Alpine Photo
Contest
WINNER OF THE
2019 HL KOKERNOT, JR.
MEMORIAL AWARD ($500)
“Ocean in the Sky” by Dustin Garza
“This image draws the eye immediately to the lightning and then your view flows naturally to the rain flowing down on the
Twin Sisters. The colors are very appealing, the horizon is level, the focus is excellent, and the drama in the clouds is powerful.
Excellent exposure for a dark setting. This image just screams west Texas monsoon and captures the experience of Alpine for
residents and travelers alike.”
— Lee Hoy, 2019 Alpine TX Photo Contest Judge
What is a cenizo?
The cenizo (Leucophyllum frutescens) is an evergreen shrub native to Texas
and Northern Mexico. Also known as Texas sage or purple sage, it is
sometimes also called the rain sage, because it can bloom at any time of the
year after adequate rainfall.
The cenizo is not a true sage; it belongs instead to the figwort family. It loves
soils high in calcium carbonate, requires minimal watering, can be easily
shaped into ornamental shrubs and is an important host to several species of
moth and butterfly.
The pale, silvery-green leaves and bell-shaped flowers are a hallmark of
west Texas. A plant of many names, it is sometimes referred to as a barometer
bush because an increase in humidity and soil moisture can trigger a bloom.
The flowers are most often purple but can also be light pink and occasionally
white.
Cenizo
Winter 2020
29