Basketflowers and painted buntings in Palo Duro Canyon

Road tripping done the Texas Panhandle past month, we descended into a elephantine ace successful the world southeast of Amarillo — Palo Duro Canyon, aka the Grand Canyon of Texas.

Palo Duro holds the rubric of 2nd largest canyon successful the U.S., aft Arizona’s Grand Canyon. In mid-July, grasses were greenish and wildflowers were blooming acknowledgment to summertime monsoon rains.

800 feet deep. 120 miles long. 20 miles wide. Palo Duro is simply a large canyon.

We spent an hr oregon truthful driving the scenic loop, stopping often to respect American basketflower successful bloom. We drove dilatory with windows down, proceeding buzzing insects and melodious birdsong. The Merlin app revealed the canyon was teeming with painted buntings, the beatified grail of gorgeous birds. We were determined to spot one.

Watch this abbreviated video of American basketflower with the measurement connected to perceive a painted bunting singing.

American basketflowers were flowering crossed the canyon floor, immoderate with conscionable the basket-like seedheads remaining.

Their fringy lavender petals droop from achromatic centers resembling fibre optic lamps.

A basketflower meadow, with orangish canyon walls successful the distance

While hunting for buntings, we spotted different breathtaking vertebrate — a roadrunner darting on the sandy shoulder.

Meep-meep!

Yuccas and basketflower — a beauteous combo against putty-pink canyon walls.

And then…could it be? As Merlin informed america a painted bunting was nearby, we spotted the red-breasted vertebrate connected apical of scrubby trees.

He was beauteous acold away, truthful my photos don’t bash justness to his painted glory (look it up online)…

…but I was blessed to spot 1 and ticker him sing.

Like the painted bunting, the canyon is colorful, with orange-red soil and stone.

Silvery greenish yuccas and different plains plants thrive here.

Canyon flora

Grasses too

Panoramic view

I emotion the canyon’s rugged beauty.

A copper dragonfly rests connected a twiggy branch.

Backlit seedheads and grasses

Chiseled tower

What a expansive scenery Palo Duro offers, adjacent if not arsenic expansive arsenic that different celebrated canyon. It’s good worthy a halt erstwhile you’re successful the Texas Panhandle. For Americana, spell spot Amarillo’s Cadillac Ranch too.

To work much astir Palo Duro Canyon, cheque retired a station I wrote successful 2021. And if you similar scenery from the American Southwest, don’t miss my station astir Capulin Volcano National Monument from this aforesaid trip.

I invited your comments. Please scroll to the extremity of this station to permission one. If you’re speechmaking successful an email, click present to sojourn Digging and find the remark container astatine the extremity of each post. And hey, did idiosyncratic guardant this email to you, and you privation to subscribe? Click present to get Digging delivered straight to your inbox!

__________________________

Digging Deeper

Want ideas for your gait too lawn? Sure you do! I’m giving a speech called “Lawn Gone: 8 Great Ideas for Your Yard” connected Saturday, September 13, astatine the Concho Valley Master Gardeners Fall Symposium successful San Angelo, Texas. The outgo for the all-day symposium with 4 speakers is $30 per person; refreshments and luncheon included. Register by 9/10 astatine this link to attend. I anticipation to spot you there, West Texas homeowners and gardeners!

My caller book, Gardens of Texas: Visions of Resilience from the Lone Star State, comes retired October 14! It’s disposable for pre-order present connected Amazon and different online publication sellers. If you’d similar to work it oregon springiness it arsenic a vacation gift, delight see pre-ordering. (I’m blessed to motion pre-ordered copies astatine my publication events!) Early orders marque a large quality successful helping caller books get noticed. More info astir Gardens of Texas here — and convey you for your support!

Come spot maine connected tour! I’ll beryllium speaking and hosting publication events crossed Texas this autumn and into adjacent outpouring to observe the merchandise of Gardens of Texas. Join maine to learn, get inspired, and accidental hello!

Come larn astir gardening and plan astatine Garden Spark! I signifier in-person talks by inspiring designers, scenery architects, authors, and gardeners a fewer times a twelvemonth successful Austin. These are limited-attendance events, truthful articulation the Garden Spark email database for notification erstwhile tickets spell connected sale: click this nexus and inquire to SUBSCRIBE. Read each astir the Season 9 lineup here!

All worldly © 2025 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.

The station Basketflowers and painted buntings successful Palo Duro Canyon appeared archetypal connected Digging.