These are sunflowers, about 30 acres of them in this field.
Field of yellow
They do make a beautiful sight. Last year, there were several fields planted with sunflowers near Smithville off Highway 71.
Beautiful sunflowers, beautiful fileds!
Bettydee, my mom and I went through La Grange on Monday, on the way back to Brenham from Austin. I'd never been through there before. My Austin sister told me it was a prettier drive than just down 290, said that after La Grange I would take a left to go to Round Top (I have also never been there.) Well, I never saw a sign for Round Top, went through Smithville and a number of other places, ended up in Columbus! I'm glad I'm on vacation, because adventures are welcome.
We noticed quite a lot of yellow flowers, as opposed to the bluebonnets and indian paintbrush, all through from La Grange to Columbus. Was that sunflowers? They weren't planted fileds, just seemed to be vibrant yellow wildflowers. Since Mom was with me, I didn't stop for pictures.
Sunflowers! I'm so glad these are growing. I will be able to have lots of seeds for the resident cardinal families that I feed year-round.
Maggie, the turn off was in La Grange. Farm to Market 159 would have taken you through Round Top then up to 290. I went to Columbus a few days ago. Most of the yellow flowers were Squaw Weed, Senecio ampullaceus. There were some Missouri Primroses, Oenothera missouriensis, as well. I loved the long swaths of Indian Paintbrush.
Too bad you missed Round Top. It has a fabulous concert hall. It is owned by the James Dick Foundation which has managed to build it — work in progress for over twenty years — without going into debt. The acoustics are fantastic. During the summer, talented young musicians from all over the world attend classes and perform. It's amazing what jewel are hidden here and there.
Betty, my sister and brother-in-law promised to take me to Round Top in the fall, for the antique sale. Sounds like Round Top has more than that going for them.
So, all that yellow was Squaw Weed. It's been really interesting watching the change in predominant colors painted across the fields. There in Cala's area, all the yellow sunflowers; from La Grange to Columbus, the yellow Squaw Weed; Brenham to Navasota, Bluebonnets; Navasota to Conroe, Indian Paintbrush. Wonder what colors/plants predominate in other parts of the state?