Ipomopsis rubra, commonly known as standing cypress, is currently blooming at the NTP. Don’t miss your chance to see this striking native plant. Join a guided tour led by a Master Naturalist this Saturday at 10 AM. We will meet by the fountain in front of the Bush Center. These free tours are available every Saturday until May 30.
Standing cypress is also referred to as scarlet gilia, Texas plume, flame flower, or Indian spur. It belongs to the phlox family and is native to Texas and the southeastern United States.
Standing cypress has a strong, straight stem that typically grows between 2 and 4 feet tall, but it can reach heights of up to 6 feet. This plant is biennial; in the first year, it develops a rosette of fern-like leaves, and in the second year, it produces a tall flowering spike. To encourage new spikes to grow after blooming, be sure to trim off the spent spike. #ipomopsisrubra #standingcypress #npsot #texasmasternaturalist #masternaturalist #dallascountymastergardener #texasparksandwildlife #texasaudubon #northtexasmasternaturalists #texasnativeflowers
Two of our favorite paths at the Native Texas Park (NTP) are shaded: one runs along the seep, and the other is located behind the wet prairie. The roughleaf dogwood (Cornus drummondii) shrub blooms beautifully along these shaded paths, making them particularly enjoyable. The dense brush also attracts many birds.
Numerous lovely shrubs and trees enhance the NTP, and wildflowers continue to bloom. Be sure to visit the Laura W. Bush Native Texas Park in the spring. Guided tours led by Master Naturalists are held every Saturday at 10 AM through May 30. Remember that it is still peak migration season for birds traveling at night, so please turn off unnecessary outside lights.
#npsot #texasmasternaturalist #northtexasmasternaturalists #dallascountymastergardener #nativetexasplants #texasparksandwildlife #texasaudubon #lightsouttexas
Every week, a new native wildflower takes center stage in the park. This week, we’re excited to see Plectocephalus americanus, better known as American basket-flower, beginning to bloom, with flower buds popping up all around.
Basket-flowers, often called American star-thistle, might remind you of thistles, yet they’re devoid of those prickly characteristics. The name “basket flower” derives from their stiff, straw-colored bracts, which sit just beneath the flower head and have long, pointed tips. The charming baskets nestled below the petals add to their appeal. Thanks to their sturdy stems, basket-flowers make excellent cut flowers and hold their beauty well even after a rain shower. These annual plants reseed effortlessly, which explains the impressive number flourishing in the park.
We hope to see you during our tour on Saturday. A master naturalist will be available to greet anyone interested at 10 AM by the fountain. #americanbasketflower #plectocephalusamericanus #npsot #texasmasternaturalist #dallascountymastergardener #nativetexasplants #texasparksandwildlife #texasaudubon #masternaturalist #northtexasmasternaturalists
Last year, we planted Aquilegia chrysantha, commonly known as golden columbine, near the west entrance of the Bush Center. A fun fact about this flower: the name “columbine” comes from the Latin word “columbinus,” which means “dove,” because the flowers resemble a cluster of doves. This beautiful perennial is native to the southwestern U.S. and thrives in shady areas. #aquilegiachrysantha
Currently, the blooms are at their peak, and it’s also peak bird migration season here in Texas. Just last night, approximately 562,600 birds flew over Dallas County between 8 PM and 6 AM. You can track their journey by visiting birdcast.org for nightly migration reports. Don’t forget to turn off any unnecessary outdoor lights to assist them on their way. #texasaudubon #birdcast
If you’re looking for a nature walk this weekend, join the Master Naturalists for a free guided tour on Saturday at 10 AM, starting by the fountain. The tour lasts about 45 minutes. Additionally, the Master Gardener Help Desk will be available this Saturday for any gardening questions you may have. We hope to see you there. #npsot #texasmasternaturalist #dallascountymastergardener #northtexasmasternaturalists
Callirhoe involucrata, commonly known as winecup or purple poppy mallow, and Callirhoe leiocarpa, aka annual winecup or tall poppy mallow, are currently in full bloom at the Native Texas Park. The drought-tolerant perennial and annual plants thrive in both full sun and partial shade. In spring, winecups produce a stunning display of flowers that range from solid pink to magenta. To achieve good germination, seed scarification is necessary. Additionally, this plant serves as an excellent nectar source for native bees and is a larval host for the gray hairstreak butterfly.
Master Naturalist-guided tours will continue this Saturday. Join us at the fountain at 10 AM at the Bush Center to learn about the Laura W. Bush Native Texas Park and to see lovely winecups in full bloom.#npsot #masternaturalist #texasmasternaturalist #dallascountymastergardener #nativetexasplants #texasparksandwildlife #texasaudubon #texasnativeflowers #purplepoppymallow
Spectacular (Salvia farinacea),
Mealy Blue Sage, or Mealycup Sage, has a pleasant fragrance and is resistant to deer. It blooms for an extended period and is drought-tolerant. This plant attracts butterflies and hummingbirds and is recognized by ecologists for its importance to native bees.
