Texas Wildflower Season 2013
The Good, Bad and the Hope
May/June Wildflowers: See Could this be the May/June Area to check?
Ennis Update:
4/19-4/22: See Ennis Highlights
4/16: A few nice spots are developing in the Ennis area for details see Laura's report: Ennis 4/16
4/7: Reports coming in from the Ennis area look promising. The Mach RD field and Sugar Ridge RD are not looking as good as last year, but still with a fair amount of coverage. Other areas are improving. See most recent report in the forums from our regular Ennis/DFW reporter, Texas-Gal
Hill Country and South Texas Update: Most areas are reporting very dry conditions due to substantially lower rainfall amounts for February. Only sparse small areas of bluebonnets have been reported in the Hill Country and South Texas area. Based on rainfall analysis the best areas to check in the Hill Country would in southeast section of Llano County and western section of Burnet County. See: Where the Rainfall Analysis Says to Go
Brenham Area Update 3/24: See updated reports in the Brenham forum. Best areas for bluebonnet fields so far are in the Navasota and Whitehall area see: Whitehall and Navasota Rule the Blue!
The Good: September rainfall was above normal in most areas. In two test spots in the San Antonio area, bluebonnet seedlings have developed. One test spot in an area northwest of San Antonio had extensive coverage of rosettes by early November.
The Bad: Rainfall for October and November has been below normal in most areas.
The Hope: Despite the lower than normal rainfall in October and November, both test spots in the San Antonio show healthy growth of bluebonnet and other wildflower seedlings. There has been enough rainfall to keep seedlings alive and well. Hopefully by mid-January the rainfall will approach normal amounts and encourage deep root growth.
The key factors for a good wildflower season include:
- Adequate rainfall and warm temperature in the fall to support good seed germination.
- Sustaining rainfall in the winter to promote growth of healthy seedling root systems.
- Warming temps and normal rainfall in the late winter (Feb-March) to encourage growth of plants and bloom stalks. Cooler temperatures in March will tend to delay the blooming period. Warming temperatures with good rainfall will tend to promote an early and longer season.
- Less competing vegetation - Dead vegetation from previous seasons was burned away or removed. Native grasses prevail in the area with little or no invasive plant species.
- Proper mowing - Grass mowed in late August and again in late January (but not too low to remove seedling rosettes). Mowing during the prime blooming months of Mar-May can literally kill a good wildflower display. Sadly, I have seen more of this in recent years.
Well for one thing, I can guarantee there will be some wildflowers blooming somewhere in Texas in 2013. If rainfall and temperatures approach normal levels in February and March then there will probably be some spectacular displays bluebonnets and other wildflower blooming.
Wildflower.org has posted their spring forecast at: http://www.wildflower.org/press/index.php?link=press&id=264