Texas
Wildbuds

May 2022
Lake Somerville-Nails Creek

Lake Somerville is 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. The wildflowers were abundant, and several new species were added to the collection.

D81_6660%20Small
Centrosema virginianum
(Butterfly Pea)
2764
Common Name Butterfly Pea
Scientific Name Centrosema virginianum
Family Fabaceae
(Pea)
Date May 10, 2022
Location Nails Creek Unit, Lake Somerville State Park, Lee County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikon-Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 160 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/125 sec.
ISO 800
D81_6660%20Small
Delphinium carolinianum ssp. vimineum
(Pine Woods Larkspur)
2737
Common Name Pine Woods Larkspur, Blue Larkspur
Scientific Name Delphinium carolinianum ssp. vimineum
Family Ranunculaceae
(Buttercup)
Date May 10, 2022
Location Nails Creek Unit, Lake Somerville State Park, Lee County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikkor-Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 180 mm
Aperture f/13
Speed 1/100 sec.
ISO 800
D81_6660%20Small
Helianthemum georgianum
(Rockrose)
3007
Common Name Rockrose, Georgia Frostweed
Scientific Name Helianthemum georgianum
Family Cistaceae
(Rockrose)
Date May 11, 2022
Location Nails Creek Unit, Lake Somerville State Park, Lee County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikkor-Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 180 mm
Aperture f/11
Speed 1/80 sec.
ISO 800
D81_6660%20Small
NEW! Lupinus subcarnosus
(Texas Bluebonnet)
2637
Common Name Texas Bluebonnet, Sandyland Bluebonnet
Scientific Name Lupinus subcarnosus
Family Fabaceae
(Pea)
Date May 10, 2022
Location Nails Creek Unit, Lake Somerville State Park, Lee County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikkor-Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 180 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/200 sec.
ISO 800
D81_6660%20Small
NEW! Neptunia lutea
(Yellow Puff)
3089
Common Name Yellow Puff, Sensitive-briar
Scientific Name Neptunia lutea
Family Fabaceae
(Pea)
Date May 11, 2022
Location Nails Creek Unit, Lake Somerville State Park, Lee County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikkor-Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 180 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/125 sec.
ISO 800
D81_6660%20Small
NEW! Passiflora incarnata
(Purple Passionflower)
2906
Common Name Purple Passionflower, Maypop
Scientific Name Passiflora incarnata
Family Passifloraceae
(Passionflower)
Date May 10, 2022
Location Nails Creek Unit, Lake Somerville State Park, Lee County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikkor-Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 70 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/50 sec.
ISO 800
D81_6660%20Small
Phlox drummondii ssp. mcallisteri (McAllister’s Phlox) 3125
Common Name McAllister's Phlox
Scientific Name Phlox drummondii ssp. mcallisteri
Family Polemoniaceae
(Phlox)
Date May 11, 2022
Location Nails Creek Unit, Lake Somerville State Park, Lee County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikkor-Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 180 mm
Aperture f/14
Speed 1/100 sec.
ISO 800
D81_6660%20Small
Polypremum procumbens (Juniper-leaf) 2889
Common Name Juniper-leaf, Rustweed
Scientific Name Polypremum procumbens
Family Tetrachondraceae
(Tetrachondra)
Date May 11, 2022
Location Nails Creek Unit, Lake Somerville State Park, Lee County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikkor-Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 180 mm
Aperture f/14
Speed 1/125 sec.
ISO 800
D81_6660%20Small
Rudbeckia hirta
(Brown-eyed Susan)
2802
Common Name Brown-eyed Susan
Scientific Name Rudbeckia hirta
Family Asteraceae
(Sunflower)
Date May 10, 2022
Location Nails Creek Unit, Lake Somerville State Park, Lee County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikkor-Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 180 mm
Aperture f/14
Speed 1/160 sec.
ISO 800
D81_6660%20Small
NEW! Rumex crispus
(Curly Dock)
2661
Common Name Curly Dock, Yellow Dock
Scientific Name Rumex crispus