Two notable cultivars are “Henry Duelberg” and “Augusta Duelberg,” which thrive in the Native Texas Park (NTP) and are designated as Texas Superstars®. Horticulturist Greg Grant discovered this salvia growing successfully in a non-irrigated rural cemetery in central Texas during midsummer, around the graves of the Duelbergs. The “Henry Duelberg” variety features deep blue flowers, while “Augusta” showcases white flowers.
As the NTP approaches its peak bloom period, we invite you to join us for a master naturalist-guided tour this Saturday. We will meet at the fountain in front of the Bush Center at 10 AM. Guided tours are available every Saturday through May 30. The Laura W. Bush Texas Native Park is free to enter and open daily, so feel free to explore any day to enjoy the beauty of the native Texas landscape. #npsot #masternaturalist #texasmasternaturalist #dallascountymastergardener #nativetexasplants #texasparksandwildlife #northtexasmasternaturalists #texasaudubon
The Prairie Penstemon, commonly known as Foxglove Beardtongue (Penstemon cobaea), is a stunning native wildflower found in Texas. Its common name, "Beardtongue," comes from its sterile stamens, which have tufts of small hairs.
The tubular flowers of the Prairie Penstemon attract a variety of long-tongued bees, including honeybees, bumblebees, miner bees, and mason bees, as well as moths and hummingbirds.
We observed a single blooming plant along the path across from the stone seep beneath the trees. Be sure to check for new blooms each week at the Native Texas Park (NTP). Guided tours are held on Saturdays at 10 AM, and everyone is welcome to join us. We meet by the fountain in front of the Bush Center.
#prairiepenstemon #beardtongue #texasmasternaturalist #northtexasmasternaturalists #npsot #texaswildflowers #texasnativeplants
Tours at Native Texas Park will resume next Saturday, April 11, at 10 AM. Join Master Naturalists for guided tours every Saturday through May 30, weather permitting. Don’t miss out on the chance to explore the beauty of Texas native plants and spring wildflowers. #ntmn #npsot #dallascountymastergardener
Blue curls, also known as caterpillars (Phacelia congesta), are annual or biennial plants that grow between 1 to 3 feet tall. They feature purple to lavender-blue, bell-shaped flowers with lobed edges. The name “blue curls” comes from the way the flowers unfurl from a coiled position, resembling curled caterpillars. These plants typically bloom from March to May and thrive in either partial shade or full sun. They often form large colonies and can commonly be found along roadsides in Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.
Join the Master Naturalists for a guided tour on Saturday, from 10 to 11 AM. We will meet at the fountain in front of the Bush Center. Additionally, Master Gardener Help Desk volunteers will be in the park this week to answer any gardening questions you may have.
#TexasMasterNaturalist #NorthTexasMasterNaturalists #TexasMasterGardener #DallasCountyMasterGardener #Phacelia
This week at the NTP, we are excited to showcase new blooms, including the beautiful Eve's necklace (Styphnolobium affine), the cheerful Engelmann's daisy (Engelmannia peristenia), the delicate yellow wood sorrel (Oxalis dillenii), and the popular firewheel (Gaillardia pulchella).
Guided tours led by master naturalists will take place this Saturday from 10 AM to 11 AM. Tours occur every Saturday through May 30. We meet in front of the Bush Center by the fountain. The park is beginning to look like spring, and there is so much to discover about Texas native plants. It's a wonderful place to enjoy a nature walk any day of the week.
This reel provides a sneak peek of the upcoming tour at Native Texas Park. It’s an exciting time as many plants are beginning to bloom, and we can’t wait to share some of Texas’s ecoregions with you, including the Blackland Prairie, Savannah Oaks, and Cross Timbers Forest.
Texas Master Naturalists will lead free guided tours every Saturday from 10 to 11 AM, running from March 14 to May 31. We kick off the tour at the fountain in front of the Bush Center.
Even if you can’t attend a tour, feel free to visit the park any day to appreciate the beauty of Texas native plants. The park changes weekly, and some spring blooms fade quickly, so each visit offers something new to discover. We hope to see you there!
Spring is just around the corner, and guided tours of the Native Texas Park (NTP) will begin on March 14. A few native wildflowers are starting to bloom, including clusters of prairie verbena and prairie spiderwort in the shaded areas beside the building. You can also find lovely scrambled eggs and Texas yellowstar flowers appearing near the stairs. Additionally, the Mexican plum tree by the parking lot is buzzing with bees.
If you’ve been wondering about the flag markers in the park, they indicate where seeds were planted last fall. The blue flags mark the locations of bluebonnets, while the red flags indicate where Indian grasses and seeds of little and big bluestem were sown.
Enjoy the Laura W. Bush Native Texas Park on your own or join us for master naturalist-guided tours on Saturdays at 10 AM from March 14 to May 30. We meet by the fountain in front of the Bush Center. #texasmasternaturalist #prairieverbena #prairiespiderwort #texasyellowstar #mexicanplumtreeblossoms
