Cypress Creek Nature Walk

On the Cypress Creek Nature Preserve walk on Saturday I saw Golden Groundsel (Senecio obovatus). This yellow native perennial is found on moist, shady, calcareous soil. It is often the first native wildflower found in this area.

The deer do not bother it and it is able to grow in the shade. Visible on the Cypress Creek trail in the winter are the berries of two native hollies: Yaupon and Possumhaw. Possumhaw, Ilex decidua, (as the Latin name indicates) loses its leaves in the winter. You may have noticed leafless small bushy trees loaded with orange-red berries growing along fence rows in the winter. The birds love these berries. Yaupon (Ilex vomitoria) is evergreen and also has bright red berries the birds like. However, with a Latin name like “vomitoria”, humans probably do not want to eat the berries. Also keep in mind that Yaupon Tea is made from the leaves of Yaupon and is said to be the only native tea that has caffeine.

The Red Buckeyes (Aesculus Pavia) are leafing out and can be seen on this trail. It has palmate leaves with five leaflets and a red flower. This is a native shrub that is usually found in shady canyons. I have one growing under some trees in my backyard and welcome its yearly early display of red flowers. While its leaves are among the first to unfurl, it will lose its leaves in the heat of the summer.

The Hays County Master Naturalists are guiding a walk along the Cypress Creek each Saturday at 11 a.m. It is free and lasts half an hour, unless the participants request more time. Meet at the Trailhead on Old Kyle Road near the “sandwich board” sign that describes the walks.

Written by Jackie Mattice, Hays County Master Naturalist