Another favorite time of year is early spring flowers. By the time we leave Rockport at the end of March, the Texas Bluebonnets are in full bloom. But typically the best place to see them is in the ditches along the freeway. There they are, swaying in the wind along with the Indian Paintbrush. The stark contrast of orange and blue is something you never quite get used to, no matter how many springs you’ve seen it.

As luck would have it, the wind was not my friend again. By the time we left Texas, conditions were not great for flower photography. But watching those bluebonnets as we drove north was bittersweet. It felt like they were saying farewell — we’ll see you again next year.

Into Oklahoma

As we continued north, we landed at Sardis Lake near Clayton, Oklahoma — and spent our days walking the park roads, taking in the lake views and discovering unexpected surprises.

The yellow swallowtail butterflies were everywhere. Hundreds of them. Elegant and unhurried, they were far more cooperative than most butterflies, content to linger on the flowers rather than flutter away the moment you raised a camera. I don’t normally chase butterflies — they’re always on the move — but this felt like an invitation.

Then one caught my eye that was different from the rest. While the others drifted from flower to flower, this one stayed close — returning again and again to a single bloom. We looked closer and noticed its wings were damaged. We stood there quietly, wondering. Had it been a long journey? A close call? Whatever had happened, it was still here. Still finding its flower. Still going.

And then came the hummingbird moths.

Neither of us had ever seen one before. Three of them, working a patch of purple flowers — hovering, dipping their long proboscis into each blossom, moving with a purpose that was somehow both frantic and peaceful at the same time. We just stopped and watched for about fifteen minutes, not saying much. Some moments don’t need commentary.

Eventually it was time to start working our way back. But we carried that moment with us.