Joann Merritt's Essays

Toenail Trail
May, 2001

Don and I were on our way to Mason to tour the Bluebonnet and Wildflower Country Lane Trails when we stubbed our toe within 50 miles or so of our destination. A sign that stated “Toenail Trail” was too intriguing for us to ignore so we trailed south of our intended route.

As we slowly drove down Toenail Trail orange butterflies criss-crossed the road ahead of us in an attempt to sample the seasonal wildflower nectar from Nature’s Smorgasbord, Carolina Moonseed visually explained the term clinging vine and a meandering row of large trees signaled that we were nearing the San Saba River.

We parked beside a low water crossing which provided a good viewing area and before we even exited the truck Don was hearing chickadees and titmice. Soon White-eyed, Yellow-throated and Bell’s Vireos added their calls and songs as did the Carolina Wren and Summer Tanager - definitely not your Midland County birds, although Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Cardinal, Mockingbird and Ash-throated Flycatcher were also present. The birds would fly up and down the river singing all the while.

When the birds weren’t in view our attention turned to unusual native plants such as Venus’ Looking Glass, Baby Blue Eyes, a super abundance of the Monardas - especially Purple Horsemint but also the white Spotted Beebalm - several bright yellow and gold composites and of course, the Water-Cress that grew in the river.

Some butterflies were nectaring on these wildflowers but the majority of them were imbibing moisture from the muddy edges and mossy banks of an isolated pool of water. As we cautiously approached the butterflies each step we took caused them to take flight but they would soon settle back down at their favorite water hole, the San Saba Sipping Saloon. I counted 319 Orange Sulphur and Sleepy Orange butterflies plus a few other species including Questionmark, Pearl Crescent and two Duskywing Skippers I couldn’t identify as to species.

The weather was perfect and there were no mosquitoes, flies, etc. to torment us as we stood in the shade of a huge oak tree enjoying all of these displays of nature. Hearing the gentle trickling, gurgling and splashing of the San Saba River as it flowed eastward was soothing background music, especially to the ears of Midlanders from our drought stricken country.

I don’t know how the name Toenail Trail originated but I do know it was one of the trails that Roy Rogers wished for us in his trademark song Happy Trails To You.