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WILD AZALEA CANYONS
Head north on Texas 87 from the traffic light in Newton
and turn right on FM 1414. Proceed 6.8 miles on FM 1414 to the
road to Wild Azalea Canyon. Note that some 3.3 miles from
Texas 87 is another area destroyed by the Moore Branch Fire in 2000.
At the Wild Azalea Canyon/ Birding Loop Site 3 signs, turn right and
follow the Wild Azalea Canyon signs to the canyon parking area. Wild
Azalea Canyon is a Temple Inland set-aside site that has been known
for many years as a place of special beauty. It is known for its
abundance of Wild Azaleas (Rhododendron canescens) known locally as
Wild Honeysuckle.
Temple Inland’s stewardship of this site and their dedication to
maintaining and propagating the plants here is to be commended.
These plants bloom in March and the canyon is in a pine ridge area
that contains Longleaf Pine as well as many Dogwoods that bloom at
the same time as the Azaleas.
This location is Site 3 on the Big Thicket Loop Birding Trail. It is
one of the few places in Texas where Worm-eating Warblers nest. At
times, Swallowtail Kites soar over the area. Many of our summer
breeding birds can be found here in what is a meeting of two
different habitats. This is a great place to hear the beautiful song
of the Wood Thrush. This is a good site for butterflies in the
spring. Bird’s-foot Violets bloom along the entrance road.
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