Natural History Wanderings

 updated 3/13/13

Wild About Texas Wildflowers reports:

Conroy I45 feeder between TX 249 and FM 1488 There is a big patch of bluebonnets in full bloom along the I45 feeder going north between TX242 and FM1488. You can’t see it from I45 but must be on the feeder. You can pull into the Houston Patio Garden store and have a look but even the feeder Is very busy so BE CAREFUL. I would estimate that the hillside patch is a couple blocks long and twenty feet across.
FM1488 close to Hempstead coreopsis were never dense, but were welcome color in the bright sun. Also seen Lanceleaf Tickseed,  Alaska Blue-eyed Grass.
FM1488 and US 290 These phlox were blooming on the corner of an intersection on FM 1488 right next to 290.
West of  Brenham on US 290 bluebonnets and paintbrush starting to bloom on 290 around 5 miles west of Brenham. Map location is approximate. The bluebonnets are not dense, but there are a few clusters beginning to bloom. The paintbrush are very sparse at this time.

Wildflower Haven reports

 a small open area of bluebonnets in bloom along the east side Babcock RD just past Medical Drive. This is an open area that is part of the Santa Rosa hospital complex. The area is about 60′ by 60′ with fairly dense coverage of blooms – just starting.  The area could be watered. That plus possible seeding could be the reason it is blooming a bit earlier than expected in the San Antonio area.  Not sure of the hospital’s policy of taking “photos in the bluebonnets.”

Gary Regner Photography reports:

 Some annuals starting to show
A few annual wildflowers have joined mountain laurels and redbuds blooming in central Texas. Greenthread is starting to show along the major roadways with an increasing number of invasive bastard cabbage plants as well. More seasonable temperatures lately seem to be slowing plants down a bit. The Wildflower Research Center released it’s forecast, and as expected they are predicting a less than spectacular year due to dry conditions. I’ve spotted a few bluebonnet rosettes in the Austin area, far fewer than last year. They are still a long way off from blooming.

Press Release from Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Early Spring Wildflower ForecastDrier than normal conditions since last fall mean early wildflowers won’t fare as well in many Texas regions, but intermittent rains since January will help those plants and boost later blooms, according to the senior botanist at The University of Texas at Austin’s Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

“Indian paintbrush, bluebonnets and other early spring bloomers won’t likely be as plentiful along state roadsides this year,” said Damon Waitt, who also is the center’s senior director. “Winter rains should help late-spring and early summer wildflowers to develop, though, such as horsemint and Indian blanket.”

Waitt noted that seeds left in the soil from last year’s abundant wildflower season could boost the late spring-early summer show of wildflowers. Parts of San Antonio and cities like Del Rio also experienced average rainfalls late last year that bode well this spring. And long-living, perennial wildflowers such as winecup and pink evening primrose should fare better than bluebonnets and other single-season flowers because perennials depend less on fall rain.

Among the early wildflowers already blooming in Central Texas are: baby blue eyes, giant spiderwort and prairie verbena on land in eastern Travis County near FM 969; blackfoot daisies at a ranch east of Marble Falls; a mass of stiff greenthread along U.S. 281 near Evans Road in north San Antonio, and solitary sightings there of windflowers, Texas star and baby blue eyes.

Rosettes of Texas bluebonnets are growing well along roadways in the Brenham, Texas, area, with a mid-March prediction for the start of blooms without significant warming. Near Marble Falls, bluebonnet rosettes in warmer spots are starting to grow.

In Houston, Carolina jessamine has been spotted along Townsend Road from FM 1960 to Highway 59. Spring cress and windflower have also being seen in nearby Kingwood along the East End Park trail. In West Texas, many Big Bend bluebonnets (which bloom earlier than Texas bluebonnets) are putting on a show along the River Road south of Presidio and near Terlingua, Texas. Globe mallow and wild mustards joined the bluebonnet blooms last week.

Carolina jessamine, plains fleabane and several bluebonnets have opened on the grounds of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, where irrigation means abundant displays with large flowers will begin in a few weeks. The center also provides picture spots for families to gather in front of bluebonnets. “We recognize how important these photos are to Texans,” Waitt said, “so the center provides that opportunity in a safe environment where you don’t have to pull off a road to get a keepsake.”