Conditions are looking prime for a great wildflower display next spring. There has been abundant rain this fall in much of Texas which is essential for seedlings to sprout during the fall and begin growth for the spring bloom. I believe we could see a wildflower season as good as 2012 and maybe as good as 2010. Stay tuned for updates early next year as the winter wanes.

The long hot summer has broken bringing mostly cooler temperatures to much of Texas. Recent rain too has spurred a plentiful fall wildflower bloom. Currently blooming in central Texas are: goldenrod, Maximillian sunflowers, broomweed, and liatris. The most abundant fall wildflowers are yellow.

Recent abundant rain could be good news for next spring since spring wildflowers germinate in the fall.

Dry heat has set in here in central Texas with daily temperatures hovering around 100 degrees. The only appreciable wilflowers still in bloom are wild sunflowers, but even they are showing stress due to the heat and lack of rain. I spotted a few bluebells blooming along Toll Road 130, one of the few wildflowers that seem to love the heat of summer. Bluebells have become increasingly rare due to indescrimanant picking, so if you are lucky enough to come across some, please leave them be so they can produce seed and come back in future years.

Summer-time heat is here in central Texas and it's taking its toll on spring wildflowers. Firewheels are rapidly waning and going to seed, and so are the Mexican hats, greenthread and other lingering spring wildflowers. Summer wildflowers, however, are beginning to replace them with sunflowers and horsemint now in full bloom.

Heavy rain over the Memorial Day weekend has prompted many wildflowers to put on additional blooms in the Austin area. Firewheels, greenthread, verbena, Texas thistle, Engelmann daisies, mealy sage and horsemint are all fairly common. Some new wildflowers have begun to appear as well including sunflowers and basketflowers.

Many late spring/early summer wildflowers are still blooming in the Austin area. Flowers currently in bloom include: firewheels, greenthread, Mexican hats, clasping-leaf coneflowers, verbena, antelope horns, mealy sage, and prickly pear cacti. With recent heavy rains, blooms should continue for several weeks.

Drought has taken its toll on much of the Hill Country resulting in far fewer late spring wildflowers than usual. There are, however, some nice displays in northern Williamson and Burnet counties.

TX195 from IH35 west to TX138 (Florence) - a few wildflowers along the road, including firewheels, Engelmann daisies and wooly-white. Rating: 1-2

TX138 from TX195 west to US183 - greenthread, wooly-white, Engelmann daisies, verbena, firewheels; mainly along road, a few fields. Rating: 1-3

US 183 just south of Jct TX138 - large field of greenthread

FM 243 from US183 to TX29 (Betram) - a very beautiful drive with an abundance of greenthread including many massive fields; also wooly-white, Engelmann daisies, verbena and firewheels. Rating: 3-5

TX29 west to FM261 - assorted wildflowers. Rating: 2-3

FM261 to FM2241 to TX29 (Llano) - stonecrop, firewheels, bitterweed, Engelmann daisies. Rating: 2-3

TX16 from Llano north to Cherokee - firewheels, bitterweed, phlox, Engelmann daisies; mainly along the road, better near Llano, worse near Cherokee. Rating: 0-2

Pontotoc Rd (FM531) west to CR310 - assorted wildflowers. Rating: 0-1

CR310 south to TX71 (Field Creek) - very dry, virtually no wildflowers. Rating: 0

TX 71 southeast to TX29 - assorted wildflowers, better south as you near Jct TX29. Rating: 1-2

Bluebonnets are long gone in the Hill Country, but blues have been replaced with yellows, golds, reds and whites. Now in bloom in order of abundance are: wooly-white, greenthread, firewheels, Engelmann daisies, bitterweed, verbena, yellow primrose, mealy sage, pink evening primrose, prickly pear cacti and wild onions. Coreopsis has yet to bloom, but there are significant number of plants. The area I traveled is not a "banner year" but there are still some significant displays along the roads and in the fields/pastures.

