Spring is in the air

Early in the morning of February 2, 2024, Punxsutawney Phil – that Seer of Seers, Sage of Sages, Weather Prognosticator Extraordinaire – emerged from his burrow (with a little help from his handlers) to make his much-anticipated forecast and did NOT see his shadow, which indicates an early Spring!

Spring officially begins with the spring equinox, which arrives this year on March 19th, but with a winter that has been wetter and warmer than normal, we are already seeing early signs of Spring along roadsides, in yards and parks, all around Wimberley.

Golden groundsel is one of the first flowers to bloom here. It is a rosette-forming perennial with oval leaves that have toothlike edges. The slender flowering stems can rise as much as 18 inches off the ground, with daisy-like flower clusters of yellow. Another early bloomer is the four-nerve daisy, characterized by one yellow daisy-like flower about an inch wide on a stem about a foot tall. Our prickly agarita bush is exploding with lovely, sweet-smelling, yellow flowers. And you may have seen the beautiful flowers on the redbuds. They are interesting trees because their flowers appear before the leaves.

Bluebonnets are already in bloom here and there. In a couple of weeks they will be putting on quite a show!

As the groundhogs emerge from their long winter hibernation, nature seems to flourish in a beautiful hymn as Spring approaches. Butterflies and bumblebees return to pollinate flowers; birds are chirping throughout the day, and those once brown bushes and leaves from the winter start to turn green. To get ideas and a list of what plants are blooming or seeding in season, be sure to check out the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center website at: https://www.wildflower. org/plantsmain/ whats-in-season.