March 30, 2024
Kristi and I try to dedicate at least one trip every Spring to see the wildflowers. Washington County is one of the best places nearby to see them. Our favorite area to explore is between Washington-on-the-Brazos State Park and Chappell Hill, Texas, especially along Meyersville Road and the surrounding dirt roads.
I’ve written about these locations several times so far. So, rather than doing a play-by-play of the route that we took, I divided up the photos by subject. Here is a link to the route, in case anyone is interested, though:
A Passing Train and Railroad Graffiti
As we were crossing the Burlington Northern Santa Fe tracks in Shiro, Texas, along TX-30, we spotted a train way up the track heading south. So, we turned onto FM 1486 and headed south. The train wasn’t moving fast, so we easily outran it. We crossed the tracks at County Road 232 and waited for it to pass.
The history of railroad graffiti on railcars, usually referred to as “monikers,” goes back a long time. While technically illegal, most railroads tolerate it. The main argument I’ve heard against it is the danger that artists put themselves in when trespassing in rail yards.
I’ve heard it stated that some railroads even take steps to preserve some of the better pieces. Many consider this a legitimate artform, and there are some artists who are sort of famous. Model train manufacturers even publish limited-edition models of railcars with reproductions of real works.
I find monikers fascinating and enjoy observing them.
The Flowery Shed
One of our favorite photographic subjects in the area is a shed located along FM 1155. I more than half suspect that the owners expect people to stop there and take photographs. That being said, never cross property lines. Pull over a safe distance from the road, watch for traffic, and be respectful.
Creeks
There are several nice creeks in this area. New Years Creek winds around and crosses several of the roads we like to drive. The creek is quite beautiful, but observation of the surrounding landscape will reveal that it can become very dangerous during heavy rains.
Tree Tunnels
Washington County is mostly covered in pastures, but it also hosts some of the best tree tunnels in the area that we know of. So far, Felder Road is the king of tree tunnels!
Wildflowers
Finally, the wildflowers!
The wildflowers weren’t as dense or spectacular this year. I imagine that last year’s drought may have had something to do with it. Some seasons are better than others, but none that I have seen have been lacking in beautiful colors and variety.
Chappell Hill Masonic Cemetery
Our Washington County wildflower trips often end in Chappell Hill, Texas. This year we took a slightly different route to get there. The drive itself wasn’t that spectacular, but we did find something new to us near the end.
We came upon a cemetery that had two historical markers. One marker is enough, but two markers definitely catch our attention!
One marker was for the cemetery, but the other was for the community of Cedar Creek, an early Methodist settlement. As explained in the marker, below, Cedar Creek was established in the 1830s, but ceased as a separate community by the 1850s as it merged with nearby Chappell Hill.
We were both tired, so we only drove through the Chappell Hill Masonic Cemetery.
Conclusion
Kristi and I enjoy these little trips. We never know what we might see and learn. But the adventure isn’t the destination. The adventure is in the experience, especially sharing it with each other.
And speaking of unexpected adventures, I would like to announce the publication of Deloris Haley Lindsay’s latest book, So What? Two Little Words That Changed My Life, available in paperback and on Kindle on Amazon.com.
So What? is a family history and autobiography. It chronicles over 400 years of the history of her ancestors in America and tells the story of her life growing up in the 1940s and 1950s in rural Texas. It makes a great companion to her other book, Good Times: Clay Lindsay, A Good Man from Mason, Texas.
I bet you didn’t expect that little adventure, did you, Dear Reader? If you are not new to this blog, you know that I occasionally advertise Mrs. Lindsay’s books. So, watch out! I might do it again in another post!