Author Topic: 2017 Bluebonnet Season Forecast : ‘Early and Long,’ Says Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center  (Read 1785 times)

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Online Elderberry

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http://texashillcountry.com By Jason Weingart | February 24, 2017

2017 Bluebonnet Season Forecast : ‘Early and Long,’ Says Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center



Horticulturists at The University of Texas at Austin’s Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center released its 2017 wildflower forecast, and it looks like we are in for an early and longer wildflower season. Recent warm temperatures have even caused a few blooms to start popping up already. “Wildflower season is taking off faster than you expect,” said Andrea DeLong-Amaya, director of horticulture at the Wildflower Center.

The Texas Hill Country saw an abundance of fall and winter rains. Wildflowers develop their root systems during these months, so sufficient precipitation is important. They start to bloom once average low temperatures begin to warm.

Warm temperatures in January and February are causing some plants to bloom early.

The three-month forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration calls for warmer than average temperatures for Central Texas. However, a strong cold front bringing a hard freeze to the area could be detrimental to some wildflower species. Thankfully, the forecast looks favorable.

Temperatures are forecast to be above average for the Texas Hill Country.

Bluebonnets are resistant to cold. “When a cold snap happens, bluebonnets are rarely damaged,” said DeLong-Amaya. “But when we have warm spells as we have, and plants such as mountain laurels bloom, they are vulnerable to damage during a late hard freeze. We’ve had freezes in late March and early April, and if things are blooming by then, we can lose a lot of flowers for the season.”

Will Indian Paintbrush have a banner year like they did in 2016?

http://texashillcountry.com/2017-bluebonnet-season-forecast/

Offline Sanguine

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Mine are already blooming!

Online Ghost Bear

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Started seeing them here just north of Austin about 10 days ago. Much earlier than usual.  Although there are a lot of them around now, they don't seem quite as lush or vibrant as they did last year.  Maybe it's still early?   :shrug:
Let it burn.

Online Elderberry

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I would think its still early. We like to walk the trails at Washington on the Brazos. Last year was disappointing. There was all the rain and flooded most of the trail which they closed off.