Hwy 29 between Liberty Hill and Llano - roadsides lined with wooly-white, greanthread, Engelmann daisies, firewheels, yellow primrose. Many fields/pastures of wildflowers as well. Rating: 3-4

Inks Lake State Park - lots of bitterweed, also firewheels, wild onion, yellow primrose. Prickly pear cacti beginning to bloom, a few lace cacti still blooming. Rating: 3-4

Check out my Facebook page for recent pictures.

Bluebonnets are at peak and looking good in and around Ennis and Ellis county. Unfortunately in many areas the grass is overtaking the bluebonnets and obscuring them from view. There is also an abundance of white guara, Texas dandelion, Texas Star and Huisache daisy in bloom as well.

In central Texas, especially northern Williamson county, there has been an explosion of greenthread in bloom. Also blooming in large numbers are verbena, evening primrose, wooly white, and Engelmann daisy. Firewheels have begun to bloom as well.

Bluebonnets are looking good in and around Ennis and Ellis county. They are not nearly as impressive as last year, but are still probably the best displays of bluebonnets in the state this year. Blooms appear close to peak, and cooler weather and rain in the forecast will help prolong the bloom. Visit my Facebook page for recent pictures.

Valek Rd near FM 85 - large thick field of bluebonnets. Rating: 4

Hornik Rd - some nice large fields along this road. Rating: 3-4

Andrews Rd - some stretches along this road have large thick fields. Rating: 3-4

Best bluebonnets I've seen this year, but only average compared to previous years. Peak will be soon, grasses are beginning to take over.

IH 45 from Corsicana to Ennis - thick bluebonnets along road, some paintbrush. Large fields of bluebonnets after you cross into Ellis county. Rating: 3-4

Mach Rd - some nice coverage, but an average year only. Rating: 3

Sugar Ridge Rd - less coverage than usual. Rating: 3

FM 660 - some nice fields along this road. Rating: 2-4

Nice displays of paintbrush and crimson clover in east Texas. Some very large displays of paintbrush monocultures.

US 79 between Taylor and Hearne - bluebonnets, paintbrush, phlox, and primrose along roads; light coverage, some fields. Rating: 1-2

US 79 between Hearne and TX 7 - a few wildflowers along the road. Rating: 0-1

TX 7 between Crockett and Kennard - crimson clover and coreopsis, very good coverage along the road. Rating: 2-3 (roadside only)

US 259 south of Kilgore - road heavily lined with crimson clover, paintbrush and white flowers. Rating: 2-3

FM 314 between IH 20 and FM 279 (Edom) - lots of paintbrush along roads and some large fields covered as well. Rating: 3-4

FM 314 between Edom and Brownsboro - several large fields of paintbrush. Rating: 3

North Texas - bluebonnets are beginning to look really good in the Ennis area, peak should be in about a week

Hill Country - bluebonnets look to be at peak now, best areas look to be southeast Llano county. Canyon of the Eagles reports bluebonnets along the shores of Lake Buchanan (end of FM 2341). Hwy 71 southeast of Llano and the county roads in the area are looking good with nice displays of bluebonnets along the roadsides.

US 290 between Austin and Jct US 281 - few wildflowers or bluebonnets. Rating: 0-1

US 281 between Jct US 290 and Blanco - few wildflowers or bluebonnets. Rating: 0-1

Reports are now coming in of average to good bluebonnet displays in the Hill Country along the roads. Best areas include Hwy 71 south east of Llano, Hwy 16 north of Llano, and Hwy 29 west of Llano. Bluebonnets have also been spotted along the roadsides in the Kingland area on FM 2900 and FM 2233. I'll be scouting the area this weekend, so look for my report with pictures coming soon.

After a soaking rain last week, there has been an explosion of rain lilies that popped up over Sunday night. Some fields in the Austin area are covered with thousands of these white wildflowers. Bluebonnets and other wildflowers are popping up as well. More rain is forecast for this week. With the added rainfall, wildflower conditions should continue to improve over the next weeks.

