| Introduction | | | | plan scenic drives in the rural areas around Austin to |
| After the cold and dreary days of winter, the | | | | see the fields of wildflowers. |
| Bluebonnets are here! Starting in mid-March, the | | | | Engelmann's Daisy - This flower is a yellow, eight |
| wildflowers begin appearing heralded by these blue | | | | pedaled daisy on a long spike. These flowers often |
| and white carpets on the roadsides. Soon to follow | | | | are found in clumps along the roadside and neighboring |
| are Indian Paintbrushes, Mealy Blue Sage, Indian | | | | meadows. |
| Blanket, Black-eyed Susan, Mexican Hat and more. | | | | Mealy Blue Sage - A member of the mint family, it |
| Central Texas puts on an awe-inspiring display of | | | | particularly is found in the limestone soils in the western |
| spring flowers. | | | | fringe of Austin. The blossom is a stem of violet blue |
| Don't worry about trying to find wildflowers, just take a | | | | petals. |
| drive and you can't miss them. Our Texas Highway | | | | Indian Blanket - The Indian Blanket or Firewheel adds |
| Department actually encourages and seeds | | | | both yellow and red with its pinwheel of bright pedals. |
| wildflowers on the roadsides. Mowing along our roads | | | | Black-Eyed Susan - A member of the Sunflower |
| is also delayed to be sure that the wildflowers bloom | | | | family, it's blooms arrive with the warming |
| and re-seed every year. The Texas Highway | | | | temperatures of April. These blooms are strong yellow |
| Department even has a wildflower hotline at (800) | | | | petals surrounding a dark center. |
| 452-9292. | | | | May Flowers |
| This year is expected to be a very strong spring | | | | Spring is passing quickly into the heat of summer, but |
| bloom because of the wet fall and winter. To help | | | | Central Texas still is a colorful place with many new |
| appreciate our native flower displays, here is a guide to | | | | flowers. Here are some of the new additions: |
| some of the most popular and prominent flowers to | | | | Drummond Phlox - These flowers have red to pink |
| be seen around Austin. | | | | blooms in a cluster of erect stems. |
| First Flush of Color: Mid-March | | | | Mexican Hat - The bloom has a pronounced cone with |
| You will know Spring is here when the first | | | | a fringe of drooping yellow and red petals. |
| Bluebonnets appear. | | | | Moss Verbena - This flower is a brilliant cluster of small |
| Bluebonnets - Blooms from mid-March to May in the | | | | purple blooms. |
| Austin area. A member of the legume (bean) plant | | | | Showy Primrose - This flower is a large cupped, four |
| family, it prospers on well drained roadsides and fields. | | | | pedaled pink flower with a white interior and yellow |
| The Bluebonnet is the state flower of Texas. The | | | | center. |
| Bluebonnet blossoms are on a spike with dark blue | | | | Additional Resources |
| petals and a white tip. | | | | Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - |
| Indian Paintbrush - The intense scarlet to orange | | | | Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Research Center located |
| flowers that often nestle with the Bluebonnets are the | | | | in Southwest Austin is the only facility in the nation |
| Indian Paintbrushes. They start emerging just after the | | | | devoted to the study of native plants and flowers. The |
| Bluebonnets and continue blooming until May. They are | | | | center was founded in 1982 by Lady Bird Johnson as |
| a member of the snapdragon plant family. | | | | part of her national beautification initiative. |
| April - Primetime for Wildflowers | | | | Texas Department of Transportation - [ |
| April is the peak month of wildflower color with the | | | | Summary |
| early flowers still blooming and many additional | | | | Don't miss Central Texas in the Spring. Our wildflowers |
| wildflower plants adding their blooms. This is the time to | | | | provide amazing "eye candy" to enjoy! |