Late Spring Wildflowers

Prickly pear cacti bloom among a field of red firewheels in the Texas Hill Country south of Llano.

Bluebonnets are the iconic Texas wildflower that generally bloom in March and April.  Lesser known wildflowers usually bloom later in spring and can be just as impressive, especially in years that have good rainfall.  This past spring was average at best for bluebonnets in the Hill Country, but the other wildflowers are the ones that have really put on a show in May.  Firewheels, greenthread, bitterweed and many others have been blooming in great numbers this year due to all the rainfall brought by El Nino. I will be posting continued updates as spring progresses of which wildflowers are in bloom and where.  I’ve also updated my New Work gallery with pictures of Texas Wildflowers from the current spring season.

Spring in Texas

Spring Wildflowers near Floresville – 3/19/2015

A wet fall with continued rain through spring has resulted in a bounty of wildflowers in south central Texas.  Early scouting has shown abundant wildflowers already in bloom in the areas east and south of San Antonio.  This image was taken on 3/18/2015 off of Tx Hwy 97 near Floresville.  The area around Devine, Natalia and Lytle also has great displays of wildflowers including bluebonnets, phlox, groundsel and prickly poppies. This looks to be a very good year for wildflowers, one of the best we’ve seen in a long time due to recent drought. Visit my website for wildflower sighting updates and an extensive collection of photographs to help you identify Texas wildflowers.

A few more weeks…

Firewheels (red), lazy daisies (white) and bluebonnets blanket a field in Mason county in the Texas Hill Country.

In cooler, wetter years, bluebonnets can bloom well into May when late spring/early summer wildflowers such as firewheels and lazy daisies begin to bloom. This image was from the Texas Hill Country on May 3, 2007.  During that year bluebonnets bloomed from March well into May creating this patriotic mix of red, white and blue colors.  Conditions are similar this year to 2007, so we could see similar displays in the coming months. Visit my website for the latest wildflower reports and resources for wildflower identification.

Spring Bounty

Phlox, groundsel, pepper grass, bluebonnets, and prickly poppies blanket a field in south Texas during spring.

When rain is plentiful in fall and winter, spring in Texas can bring a bounty of assorted wildflowers to the countryside.  In 2010, abundant rainfall created a particularly colorful spring display in Atascosa County south of San Antonio. This image was taken on April 3. It is likely that this year wildflowers will appear a bit later due to the recent cold spell that has brought ice and colder than average temperatures to much of Texas.

Early signs of spring

Spring wildflowers in Mason County during 2010. A wet fall and winter bode well for a great wildflower display this year as well. This image features bluebonnets, groundsel and prickly poppies at sunset in the Texas Hill Country.

We’ve had a roller coaster ride of temperatures over the last several weeks that included many days of above normal spring-like weather. That has come to an abrupt end with colder than normal temperatures forecast through the weekend. The warmer weather did, however, cause some trees to start blooming and put on new leaves. The only native trees spotted in the Austin area that have begun to bloom are redbuds and mountain laurels.

Invasive weeds are blooming already including invasive mustard and pin clover. The landscape is becoming much greener as well with grasses waking from their winter slumber. Native annuals should be starting to bloom soon, but it is unclear how the recent temperature extremes will impact the bloom. I will begin scouting trips to find the best wildflower displays the first weekend of March.  Visit my website for more information.

Gary Regner Photography

Bluebonnets and prickly poppies along the James River in Mason county during 2010. Bluebonnets form massive displays during spring in the Hill Country when conditions are right.

Welcome to Gary Regner’s photography blog.  I specialize in the photography of Texas’ wildflowers. Visit my website for resources to identify wildflowers found in Texas as well as wildflower sighting reports during spring.