Natural History Wanderings

Gary Regner Photography has a May 10 Central Texas Wildflower Update

Central Texas is awash with color due to a spectacular wildflower bloom brought on by abundant spring rains. Firewheels, yellow primrose, bitterweed, wooly-white, coreopsis and many other wildflowers and cacti are currently blooming, and in many areas they are forming massive displays.

> Inks Lake State Park – The park is alive with color. Many wildflowers are currently blooming including: bitterweed, firewheels, prickly pear cacti, lace cacti, wild onions, bull nettle, stonecrop and many others. Rating: 3-4

> Llano county – All along the major highways (Hwy 29, Hwy 16 and Hwy 71), you will see massive displays of firewheels and bitterweed. Coreopsis and horsemint are starting to make a show as well, and prickly pear cacti are blooming too. Rating: 4-5

> North Austin – Many vacant lots are covered in firewheels. Other flowers blooming include yellow primrose, silver-leaf nightshade, greenthread and many others. Rating: 3-5

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