We went  hiking today at the Blanco Shoals Natural Area in San Marcos. I’d never been there and it was on my list of places to check out. Although it was hot, nearing 100 degrees, there was a nice breeze, so we decided to make a picnic and hike out there.

Blanco Shoals is about 80 acres of undeveloped land along the Blanco River. There was a man mowing the grass with a tractor today, but it really is undeveloped without trails, tables, etc. I’m glad he had just mowed because the tall grass might have otherwise made the hike impossible or too dangerous.

I was immediately struck by the difference in soil and the trees versus what I’m used to in the Hill Country. IH-35 is a clear dividing line between the Edwards Plateau and the Blackland Prairies. Blanco Shoals is just east of IH-35, and the soil is not as rocky as in the Hill Country. Near the Blanco River, it is also more sand-like and less clay-like than I thought the Blackland Prairie would be. The soil must be quite deep too, because we had our picnic in the shade beneath massive, tall pecan trees. I think they were 50 to 60 feet high.

Blanco River

I was struck by how beautiful these Mesquite bean pods were. I usually think of the mesquites as a nuisance, an invasive species, but they also add a bit of beauty to the landscape.

Mesquite Beans

Unidentified Berry Tree

I have never seen these trees or shrubs with the beautiful yellow, red, and maroon clumps of berries. I don’t know what the plant is. I’ve put in a request for help to our Master Naturalist forum, but haven’t heard back. Please leave a comment if you have any tips on what it is. I’ll add a comment when I hear back from my experts.