While many Texans pulled out their turtlenecks and heavier clothing for fall, the first green nubs of wildflowers were popping up along roadsides and in fields. Thanks to decent rain in central Texas, western Texas and elsewhere in the state, Texas is now due to end a dreary winter with an eye-popping spring season of bluebonnets, Indian blanket and many other wildflowers.
Damon Waitt, senior botanist at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, noted that the return of El Niño last summer not only brought an end to the state’s three-year drought, but also set the stage for this year’s upcoming splendor.
“These rainfall patterns should make for exceptional early and late spring wildflower displays in many regions of Texas,” Waitt said.
Already, Waitt has spotted large clusters of Texas bluebonnet rosettes ready to flower along Highway 290 near Brenham, Texas. Wildflower Center conservationists working in the field have reported Texas bluebonnets prepping to bloom along roadways between Marble Falls and Llano, Engelmann’s daisy along Interstate 10 heading toward El Paso, and Big Bend bluebonnet in and around its namesake parks.
Watch a live video of bluebonnets growing at the Wildflower Center.
Browse the center’s extensive online resources, including the wildflower quiz, the Native Plant Database and the native plant suppliers search engine.
