Spring in Van Zandt County, Texas

Canton, Countryscape, Edgewood, Fruitvale, Grand Saline, Heritage Park, Nature, Redland, Spring, Travel, Upper East Texas, Wills Point

Spring sightings from various places in Van Zandt County, Texas – March/April 2016

Pear blossom and contented cows – Edgewood, Tx

A bird perching on a blossoming sassafras tree – Edgewood, Tx

Red bud trees by the railway – Fruitvale, Tx

Grand Saline Library – Grand Saline, Tx

Peach blossoms at a Peach Farm and Old Fashioned Ice Cream – Hwy 19, Edgewood, Tx

Hickenbach Texas a.k.a Jones Junction – US 80 & TX 19, Edgewood, Tx

Scott Cabin at the Heritage Park Museum of East Texas – Edgewood, Tx

A field of purple and gold by Side Pea Farm – Canton, Tx

Blooming azaleas – Canton, Tx

Canton Lake – Canton, Tx

Picnic Area on Hwy 64 – Canton, Tx

Indian Paintbrush and Crimson Clover on Hwy 64 – Redland, Tx

Crimson Clover – Redland, Tx

Indian paintbrush across the Tawakoni Spillway – Wills Point, Tx

Tawakoni Spillway Levee – Wills Point, Tx

Roses by the 1848 Will’s Cabin – Wills Point, Tx

The Best Kept Secret of East Texas

Beyond, Historic Parkway, Nature, Photography, Spring, Travel, Upper East Texas

Mrs. Lee’s Daffodil Garden

Around 1954, over 1,000 acres of land near Gladewater, Texas, was transformed by the land lady, Mrs. Helen Lee, into a secret garden. Out of her love to the land, she converted what used to be a gravel pits into a daffodil retreat with a 5-acre lake and a 3-acre pond, called Lake Josephine – named after her mother. It took an entire boxcar load of daffodil bulbs from Holland and about 40 workers to make this daffodil garden. It is considered the best kept secret in East Texas. A replica of pioneer style log cabin was added to the site in 1954 overlooking Lake Josephine as a quiet place to enjoy the beauty of the land and its wildlife. Following her passing in 1984, at her request, the park has been opened to the public in spring.

Learn more about the park at http://www.daffodilgarden.com/daffodils_home.htm

Lake Josephine and Log Cabin Site

Photographs © Ine Burke | inegaleri.com

Spring Sightings

Edgewood, Photography, Spring

Red buds and plum trees are blossoming, jonquils blooming at their peak. Evergreen palm leaves and turtle basking under the evening sun. End of February in East Texas.

The Bomars’ Climbing Rose

Edgewood, Historic Parkway, Nature, Photography, Spring

April 2015

This is a photo essay about a pine-tree-climbing rose, grown and loved by The Bomar family, in Edgewood, Tx. It becomes quite a landmark when in blooms. The road where it grows by is a part of The Old Dallas-Shreveport Historic Parkway in Van Zandt County (near the Barren Ridge historical marker). The photos were taken in early spring (April 2015). Click on the first photo and follow the ‘next/previous arrow’ to read the story in sequence.

This is a photo essay about a climbing rose and the garden where it grows, in Edgewood, Texas.

On a property along this road, which happens to be the Old Dallas – Shreveport Historic Parkway, a climbing rose and a pine tree grow together.

It was a serene April morning after a stormy night. Everything looked fresh and green.

The clouds were still thick with a chance for another storm.

This tree, which seems to be a white flowering tree, is actually a pine tree covered with the blooms of a climbing rose.

The rose bush is at least 76 years old. It was a birthday gift from a husband to his beloved wife when she gave birth to their daughter, 76 years ago.

The rose bush grew in Dallas. When the daughter and her family decided to move to Edgewood in the 1980’s, they brought along the bush. It was re-planted in the corner of the fence line by a small pine tree.

The rose and the pine tree grow together ever since.

When the roses are in bloom, it becomes quite a landmark along this country road.

Pine cones and roses

Strands of rose stems hanging down the tree.

Branches of roses diving down the tree form a curtain of roses.

The blooms up close.

Rose petals caught by pine needles

The fallen rose petals scattered on the ground

A view from inside the garden.

The owner’s fondness of white is reflected throughout the garden.

Bushes and branches of trees offer nice cool shades.

One of the birdhouses in the nooks of the garden. This place is, without a doubt, a bird sanctuary.

A Japanese maple tree sits quietly in a corner with fern on its foot.

Almost hidden from the eyesight, a birdhouse sat at the end of the fence.

The same birdhouse was spotlighted by a drop of golden sun.

Magnolia Blossom

Edgewood, Fine art photography, Nature, Photography, Spring

Magnolia is an ancient genus. It is named after a French botanist, Pierre Magnol. Source: Wikipedia.

Blue Bonnet Trails in Ennis, Texas

Countryscape, Ennis, Nature, Photography, Spring

“Ennis was designated by the 1997 State Legislature as the home of the “Official Texas Bluebonnet Trail” and was designated the “Official Bluebonnet City of Texas.” From April 1-30, Ennis showcases over 40 miles of mapped driving Bluebonnet Trails sponsored by the Ennis Garden Club.” Read more at their official website: http://www.visitennis.org/bluebonnet.htm

These photos were taken on April 20th, 2015, on the way to and along the trails.

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Second Week of Spring – Iris & Wisteria

Countryscape, Edgewood, Nature, Photography, Spring

Still in the second week of spring, irises decorates the ground, road side, and highway’s median. Wisterias climb up the fence and wire, and form walls or even tower of purple (and some white) along the road. They are fragrant, too. ~ See all my spring coverage at https://inegaleri.com/category/spring/

Second week of Spring – Native Tree Blossoms

Countryscape, Edgewood, Nature, Photography, Spring

Not as punchy as red bud blossoms, but these white – with slight pink shade- blossoms from the native trees are not less attractive.

Sassafras tree with its lime-yellow blossoms looks so light and airy.

Young leaves on the tree and weeds catching light in an early windy evening.

Second Week of Spring – Red Bud Blossoms

Countryscape, Edgewood, Nature, Photography, Spring

Native red bud blossoms appearing from among limbs and branches in surrounding woods. They get bolder and bolder each day. The yellowish sprouting tree leaves and big blue sky only add contrast to the pink-magenta blossoms. ~ Edgewood, Texas