Wildflower forecast: A spectacular season coming

What they're saying: "On a scale from one to 10, this year looks like it could be an eight, for bluebonnets in particular, if not even better," said Andrea DeLong-Amaya, the center's director of horticulture. "This fall and winter we've enjoyed adequate rainfall that's been well-spaced, which is really key to wildflower development."

• And while the drought led to water restrictions and fire risks, extreme heat "reduces competition in the soil and creates space for spring-blooming wildflowers," according to Matt O'Toole, the center's director of land management.

Be smart: If you're new here, more than 5,000 species of wildflower and native grass line our state's roadsides through the Texas Department of Transportation's wildflower program.

• Lady Bird Johnson pushed for the Highway Beautification Act, which was signed in 1965, and the wildflower center works to support beautiful roadsides for pollinators and Texans to enjoy.

📍 If you go: Bluebonnets, Texas star and golden-eye phlox are already growing at the Wildflower Center, in addition to perennials like golden groundsel and large buttercup.

• Experts call mid-April the "showiest time" for wildflowers at the center.