Expect a strong bluebonnet season in Houston
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Bluebonnets near Chappell Hill. Photo: Mark Mulligan/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images
It's bluebonnet blooming season, and the Houston area — unlike much of the state — is expected to put on a solid show.
Driving the season: We had plenty of rainfall last year, setting the stage for a vibrant early wildflower bloom.
- But areas like Central Texas and Western Texas that have faced a drier year and ongoing drought conditions will probably have sparser fields of bluebonnets and Texas paintbrushes, according to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
What they're saying: "If predicting the weather is a challenge, then predicting the wildflower bloom for a big state like Texas is even more of a challenge," Andrea DeLong-Amaya, the Wildflower Center's horticulture director, said in this year's wildflower report.
- "With fluctuations in weather and micro-climate scenarios (where one small geographical area may have received different weather than others), it's sometimes hard to make a big sweeping prediction. This is one of those years."
The big picture: Fall's showers lead to spring flowers. Areas like Brenham and College Station will probably have lots of blooms, DeLong-Amaya expects.
- In Central Texas, early bloomers are a bit sparse this year — but that leaves more room for later spring and summer flowers to thrive. If spring brings more moisture, expect stronger appearances from late bloomers like firewheel (Gaillardia pulchella) and purple horsemint (Monarda citriodora).
The bottom line: You don't have to drive very far to see the spring pizzazz.
- Just be mindful to avoid trampling the blooms, so others can enjoy them, too.
If you go: Houston Botanic Garden, Buffalo Bayou, Memorial Park and White Oak Bayou inside the loop should have wildflowers popping up soon.
- The drive to Brenham should be scenic, as TxDOT has seeded the roadsides with wildflowers.