Family Polygonaceae
(Buckwheat)
Date May 10, 2022
Location Nails Creek Unit, Lake Somerville State Park, Lee County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikkor-Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 95 mm
Aperture f/14
Speed 1/320 sec.
ISO 800
D81_6660%20Small
Sabatia campestris
(Meadow Pink)
2845
Common Name Meadow Pink, Texas Star
Scientific Name Sabatia campestris
Family Gentianaceae
(Gentian)
Date May 10, 2022
Location Nails Creek Unit, Lake Somerville State Park, Lee County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikkor-Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 140 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/160 sec.
ISO 800
D81_6660%20Small
Sabatia campestris in white
(Meadow Pink)
2848
Common Name Meadow Pink
Scientific Name Sabatia campestris in white
Family Gentianaceae
(Gentian)
Date May 10, 2022
Location Nails Creek Unit, Lake Somerville State Park, Lee County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikkor-Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 180 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/160 sec.
ISO 800
D81_6660%20Small
Sida ciliaris
(Bracted Fanpetals)
3062
Common Name Bracted Fanpetals, Bracted Sida
Scientific Name Sida ciliaris
Family Malvaceae
(Mallow)
Date May 11, 2022
Location Nails Creek Unit, Lake Somerville State Park, Lee County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikkor-Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 180 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/80 sec.
ISO 800
D81_6660%20Small
Sisyrinchium rosulatum
(Annual Blue-eyed Grass)
2882
Common Name Annual Blue-eyed Grass
Scientific Name Sisyrinchium rosulatum
Family Iridaceae
(Iris)
Date May 10, 2022
Location Nails Creek Unit, Lake Somerville State Park, Lee County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikkor-Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 180 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/100 sec.
ISO 800
D81_6660%20Small
Scutellaria ovata
(Heartleaf Skullcap)
2722
Common Name Heartleaf Skullcap
Scientific Name Scutellaria ovata
Family Lamiaceae
(Mint)
Date May 10, 2022
Location Nails Creek Unit, Lake Somerville State Park, Lee County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikkor-Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 180 mm
Aperture f/14
Speed 1/320 sec.
ISO 800
D81_6660%20Small
NEW! Tephrosia onobrychoides
(Multi-bloom Hoary Pea)
3048
Common Name Multi-bloom Hoary Pea
Scientific Name Tephrosia onobrychoides
Family Fabaceae
(Pea)
Date May 11, 2022
Location Nails Creek Unit, Lake Somerville State Park, Lee County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikkor-Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 180 mm
Aperture f/14
Speed 1/60 sec.
ISO 800
D81_6660%20Small
Triodanis perfoliata ssp. perfoliata
(Clasping-leaf Venus’ Looking Glass)
3095
Common Name Clasping-leaf Venus' Looking-glass
Scientific Name Triodanis perfoliata ssp. perfoliata
Family Campanulaceae
(Bellflower)
Date May 11, 2022
Location Nails Creek Unit, Lake Somerville State Park, Lee County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikkor-Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 180 mm
Aperture f/14
Speed 1/25 sec.
ISO 800
D81_6660%20Small
Tradescantia subacaulis
(Stemless Spiderwort)
2811
Common Name Stemless Spiderwort
Scientific Name Tradescantia subacaulis
Family Commelinaceae
(Spiderwort)
Date May 10, 2022
Location Nails Creek Unit, Lake Somerville State Park, Lee County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikkor-Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 180 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/80 sec.
ISO 800
D81_6660%20Small
NEW! Yucca arkansana
(Arkansas Yucca)
2680
Common Name Arkansas Yucca
Scientific Name Yucca arkansana
Family Asperagaceae
(Asperagus)
Date May 10, 2022
Location Nails Creek Unit, Lake Somerville State Park, Lee County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikkor-Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 122 mm
Aperture f/11
Speed 1/800 sec.
ISO 800

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

© Tom Lebsack 2024