Environment
BY KAMERYN GRIESSER
Bluebonnet season is early this year—what does it mean? Bluebonnet Bloom time: March-May Texas paintbrush Bloom time: March-September
In recent weeks, Austinites traveling on major highways may have noticed a familiar harbinger of spring: seas of bluebonnets flooding the roadsides. While the beloved state wildflower is a welcome accomplice of warmer weather, some have noted the blooms are over a month early this year. What’s happening? A typical bluebonnet season begins in early April, but the first buds arrived to Central Texas toward the end of February, said Andrea DeLong- Amaya, the director of horticulture for the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. “The timing of the bluebonnet season has every- thing to do with the warm weather. It’s been a while since we’ve had our last big freeze, and we’ve now had unseasonably warmer weather, which has sped up their growing,” DeLong-Amaya said. DeLong-Amaya said the flower typically blooms until mid-May before they become “toasted,” but hot weather is not necessarily the culprit of their demise. Instead, consistent rainfall is a key determiner of bluebonnet mortality. “The seeds start to germinate in the fall, when we get a lot of rain, and then continue to grow in the winter, which is a really critical time,” DeLong- Amaya said. In January, Austin got 6.07 inches of rain, the highest January precipitation the area has seen in over 15 years. Additionally, October’s rainfall was above average, according to data from the National Weather Service. “If it ends up being a really dry spring, [the season] might stop earlier. So we have our fingers crossed for good, well-spaced rains. And that’s important for other wildflowers too,”
Butterflyweed Bloom time: May-September
Texas redbud Bloom time: March-April
Pink evening primrose Bloom time: February-October
Texas star hibiscus Bloom time: May-September
SOURCE: LADY BIRD JOHNSON WILDFLOWER CENTER/COMMUNITY IMPACT
DeLong-Amaya said. On top of it all, DeLong-Amaya said last year’s drought killed off many plants, but the robust blue- bonnet seed prevails in direct sun and degraded soils. With less competition now, the flowers are more likely to dominate open green spaces. What residents should know While it’s not illegal to pick flowers from public roadsides, residents should do so in a way that does not pose a hazard to other drivers. Also, there are laws against damaging government property and right-of-ways, so digging up large clumps of flowers or driving on public fields is not allowed.
Additionally, picking any plant life in Texas state parks is an offense, and using fields on private property for photo ops is trespassing. While property owners have the freedom to mow down wildflowers in their lawn, DeLong- Amaya said they should consider keeping them to avoid disturbing the natural ecosystem. What’s next? DeLong-Amaya said another wildflower to look out for next is the pink evening primrose, which she predicts could come in mid- to late March. Paint- brushes and Texas star hibiscuses could follow.
Your only local shutter manufacturer for OVER 31 YEARS
Provided at Free In-Home consultation. FACTORY DIRECT PRICING
SCHEDULE NOW! 512-931-0400 3415 Williams Drive, #140, Georgetown • www.SouthernShuttersAustin.com Mention this ad to SAVE 10 %
34
COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Powered by FlippingBook