Autumn on the prairie

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This is what autumn looks like on the Blackland Prairie in northeast Austin. The most prominent flowers are goldenrod, Solidago altissima. The small yellow ones close to the ground are broomweed, Amphiachyris dracunculoides. The bushes in the background are poverty weed, Baccharis neglecta. In spite of these native plants’ different looks, all three are in the sunflower family, which is huge and offers lots of variety.

The site shown here was in the northwestern quadrant of McCallen Pass and E. Parmer Lane, and the date was October 10. In the following weeks the goldenrod in Austin faded, but then lots of rain revived or brought up smaller numbers of goldenrod plants, so we’re once again seeing some of those familiar yellow-orange tops here and there around town, including along one stretch of the busy freeway known as Mopac.

© 2013 Steven Schwartzman