Travel Diary

Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park, Texas

Mother's Day 2022. It's been a dry year and a disappointing one for wildflowers. Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park is adjacent to the State Park of the same name and where you need to go to get the permit to drive through the Johnson ranch.

I had hope to be able to find some wildflowers, but there were few to be found. Instead, I concentrated on the live oak set amongst the grasslands of central Texas. It was a beautiful, warm spring morning. I took a look at his grave and then visited the birthplace, before making the tour through the ranch itself. The drive was through an operating cattle ranch, mostly populated by a herd of Herefords, but with a few longhorns scattered about, to remind you that you are indeed in Texas. In the center of the ranch property is the airfield that President Johnson used when visiting the ranch, and closer to the river the main house itself (which was not open).

Goliad State Park and Historic Site, Texas

With fuel prices being as high as they are currently, I haven't been out and about as much as I would like. Instead, I've been focusing on printing and framing. But, I was getting the urge to be out once again, so I got into the truck and went looking for wildflowers; yes, it's that time of year again. Last spring in Arizona, the wildflower season was sparse, so I was keen to see what I could find.

With that in mind, I started driving north to the town of Goliad, stopping first at the Fannin Memorial; the site where Colonel James Fannin and 400 prisoners of war were executed by General Santa Anna were executed on March 27, 1836 - now known as the Goliad massacre. I guess it's fitting that the monument was surrounded by fields of wildflowers (the Texas State Park System, doesn't mow the grounds at this time of year to allow them to thrive). After visiting the monument itself, I next concentrated on the carpet of wildflowers.

The flowers were quite prolific, so I'm only showing a sample of what I found. There were Bluebonnets and many other types here. 

Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Texas

I started the day at the edge of the refuge photographing the sunrise. It was a clear, blue sky type of morning, with just a hint of clouds. After sunrise, I continued onto the main entrance to the refuge, about 15 miles away.

Upon entering the refuge, I was greeted by a small herd of deer, about 8 or 10, who just watched me as I slowly drove past. Parking my truck, I took a short walk along the Rail Trail in order to begin getting an understanding of what this refuge is about. Obviously it was about the wildlife, particularly the whooping cranes which winter in the area. But, there is so much more as I would discover during my short visit. Along the path, I could hear a low, rumbling bellowing sound erupting at intervals; I think this was from the bullfrogs that live in the swamps. The Rail Trail is home to the many of the alligators that live in the park, and I managed to spot one as I walked along the path.

This is all a very new landscape to me, having spent many years in areas known for their grand landscapes. Here, the landscape is subdued, with a sense of closeness and quiet. The trees, rather than being giants reaching for the sky are short, but ancient; just looking around at the live oaks in the areas highlights that with their twisting, scarred trunks.

This is a place that I'm sure I will visit again.

Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historical Site, Texas

Today is a visit to Lyndon B. Johnson State Park, near Johnson City, Texas. While I didn't particularly like him as President, he was a towering figure in Texas politics. The park, which encompasses his family home and was at one time the Western White House, showcases his love for the Hill Country. Additionally, the park features the history of some of the earliest settlers in Texas who settled close to where his family settled.

This visit was one of exploration, looking for possible locations to photograph the spring wildflowers. While it's still early for them, I was looking to find areas where the wildflowers would be accessible (without damaging them) and where there was the "possibility" of a field of the elusive plants. Texas has had a dry winter so there may not be much of a display this spring, but it's better to be prepared.

This image was taken along the footpath to the Danz Cabins. The grass lands and oak trees are what captured my attention. This isn't what I would consider a great composition; I was thinking more about its potential under better lighting conditions and at a different time of year.

Corpus Christi, Texas

Welcome to Texas!

I'm now in the great state of Texas. As much as I loved the desert southwest, it really was time for a change. Now the challenge is to learn a new environment, find new locations and look for new experiences.