Spring springs next week, and that means its time for the bluebonnets!News Radio 1200 WOAI reports that wildflowers have begun to make their annual appearance along roadsides across the region, but especially south and southeast of San Antonio.
Andrea Delong Amaya with the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin tells News Radio 1200 WOAI's Megan Bishop that San Antonio is getting a sneak peek at wildflower season this year."I think overall its a little on the early side, but if you can find a nice patch and its in a safe place along the roadside, this would be a good time to take those pictures," she said.
But Amaya says before you put your children in the wildflower patch for the obligatory photo, you might want to check for creepy crawlies, because they like the wildflowers too.
"I would really encourage people to be really careful when they're along the highway because that can be really dangerous," she said. "Also, for people to be aware that wildflowers attract fire ants and snakes, so be really careful."
Those wildflowers are technically not wild. The Texas Department of Transportation spreads thousands of pouds of wildflower seeds each fall, because traveling to see and photograph the wildflowers has become a major tourist activity in Texas.
So what kind of wildflower spring will we have? Amaya says not wonderful, but good enough.
"We have had some decent rains enough to have germinated the plants during the fall and sustained them over the winter," she said. "It's not going to be spectacular, but it also looks very strong. I think people looking for a good wildflower show will be very happy this year."
And no, it is not illegal to pick the wildflowers.