Most of central Texas received some much needed rain this week, with rain totals anywhere from around 1 inch to over 4 inches. In Austin, new wildflowers are already popping up everywhere. Bluebonnets seem to be exploding from nowhere. At least there is now hope for some decent wildflowers displays in the Hill Country, if not bluebonnets, then the late spring wildflowers such as coreopsis and firewheels.

Mason county received anywhere from 0.95 to 2.38 inches.

Llano county received anywhere from 1.05 to 4.14 inches.

Burnet county received anywhere from 0.96 to 3.16 inches.

Gillespie county received anywhere from 0.62 to 1.74 inches.

Yesterday evening I took a walk with my dog exploring some local undeveloped fields and was surprised to find a carpet of tiny wildflower plants. It appears that there are indeed many wildflowers waiting to bloom, but are most likely just waiting for some rain to bring them to life. In one spot approximately one square foot in area I counted over 20 tiny bluebonnets seedlings, most no larger than a quarter. One even had a tiny little flower. In other areas I found tiny stork bill seedlings too numerous to count.

I believe this may be the case in the Hill Country as well. If we get some decent rain, we may still see nice fields of bluebonnets this year. The forecast at the moment gives us a chance of rain today through Wednesday, with a 50% chance on Tuesday.

Some parts of west Texas have some nice wildflowers and I found parts of the Hill Country that are nicely green with some bluebonnets early in bloom. My impression is that it is still early and things may improve, especially with some rain. Peak for bluebonnets in the Hill Country should be mid April.

IH 20 between Abilene and Junction IH 10: very dry, virtually no wildflowers. Rating: 0

IH 10 between Junction IH 20 and El Paso: very dry, vitrually no wildflowers. Rating:0

IH 10 from Balmorhea to Ft Stockton: some nice displays of wildflowers along the road; purple feather dalea, orange and pink mallow, bladderpod, verbena, yellow primrose, guara and several others spotted in bloom. Rating: 2

US 290 from west of Fredericksburg to Johnson City: greener than to the north, however, still few bluebonnets and only along the road. In early bloom, peak will most likely be mid April. Rating: 1

The drought has taken its toll on the Hill Country this year. It is very dry and there are few wildflowers. In many areas trees are still bare and it still looks like winter. It may just be too early. Bluebonnets range from early bloom in some areas to near peak in others.

Texas 29 from Georgetown to Seward Junction: isolated small patches of bluebonnets along road only. Rating: 0

Texas 29 from Seward Junction to Burnet: small patches of bluebonnets and redbud trees in bloom along road only. Rating: 0

Texas 29 between Burnet and Inks Lake: small patches of bluebonnets along road only. Rating: 0

Texas 29 between Inks Lake and FM 1431: light coverage of bluebonnets, bladderpod, very few paint brush; some bluebonnets extend into pastures. Rating: 1-2

Texas 29 between FM 1431 and Llano: light patches of bluebonnets and bladderpod along road only, very dry. Rating: 0-1

US 71 between Llano and Pontotoc: light, scattered bluebonnet coverage along road in early bloom, none extend into fields ; very dry, mesquite still bare, still looks like winter. Rating: 0-1

US 71 between Pontotoc and San Saba river: very few bluebonnets, very dry. Rating: 0

US 71 between San Saba river and Brady: very dry, trees bare, very few wildflowers. Rating: 0

US 283 between Brady and Coleman: very dry, no wildflowers. Rating: 0

US 84 between Coleman and Abilene: very dry, no wildflowers. Rating: 0

Several new reports have come in from Central Texas and the Hill Country over the last few days. I will be travelling through the Hill Country next week and will provide my own report in time for Easter weekend.

Cyndi reports that there are bluebonnets in the median of Loop 360 in Austin.(3/23)

Anne reports seeing bluebonnets and flowering trees at McKinney Falls State Park in Austin. (3/20)

Johnny has posted an excellent Hill Country report (albeit disappointing) over at Wildflower Haven. (3/23)

Visited the eastern Hill Country and there are few wildflowers to report. Very few bluebonnets this year. Bloom is somewhat early, but I'd have to agree with the LBJ Wildflower Center that peak will probably be in about 2 weeks.

