Tiempo de las Flores

A dry spring will paint a different type of Texas landscape this spring

click here to see the story in Rumbo

Photos courtesy Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center

	Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center, 2005

Bluebonnet season is upon us again, together with the road trips into the countryside that have become an annual ritual for Texans and tourists alike.

But this year, thanks to the drought that continues to plague much of the state, the perennial blue carpet will be harder to find. In its place, the more drought-resistant flowers will paint the landscape with hues of yellow, red and orange.

	Bluebonnet

“The flowers that depend on the rains of autumn and winter have really had a hard time of it,” said Mark Simmons of the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center. “There are some flowers that might be able to survive these conditions, but we don’t know which ones.”

A lot depends on what happens in the next few weeks, according to Simmons. A few showers in the next couple of weeks could make all the difference.

But rain or shine, there will still be many options for those who have an urge to get out and enjoy the colors of spring.

	Indian Blanket

A little research goes a long way

A bit of savvy stalking is in order this year for those who want to capture the best of a capricious Mother Nature. A couple of tools are at your disposal to assist you in your search, thanks to the Texas Department of Transportation. As of March 9, the agency’s toll-free hotline and website are once again available to help travelers pinpoint the times and places of the best wildflower viewing.

	Engelmann's Daisy

The famous bluebonnets, members of the lupine family, usually abound on Highway 290 between Houston and Austin, near Washington on the Brazos and the historic towns of Brenham and Independence. That area continues to hold the most promise among the region's bluebonnet hotspots, in part because its easterly position relative to the drought zone may have spared it.  Another option is to visit an irrigated park or center such as the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center and Wildseed Farms in the Hill Country. In the Valley, there are a wealth of parks that have establishes spectacular irrigated butterfly gardens, replete with flowering native species. To name a few: the World Birding Center in Mission, the Sanrta Ana Wildlife Refuge in Alamo and the Edinburg World Birding Center in Edinburg and the Valley Nature Center in Weslaco.

	Winecups

How to find them

The best strategy is to consult with the experts before you hit the road. Here are two excellent resources to guide you:

* TexDoT Wildflower Hotline: Call 800-452-9292. You can call 24 hours a day to hear a recording that is updated every Thursday, or press 5 to speak to a tourism counselor to request more detailed information.

* TexDoT Website: www.dot.state.tx.us. Select the word "Road Conditions" and you will see a color-coded map that provides detailed information about each zone in Texas.