Desert willow comes to the prairie

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On August 30th I photographed this desert willow tree, Chilopsis linearis, in full flower. The species is native from southern California to Texas in the United States and in parts of northern Mexico. Because desert willow does well in hot and dry places, and because it grows quickly, it has been planted as an ornamental in many places, including along highways in Texas (e.g. the US 183 freeway that forms the eastern boundary of my neighborhood). I found this desert willow on the restored prairie at what used to be Austin’s Mueller Airport.

© 2013 Steven Schwartzman