US 183A from FM 620 to US 183 north of Leander - very few wildflowers or bluebonnets. Rating: 0

TX 29 from US 183 (Seward Junction) to Bertram - very few wildflowers or bluebonnets. Rating: 0

FM 1174 from TX 29 to Cow Creek Rd - very few wildflowers or bluebonnets. Rating: 0

FM 1869 from FM 1174 to Liberty Hill - very few wildflowers or bluebonnets. Rating: 0

JJ Pickle Research Campus, Austin - grounds have some good stands of bluebonnets (no access). Rating: 2

Today is the vernal equinox, the first day of spring. More and more reports of wildflowers are coming in. Reports from south and east of San Antonio are disappointing, with very few bluebonnets or other wildflowers compared to last year. There are very few bluebonnets in the Austin area. Best reports are coming in from the Brazos Valley area around Brenham, east of Austin and west of Houston. Southeast Texas has seen a decent amount of rain over the last 6 months, while most of the rest of the state is suffering from drought. The Austin area and Hill Country remain in severe drought. There are a few isolated areas in Llano and Burnet counties that got better rainfall, and may fare better.

The LBJ Wildflower Center has predicted bluebonnets to peak at the beginning of April.

A large field of bluebonnets has been reported on the west side of Hwy 6 just south of FM 1227 and CR 318.

Reports of bluebonnets blooming in the Houston and San Antonio areas are coming in. Coreopsis, greenthread and phlox have been spotted as well. I spotted a solitary bluebonnet plant blooming in Austin along IH-35, but so far no patches.

A large patch of bluebonnets has been reported near the Houston Patio Garden Center along the IH-45 feeder going north between TX 242 and FM 1488

Bluebonnets have been reported blooming along IH-35 near Moore, south of San Antonio

Some small patches of bluebonnets have been spotted in the Hill Country along Hwy 29 between Llano and FM 1431. I will be in the Burnet area on Thursday and will provide an update.

IH-35 from Austin to New Braunfels - some redbud and huisache trees in bloom; virtually no annual wildflowers blooming except for some invasive yellow mustard

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.

Mountain laurels and redbuds continue to bloom in central Texas, with not much to report on annual wildflowers in tha Austin area. Invasive bastard cabbage has been spotted, but in far fewer numbers than last year. A return to more seasonable temperatures lately may put off the beginning of the annual wildflower bloom for a bit. In the Brenham area, there are increasing reports of early bluebonnet sightings. I expect a better wildflower display in the Brazos Valley area compared to last year because of better rainfall. Last year the Hill Country had a great bloom, but much less rainfall this season will probably mean a much more subdued display.

Mountain laurels have begun to bloom in central Texas bringing a hint of grape coolaid to the air. They join redbuds that have been blooming for several weeks. Early spring annual wildflowers are starting to show as well, and even a handfull of bluebonnets were sighted in the median of Hwy 290 near Brenham. Reports are coming in of healthy numbers of bluebonnet plants, so there are signs of a decent spring wildflower show in the weeks ahead.

Very unseasonably warm temperatures over the last several weeks have caused many trees to start putting on spring foliage, and redbuds in the Austin area are already starting to bloom. This could beacon an early start for annual wildflowers as well, but as of today none have been spotted yet. Rain will still be a major factor this year with much of the state facing drought once again. A repeat of the bloom in 2012 is unlikely, but there is hope it will be better than 2011.

Once again virtually the entire state is in drought, there was decent rain in September, but none after that until this past week. It is unknown whether there was sufficient rain in September to germinate bluebonnet seeds, and if any did germinate, did they survive the following 3 months with no rain at all.
There are always some wildflowers blooming in Texas each spring, but it remains to be seen whether or not there will be a signicant bloom this year. Needless to say, we will need more rain over the next few months.