Texas
Wildbuds

May 2023
Lake Somerville-Birch Creek

Our last springtime photo excursion took us back to Lake Somerville. It's about 90 miles east of Austin in lush, rolling ranching country. The state park is divided into two sections, the Nails Creek unit on the south shore (in Lee County) and the Birch Creek unit on the north side (in Burleson County). In 2022 we explored the Nails Creek unit; this year the Birch Creek unit. In both years, the wildflowers were abundant, and several new species were added to the collection.

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Alophia drummondii
(Propeller Flower)
9336/9344
Photo Details
Common Name Propeller Flower
Scientific Name Alophia drummondii
Family Iridaceae
(Iris)
Date May 31, 2023
Location Birch Creek Unit, Lake Somerville State Park, Burleson County
Camera Nikon D810 with
Kirk Focus Rail
Lens Nikon-Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 122 mm
Aperture Focus stack of 9 images at f/6.3
Speed 1/60 sec.
ISO 800
More Photos and Plant Details
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Bifora americana
(Prairie Bishop’s-weed)
9104
Photo Details
Common Name Prairie Bishop's-weed
Scientific Name Bifora americana
(Atrema americanum)
Family Apiaceae
(Parsley)
Date May 30, 2023
Location Birch Creek Unit, Lake Somerville State Park, Burleson County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikon-Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 180 mm
Aperture f/18
Speed 1/40 sec.
ISO 1600
More Photos and Plant Details
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Callicarpa americana
(American Beautyberry)
9002
Photo Details
Common Name American Beautyberry
Scientific Name Callicarpa americana
Family Lamiaceae
(Mint)
Date May 29, 2023
Location Birch Creek Unit, Lake Somerville State Park, Burleson County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikon-Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 90 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/40 sec.
ISO 1600
More Photos and Plant Details
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Cephalanthus occidentalis
(Buttonbush)
9192
Photo Details
Common Name Buttonbush
Scientific Name Cephalanthus occidentalis
Family Rubiaceae
(Madder)
Date May 30, 2023
Location Birch Creek Unit, Lake Somerville State Park, Burleson County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikon-Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 180 mm
Aperture f/18
Speed 1/50 sec.
ISO 800
More Photos and Plant Details
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Coreopsis basalis
(Goldenmane Tickseed)
9032
Photo Details
Common Name Goldenmane Tickseed
Scientific Name Coreopsis basalis
Family Asteraceae
(Sunflower)
Date May 29, 2023
Location Birch Creek Unit, Lake Somerville State Park, Burleson County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikon-Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 90 mm
Aperture f/13
Speed 1/640 sec.
ISO 1600
More Photos and Plant Details
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Helianthemum georgianum
(Rockrose)
9290
Photo Details
Common Name Rockrose
Scientific Name Helianthemum georgianum
(Crocanthemum georgianum)
Family Cistaceae
(Rock-rose)
Date May 31, 2023
Location Birch Creek Unit, Lake Somerville State Park, Burleson County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikon-Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 140 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/400 sec.
ISO 1600
More Photos and Plant Details
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Hibiscus laevis
(Halberd-leaf Rosemallow)
9168
Photo Details
Common Name Halberd-leaf Rosemallow
Scientific Name Hibiscus laevis
(Hibiscus militaris)
Family Malvaceae
(Mallow)
Date May 30, 2023
Location Birch Creek Unit, Lake Somerville State Park, Burleson County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikon-Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 70 mm
Aperture f/10
Speed 1/500 sec.
ISO 200
More Photos and Plant Details
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Ibervillea lindheimeri
(Lindheimer’s Clobeberry)
9045
Photo Details
Common Name Lindheimer's Globeberry, Balsamgourd
Scientific Name Ibervillea lindheimeri
Family Curcurbitaceae
(Gourd)
Date May 30, 2023
Location Birch Creek Unit, Lake Somerville State Park, Burleson County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikon-Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 150 mm
Aperture f/14
Speed 1/15 sec.
ISO 1600
More Photos and Plant Details
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Ipomoea cordatotriloba
(Tievine)
9058
Photo Details
Common Name Tievine, Purple Bindweed
Scientific Name Ipomoea cordatotriloba
(Ipomoea trichocarpa)
Family Convolvulaceae
(Morning Glory)
Date May 30, 2023
Location Birch Creek Unit, Lake Somerville State Park, Burleson County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikon-Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 180 mm
Aperture f/14
Speed 1/15 sec.
ISO 1600
More Photos and Plant Details
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NEW! Linum medium var. texanum
