![]() ![]() I’m also curious if the excess of Indian Paintbrushes and lack of bluebonnets has something to do with the long winter. It will be interesting to see if the Indian Paintbrushes are more numerous than the bluebonnets in our favorite spots as well. I’ll have to make sure to dress the girls in something that will look good with blue or red flowers. This year, I haven’t yet tried our other two lucky spots from last year: 290 on the way to Brenham and a few hot spots in Fulshear, just off of 1093. Our plan is to load the girls up on Saturday and try out these two locations. It’d be wonderful to find some bluebonnets close to home. I have a feeling that if it comes down to a two hour trip out to Austin for pictures or skipping the shots, we’ll end up skipping the shots. My girls’ patience only lasts so long. Last year we had much better luck. Twice we stumbled upon amazing bluebonnets – as far as the eye could see. We snapped some of my favorite photos of my girls (now two of them!) and enjoyed a picnic dinner in the spring sun. Two years ago, we loaded my then 19 month old daughter into the car and drove up and down roads for about an hour before giving up and heading back for home. That year, we captured no bluebonnet shots. Just an adorable little girl in the grass. I love taking annual pictures in the bluebonnets with my children. But a 2 hour trip seems a bit excessive just to snap a few shots. I was surprised to see many, many Indian Paintbrushes but very few patches of bluebonnets. They were out along the side of the road, but not in any real numbers. It wasn’t until 2 hours outside of Katy on I10 that I started noticing fields of bluebonnets and cars pulled over to take pictures. We took a road trip to Austin last weekend. It was a quick trip with very little time to stop and smell the roses (or to stop and take photos with the bluebonnets). But while we were driving, I made it my personal mission to scout bluebonnet spots along I10. Uses: Wildflower meadows, shortgrass meadows, attracting wildlife such as Hummingbirds, butterflies and nectar-insects.Searching for good bluebonnet photo locations in and around Katy Avery, 2 1/2 years, and Katie Beth, 6 months, at their blue bonnet photo shoot last year. It is essential that this species be allowed to reseed for an abundant display for the following year. Maintenance: After flowering ceases, allow seeds to completely mature before mowing for reseeding or collecting to plant in a new area. Seed capsules may be carefully collected by hand April – May when the capsules are dry and brown. Seed Collection: Seeds are formed in capsules at the base of each flower. Recommended seeding rate in 1/4 pound per acre. Seeds are exceptionally small (4 million seeds per pound), commercially available, depending on the previous year’s seed crop and can be expensive. Plant the seed in the fall and rake it into loose topsoil to ensure good seed/soil contact. Indian paintbrush seed may require a cold wet period in the winter to germinate. Sandy Loam, Sandy, Medium Loam, Clay Loam, Clay. Native habitats include prairies, plains, meadows, pastures, savannahs, woodlands, edges, opening and roadsides. Its vivid “flower” color is actually provided by bracts – not flower petals - which are grouped around and under each of the inconspicuous flowers located on the upper third of the plant. Castilleja indivisa, commonly known as Texas paintbrush or entireleaf Indian paintbrush, is a hemiparasitic annual wildflower native to Texas and. ![]() Notes: Castilleja is an unusual member of the Scrophulariaceae, the snapdragon family. ![]() In some years, when bluebonnets (which flower at approximately the same time as Indian paintbrush) are especially colorful, paintbrush will have only an average flowering year. It has a reputation for being unpredictable. Roots of this plant will grow until they touch the roots of other plants, frequently grasses, penetrating these host roots to obtain a portion of their nutrients. Together, the flowers and bracts form 3-8 in. They sometimes produce a light yellow or pure white variation mixed in with the reds. Flowers are actually inconspicuous and greenish, but are subtended by showy, red- tipped bracts. high with several unbranched stems that form clumps with bright-red or orange, paintbrush-like spikes in spring. This plant is also called painted cup for the showy cup-like bracts. This species was formerly placed in the Figwort family (Scrophullariaceae), which was a hodgepodge of genera that didn’t fit well in other families. Habit: Showy annual or biennial grows 6-16 in. Indian paintbrush is an attractive member of the parasitic Broomrape family (Orobancaceae). Common names: Indian paintbrush, Texas Indian paintbrush, Entireleaf Indian Paintbrush, Texas Paintbrush, Scarlet Paintbrush ![]()
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