Gary Regner Photography has the following reports
March 24, 2016 – Hill Country Update
Returning from west Texas through the Hill Country this afternoon, I’m happy to report that the wildflowers have improved since Monday morning. Roadside bluebonnets have improved significantly, and there are some signs of bluebonnets in the fields and pastures beyond. Peak in fields looks a week away. I still think this will be an average year at best, and most likely we will see areas that are below average with some that are better. I did take a close look as some pastures and could not find any thick growth of seedlings, only scattered plants. Some were already in bloom, others were still rather small and only leaves. Rain would help.
- – Hwy 71 northwest of Llano – nice bluebonnet roadsides that occassionally extend beyond the fence line; some large fields of Texas paintbrush
- – Hwy 29 between Llano and Burnet – roadside bluebonnets have improved, and there are some fields that are beginning to show coverage but only spotty and not very thick
>March 23, 2016 – Davis Mountains Update
Traveled from Alpine to IH 10 via TX 118 through Fort Davis and the Davis Mountains. Again it was very dry with little in bloom except the occasional yucca or mountain laurel. There are scattered wildflowers blooming along IH 10 to El Paso, but nothing worth stopping for.
>March 22, 2016 – Big Bend Update
Very dry sums it up. Only spotty roadside Big Bend Bluebonnets that are already going to seed. Ocotillo is in bloom, but no leaves this year. Very few cacti with blooms. Traveled from the north entrance to Panther Junction and then up to Chisos Basin. From there out the west entrance. Looks more like middle of summer than early spring.>March 21, 2016 -Hill Country Update
Traveled through the Hill Country enroute to Ft Stockton today (Hwy 29 from Seward Junction to Mason) . I know many are hopeful that it is too early and things will improve, but I did not see evidence to support that. There are wildflowers along the roadside of Hwy 29, but a below average year. Grass is already getting very tall.
Very few fields have any bluebonnets, and where they do they are sparse. The bluebonnets look at or near peak now. I did not see any immature plants in the fields that would indicate a better bloom to come. Best areas I saw along Hwy 29 were just west of Llano with a few (very few) nicely covered fields in full bloom now. Old Spanish Trail was pathetic, one of the worst years I’ve ever seen. Lots usually covered in paintbrush and bluebonnets have next to none.
Looks like 2016 is a dud. I will explore some more areas when I return from west Texas on Thursday. I think people are going to have to hunt pretty hard this year to find good wildflower displays. I did hear some reports of good displays along the Llano river where flooding occurred.
I’m still holding out hope for north Texas. I think that area did get some rain over the winter that eluded the rest of the state.
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