The Wimberley Parks and Rec folks are once again sponsoring the 'Painting with Parks' program to encourage the public to get to know their parks through painting.  Three of us act as 'hosts' and are there to lead, instruct and or encourage as needed.  Although Blue Hole Park is pretty strict about keeping the public on the trails to reduce damage to the environment, this month they allowed us off the trail.  We wandered downstream from the park and found a nice flow os water (a rare thing these days) and an idyllic setting. 

What a great place to paint on a hot summer day.  The spillway coming out of Canyon Lake feeds the Guadalupe River, a favorite spot for tubing in the summer.  While it was hot in the sun, I was constantly refreshed by cool breezes moving through the stream bed.

Jacob's Well is an artesian well, that is nearby us in Wimberley.  It consists of a hole in the limestone, about 6 feet in diameter that descends endlessly into a system of deep underground caves.  For generations, it has been a summer destination for families to play in during the hot Texas summers.  It is told that 50 years ago, water shot up a six foot stream from the ground.  Unfortunately, today is still flows (most days), but the demand for groundwater due to development has severely restricted the flow.  That being said, this painting isn't about that.  The well is part of a county park that is within walking distance from my home.  While the entrance to the park has moved (to where it is no longer easy to walk there), the original entrance was quite close.  I have painted at the well several time, but this time, I was standing with my back to the water, looking up the trail, toward the original entrance to the park.    

John Knox Ranch is a Presbyterian camp southwest of Wimberley that is just gorgeous!  Nestled along the Blanco River, it has 300 acres of beautiful Texas Hill Country scenery.  A group of us were invited to paint out there, and had a great time - We plan to return when the weather is better.  The Treehouse sits in a tree, 20-30 feet above the ground (reminds me of zipline platforms in Central America, only better constructed), overlooking Blue Hole, the spring-fed swimming hole in a creek.  Although the landscape was amazing, I am always drawn to the architecture!  Can't wait to return.

"Blue Hole" is a popular swimming spot in the summer.  It is a deep spot along Cypress Creek, as it wanders through town.  Diving docks and rope swings offer kids and adults a like a cool refreshing dip in spring-fed water on a hot summer day.  In the winter, there is a little less traffic.  I painted this on a cool, sunny morning when the water was still and the reflected sky made a nice contrast to the shaded trees along the far bank

After an incredible drought this summer, the water is flowing once again from Jacob's Well in Wimberley.  An artesian well that is a favorite swimming hole, the water level was reportedly 10 feet down from the rim a few weeks ago.  Water is once again flowing, and I was able to paint the Cypress Creek downstream, with a few more exposed rock than normal 

A favorite summer-time swimming hole, the San Marcos River falls through the chute cresting a great scene

Although the water level was down due to drought, there was still water in the pool below the falls at Pedernales Falls State Park

Just down below the bridge at the Square, Cypress Creek is a serene place to paint