Natural History Wanderings

Gary Regner Photography reports on April 3, 2015 South Texas Starting to Fade

Spent the afternoon east of San Antonio exploring the area around Luling, Seguin, Floresville and then west towards Somerset, but didn’t quite make it. Wildflowers are doing better around Luling and Seguin, but are average at best and not as good as last year. Wildflowers around Floresville are fading, as well as west towards Somerset. Groundsel in these areas is completely gone, and bluebonnets are going to seed, but there are still good displays of prickly poppies and paintbrush. Some significant rain would be helpful, but the outlook is not too promising.

> US 183 from US 290 to Hwy 71: Nice color on the roadsides and median, lots of paintbrush and less bluebonnets. Viewing only, too busy to stop. Rating: 2-3

> US 183 from Jct TX 45 to Lockhart: Lot of bluebonnets along the road, but lots of invasive mustard as well. US 183 (not Toll 130) is not too busy. Rating: 2-4

> US 183 in the Luling area: Lots of paintbrush and to a lesser extent bluebonnets. Signature crimson phlox that is usually found here is rare this year. Rating: 2-3

> TX 80 from Luling to Alt 90: Not a lot to see. Rating: 0-1

> Alt 90 from TX 80 to Seguin: Improved, but still not nearly as nice as last year. Bluebonnets, groundsel, some phlox, paintbrush, prickly poppies, baby blue eyes, and bluebonnets. Rating: 2-4

> Hwy 123 from Seguin to Stockdale: Some nice mixed displays along the road, and some decent fields; however, this is a very busy road. Rating: 2-3

> US 87 between Stockdale and La Vernia: some very nice medium to heavily covered mixed fields. Bluebonnets, paintbrush, groundsel, prickly poppies. Rating 2-4

> FM 539 and TX 97 east of Floresville: Still some decent displays, but fading now. Paintbrush are still looking good, but bluebonnets going to seed, and groundsel pretty much gone. Rating 2-3

> FM 536 between Floresville and US 281: Some scattered displays, but really fading since a week or two ago. Groundsel gone, some nice bluebonnets and paintbrush remain. Rating 1-3

> US 281 north to Loop 1604: Some scattered displays, nothing great. Rating 0-2

> Loop 1604 west to Hwy 16: Some scattered displays, with some nice fields of prickly poppies and paintbrush here and there. Rating 2-4

See older reports at Texas Wildflower and Bluebonnet Sightings Report : Texas Wildflower Hot Spots and Pictures by Gary Regner Photography.