Hills and Bandera

Okay so that's the longest 2 days you ever waited for, we can say we've been so busy or I can say we've just been so relaxed there was no rush to type this in. We have some friends in the San Antonio, we'll call them Jeff, Lynn,Eric and Gram...come on down they said, we'll have a great time. So, went out to the hacienda( is that what Texans call it) or am I in the wrong state, country....

We met with Jeff at Government Canyon, a state park sprawled across the desert with lots of trails for hiking and biking.

Galm Road
San Antonio TX 78254
210/688-9055

History: Government Canyon State Natural Area is an approximately 8,624-acre area in Bexar County, just outside San Antonio. The State Natural Area was purchased by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in 1993, in cooperation with Edwards Aquifer Authority (formerly Edwards Underground Water District), San Antonio Water System, the Trust for Public Land and the federal government Land and Water Conservation Fund. The park opened to the public on October 15th, 2005.

The canyon was on the "Joe Johnston" Road from San Antonio to Bandera which was blazed by the military at Ft. Sam Houston in the 1850s. The canyon is a part of the rich ranching history of Texas.

Natural Features: Trees such as Mountain Laurel, Ashe Juniper, Mesquite and Live Oak abound, as well as Mexican Buckeye, Lindheimer’s Silk-Tassel and Escarpment Black Cherry. Steep slopes provide scenic overlooks of the surrounding Bexar County and glimpses of San Antonio. Rare birds such as the Golden-cheeked Warbler can be found. Geologically, the Natural Area lies on the Balcones Escarpment, an area of deeply entrenched canyons that defines the eastern boundary of the Edwards Plateau. Approximately 88% of the Natural Area overlays the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone. We walked( no we did not do heavy hiking) around a short trail, checked out the main building, visitor center and the picnic area. While "on the trail" Jeff pointed out a familiar looking plant growing, or attached to, a Live Oak tree. It looked familiar but what is it..well, turns out it's a parasite, we call it "Miseltoe"...it attaches itself and feeds off healthy trees-after a number of years it will kill the tree. "Beware the Christmas Kiss"