Water and stone flow along Austin’s Bull Creek
Spring is springing all over Austin this week, with redbuds and Texas mountain laurels in pink and purple bloom. But last weekend things still looked a bit drab and wintry at Bull Creek west of N. Capital of Texas Highway, even though it was comfortably shorts weather.
The water flow was low compared to past cool-season visits, thanks to the winter drought we’ve had. On the plus side, low water shows off these romantically tangled sycamore roots. It rained a couple of days after my visit, and I bet the waterfall is roaring again.
Broad ledges of limestone run along the north side of the creek, making a natural path.
Texas nolina cascades like a green waterfall from its perch amid eroded limestone slabs.
My daughter and her friend scampered up the stony cliff like mountain goats to take in the view.
It’s funny how even the rock resembles a watery flow.
This striated juniper trunk too.
I spotted this little aster in bloom, waiting patiently for rain. I bet it was happy to get a nice soaking a few days later.
And that’s likely the end of any wintry scenes on this blog until next December!
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Join me for my kick-off garden talk this Saturday, February 27, at 10 am, at The Natural Gardener nursery in southwest Austin. My talk is called “Hold the Hose! How to Make Your Garden Water Thrifty and Beautiful,” and it’s free to the public. Afterward I’ll have signed copies of my new book, The Water-Saving Garden, available for purchase ($20 each, includes tax) and will be glad to autograph one for you! Dress for the weather, as the talk will be held in the big tent outside.
Look for me on Instagram as pamdigging. See you there!
All material © 2006-2016 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
Austin has such raw stark beautiful creeks flowing through limestone. I love you shots…capturing the textures of nature!
The hiking/nature walks around here are pretty special. It’s one of the reasons we moved to Austin back in 1994, and we still enjoy the sights. —Pam
How pretty! I hope you got all the rain you needed for the waterfal, and the cute little aster.
We did get a nice rain the other day, Renee, but we could use more. Austin’s moved back into a moderate drought again, after the respite of last year’s generous rains. —Pam
The natural areas around Austin are just as lovely as its gardens. I hope to see both one day.
I hope so too, Les! The Garden Bloggers Fling is coming back to Austin in 2018. Maybe then? —Pam
Gorgeous shots of creek surrounding and “mountain-girl-goats” alike. Personally I’d be fine with a few more weeks of wintry weather but it looks like my preferences are, once again, not related to anything remotely real happening out of doors. I never thought I’d be writing that I miss winter, but after this year’s no-show I find myself not ready in way for the switch over to warm weather again. Fist to sky: Winterrrrr!
Around here, the ominous phrase is not Game of Thrones-style “Winter is coming,” but “Summer is coming.” I’m enjoying the mild weather while it lasts. —Pam
Looks like you had a nice walk about. Love those stone steps.
I love that phrase “walkabout.” Yes, it was a pleasant one, not very long, and it involved some sitting around and just looking at things. —Pam
Such a different look than our Pacific Northwest slice of nature, but equally beautiful.
Ricki, Austin’s rugged Hill Country landscape was so different to my eyes when I first moved here from the Southeast. But, like you, I found it beautiful in a new way. It’s comfortingly familiar to me now, these rocky, scrubby hills and spring-fed creeks.