(Stiff Yellow Flax)
9234
Photo Details
Common Name Stiff Yellow Flax, Sucker Flax
Scientific Name Linum medium var. texanum
Family Linaceae
(Flax)
Date May 30, 2023
Location Birch Creek Unit, Lake Somerville State Park, Burleson County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikon-Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 180 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/100 sec.
ISO 1600
More Photos and Plant Details
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Nemophila phacelioides
(Baby Blue-eyes)
9025
Photo Details
Common Name Baby Blue-eyes
Scientific Name Nemophila phacelioides
Family Hydrophyllaceae
(Waterleaf)
Date May 29, 2023
Location Birch Creek Unit, Lake Somerville State Park, Burleson County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikon-Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 180 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/40 sec.
ISO 1600
More Photos and Plant Details
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Oenothera curtiflora
(Velvetweed)
9141
Photo Details
Common Name Velvetweed, Velvet Butterfly-weed
Scientific Name Oenothera curtiflora
(Gaura parviflora)
Family Onagraceae
(Evening Primrose)
Date May 30, 2023
Location Birch Creek Unit, Lake Somerville State Park, Burleson County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikon-Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 180 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/320 sec.
ISO 1600
More Photos and Plant Details
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Oenothera laciniata
(Cut-leaf Evening Primrose)
9069
Photo Details
Common Name Cut-leaf Evening Primrose
Scientific Name Oenothera laciniata
Family Onagraceae
(Evening Primrose)
Date May 30, 2023
Location Birch Creek Unit, Lake Somerville State Park, Burleson County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikon-Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 122 mm
Aperture f/18
Speed 1/250 sec.
ISO 1600
More Photos and Plant Details
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Passiflora incarnata
(Purple Passionflower)
9245
Photo Details
Common Name Purple Passionflower, Maypop
Scientific Name Passiflora incarnata
Family Passifloraceae
(Passionflower)
Date May 30, 2023
Location Birch Creek Unit, Lake Somerville State Park, Burleson County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikon-Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 70 mm
Aperture f/14
Speed 1/125 sec.
ISO 1600
More Photos and Plant Details
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NEW! Physalis angulata
(Cut-leaf Groundcherry)
9143
Photo Details
Common Name Cut-leaf Groundcherry
Scientific Name Physalis angulata
Family Solanaceae
(Nightshade)
Date May 30, 2023
Location Birch Creek Unit, Lake Somerville State Park, Burleson County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikon-Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 180 mm
Aperture f/14
Speed 1/60 sec.
ISO 1600
More Photos and Plant Details
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Tephrosia onobrychoides
(Multi-bloom Hoary Pea)
9211
Photo Details
Common Name Multi-bloom Hoary Pea
Scientific Name Tephrosia onobrychoides
Family Fabaceae
(Pea)
Date May 30, 2023
Location Birch Creek Unit, Lake Somerville State Park, Burleson County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikon-Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 135 mm
Aperture f/14
Speed 1/100 sec.
ISO 400
More Photos and Plant Details
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Tradescantia gigantea
(Giant Spiderwort)
9279
Photo Details
Common Name Giant Spiderwort in white
Scientific Name Tradescantia gigantea
Family Commelinaceae
(Spiderwort)
Date May 31, 2023
Location Birch Creek Unit, Lake Somerville State Park, Burleson County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikon-Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 180 mm
Aperture f/14
Speed 1/60 sec.
ISO 1600
More Photos and Plant Details
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Tradescantia gigantea
(Giant Spiderwort)
9284
Photo Details
Common Name Giant Spiderwort
Scientific Name Tradescantia gigantea
Family Commelinaceae
(Spiderwort)
Date May 31, 2023
Location Birch Creek Unit, Lake Somerville State Park, Burleson County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikon-Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 100 mm
Aperture f/14
Speed 1/20 sec.
ISO 1600
More Photos and Plant Details
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NEW! Triadica sebifera
(Chinese Tallow)
9252
Photo Details
Common Name Chinese Tallow, Popcorn Tree
Scientific Name Triadica sebifera
Family Euphorbiaceae
(Spurge)
Date May 30, 2023
Location Birch Creek Unit, Lake Somerville State Park, Burleson County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikon-Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 70 mm
Aperture f/10
Speed 1/60 sec.
ISO 1600
More Photos and Plant Details

Banner photo of Castilleja indivisa and Lupinus ssp. taken along FM 1323 north of Johnson City, Blanco County

© Tom Lebsack 2024