Spring is coming!

It’s mid-February, so we’re about halfway through winter! We’re turning the corner and spring is only about 6 weeks away!

The days are getting longer and nature is beginning to stir. I hesitate to make predictions, but this may be a great year for wildflowers. I came across many bluebonnet (Lupinus texensis) plants on my hike today and I’ve had similar reports from other Master Naturalists.

The cold winter snaps we’ve had and rain at just the right times are creating the right conditions, at least for bluebonnets.

Bluebonnets, of course, are the Texas State Flower, and they are a favorite of wildflower fans.

Right now, the plants don’t have the blossoms yet, but they look good, healthy and thick in the areas I saw them. They grow in the poorest, rockiest soil and we’ve got plenty of that.

The leaves occur in groups of five and are long, pointed ovals, rimmed in white. They’re quite pretty in their own right, but will pale when the blossoms come out. You can see tiny white hairs along the white edge.

Bluebonnet Leaves

The other sign of spring I encountered was the Agarita (Mahonia trifoliolata) flower buds. The flower buds are tiny, only about 1/8 inch in diameter. The buds are red, but the flowers will be yellow and very fragrant.

Agarita Flower Buds