Concho Riverwalk to International Water Lily Collection, San Angelo, TX

On our recent trip to San Angelo to celebrate Carter's 25th birthday, we found ourselves staying in a tiny bungalow right downtown a few yards off the Concho River which bisects the town. In places along the river, there is a well-defined path called the Riverwalk (and in others, not so defined, as we found out as we were essentially bushwhacking).

The most well-known attraction in San Angelo is a display of waterlilies in a public park adjacent to the river. Ann and I decided to walk from where we were staying to the International Waterlily Collection and back. The photos are in the order taken. As you will see, you should not miss the lilies if they are in bloom.

Bees on a Waterlily Blossom

We Miss Audacious Mockingbirds in Oregon

Concho River, Downtown San Angelo

A Reminder of When I Lived in Texas
A Female Great-Tailed Grackle

Not Expecting to See Bald Cypress in West Central Texas

Ball-Like Cones on Bald Cypress, Taxodium distichum

Charming Riverside Water Fountain

Gnarled Old Mesquite, Prosopis sp. 

Rock Squirrel, Hiding

Turk's Cap Hibiscus, Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii

San Angelo Visitor's Center/Chamber of Commerce

Chaste Tree, Vitex agnus-castus

House Along the Concho River

Footbridge over the River

Distinctive Bur Oak, Quercus macrocarpa

Several Great Blue Herons Along the River

Silver-Leaved Nightshade, Solanum elaeagnifolium

Green Heron

Gregg's Tube Tongue, Justicia pilosella

Rock Squirrel Issuing Alarm Call
They Have a High-Pitched Call Like an Osprey

Mesquite Beans

So Much Trumpet Vine, Campsis radicans, Along the River

Prickly Pear, Opuntia sp., Also Everywhere in Town

The International Waterlily Collection

This Variegated Foliage is Wild

So Many Bees Working Furiously

Victoria Waterlilies, Victoria sp., Unfortunately Not in Bloom

An Arrowhead in Bloom, Sagittaria sp.

Castor Bean in Bloom, Ricinus communis 
Anyone Remember "Breaking Bad?"

Old School Wild Sunflower, Helianthus annuus

Metz's Wild Petunia, Ruellia metziae

Violet Wild Petunia, Ruellia nudiflora

Low Menodora, Menodora heterophylla

Playing Behind the Visitor's Center

Art in Uncommon Places, Under an Overpass

This walk during the late morning in the nearly 100-degree blazing sun was not a lot of fun, but was necessary to photograph the spectacular waterlilies at their best. The walk was a good reminder that this part of Texas is situated in the transition zone between east and west in that we saw plants and animals from both parts of the country, and some that we miss from living back east now that we live in the desert in Central Oregon.

Two examples stand out. The common Eastern Gray Squirrels running all about the parks here are so small compared to our very shy, very large, fairly uncommon Western Gray Squirrels. And it was fun to be serenaded by one of our favorite cocky birds, a Carolina Wren, here on the bleeding western edge of its range. While I am glad we made the walk, I am happy I do not have to be out in that sun again.