wildflowers and Texas...
We've been having fun learning to identify different wildflower specimens and even singing a few Texas songs. Which always makes me chuckle inside...I'm not from Texas, but Beatrix will grow up being so clearly from this state. It's funny where life takes ya.
These are our two favorite Texas songs right now:
Bluebonnets
Bluebonnets, bluebonnets with your coat so blue.
Your bright eyes are shining through the silvery dew.
I know you're a dolly offered for the rain.
I know you'll come back again to Texas in the Spring.
I have to admit, I had a ball teaching this one to the kids today:
Deep in the Heart of Texas
The stars at night - are big and bright
Deep in the heart of texas.
The prairie sky - is wide and high
Deep in the heart of texas.
The sage in bloom - is like perfume
Deep in the heart of texas.
Reminds me of - the one I love
Deep in the heart of texas.
The cowboys cry - ki-yip-pie-yi
Deep in the heart of texas.
The rabbits rush - around the brush
Deep in the heart of texas.
The coyotes wail - along the trail
Deep in the heart of texas.
The doggies bawl - and bawl and bawl
Deep in the heart of texas.
There are also some really wonderful stories and folktales that Beatrix has enjoyed so much pertaining to the prehistory and history of Texas and our treasured wildflowers.
Bluebonnet Babies is a wonderful little story about the lifecycle of the bluebonnet. It's a very gentle read and is very reminiscent of tales such as The Story of the Root Children by Sibylle Olfers.
The Legend of the Bluebonnet is a captivating story about a Native American tribe working through the tragedy of a terrible drought. The land (and tribe) is saved by an orphaned member who has the ability to sacrafice her most prized possession in exchange for rain from which the bluebonnets grow and bloom.
Miss Lady Bird's Wildflowers chronicles Lady Bird Johnson's life and how her passion for wildflowers became her great legacy. A Texas heroine for sure! The story book is beautifully illustrated and sends a great message about the importance of noticing, loving, and ultimately advocating for the preservation of the natural world. When I read this book to Beatrix and the other children, I skipped over a couple of pages pertaining to the death of her mother and her husband, President Lyndon Baines Johnson.
The sun should come out tomorrow. I'm looking forward to checking in with the garden and taking a walk around town to see what is new and blooming. Spring is always such a fun time of the year. I love sharing my love of gardening and wildflowers with Beatrix. It warms my heart to see her interest grow with each new year.
that picture of the sage (I think) flower is soooooo beautiful. LOVE it. looks like a lovely place to spend the day~
Posted by: amanda (sweetpotatoclaire) | April 12, 2013 at 10:02 PM