In the Texas Panhandle, we descended into a giant crack in the earth – Palo Duro Canyon, alive with wildflowers and painted buntings.… Read More
The post Basketflowers and painted buntings in Palo Duro Canyon appeared first on Digging.
Road tripping through the Texas Panhandle last month, we descended into a giant crack in the earth southeast of Amarillo — Palo Duro Canyon, aka the Grand Canyon of Texas.
Palo Duro holds the title of second largest canyon in the U.S., after Arizona’s Grand Canyon. In mid-July, grasses were green and wildflowers were blooming thanks to summer monsoon rains.
800 feet deep. 120 miles long. 20 miles wide. Palo Duro is a big canyon.
We spent an hour or so driving the scenic loop, stopping often to admire American basketflower in bloom. We drove slowly with windows down, hearing buzzing insects and melodious birdsong. The Merlin app revealed the canyon was teeming with painted buntings, the holy grail of gorgeous birds. We were determined to spot one.
Watch this short video of American basketflower with the volume on to hear a painted bunting singing.
American basketflowers were flowering across the canyon floor, some with just the basket-like seedheads remaining.
Their fringy lavender petals droop from white centers resembling fiber optic lamps.
A basketflower meadow, with orange canyon walls in the distance
While hunting for buntings, we spotted another exciting bird — a roadrunner darting along the sandy shoulder.
Meep-meep!
Yuccas and basketflower — a pretty combo against putty-pink canyon walls.
And then…could it be? As Merlin informed us a painted bunting was nearby, we spotted the red-breasted bird on top of scrubby trees.
He was pretty far away, so my photos don’t do justice to his painted glory (look it up online)…
…but I was happy to see one and watch him sing.
Like the painted bunting, the canyon is colorful, with orange-red sand and stone.
Silvery green yuccas and other plains plants thrive here.
Canyon flora
Grasses too
Panoramic view
I love the canyon’s rugged beauty.
A copper dragonfly rests on a twiggy branch.
Backlit seedheads and grasses
Chiseled tower
What a grand landscape Palo Duro offers, even if not as grand as that other famous canyon. It’s well worth a stop when you’re in the Texas Panhandle. For Americana, go see Amarillo’s Cadillac Ranch too.
To read more about Palo Duro Canyon, check out a post I wrote in 2021. And if you like scenery from the American Southwest, don’t miss my post about Capulin Volcano National Monument from this same trip.
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Want ideas for your yard besides lawn? Sure you do! I’m giving a talk called “Lawn Gone: 8 Great Ideas for Your Yard” on Saturday, September 13, at the Concho Valley Master Gardeners Fall Symposium in San Angelo, Texas. The cost for the all-day symposium with 4 speakers is $30 per person; refreshments and lunch included. Register by 9/10 at this link to attend. I hope to see you there, West Texas homeowners and gardeners!
My new book, Gardens of Texas: Visions of Resilience from the Lone Star State, comes out October 14! It’s available for pre-order now on Amazon and other online book sellers. If you’d like to read it or give it as a holiday gift, please consider pre-ordering. (I’m happy to sign pre-ordered copies at my book events!) Early orders make a big difference in helping new books get noticed. More info about Gardens of Texas here — and thank you for your support!
Come see me on tour! I’ll be speaking and hosting book events across Texas this fall and into next spring to celebrate the release of Gardens of Texas. Join me to learn, get inspired, and say hello!
Come learn about gardening and design at Garden Spark! I organize in-person talks by inspiring designers, landscape architects, authors, and gardeners a few times a year in Austin. These are limited-attendance events, so join the Garden Spark email list for notification when tickets go on sale: click this link and ask to SUBSCRIBE. Read all about the Season 9 lineup here!
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The post Basketflowers and painted buntings in Palo Duro Canyon appeared first on Digging.
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