Spring is finally making its way to the upper Texas coast. Pollen is in the air, filling our lungs and covering everything. Birds are transitioning from simple winter calls to spring songs. Amidst the sounds and dusty air, wildflowers are soaking up the sun's warmth and beginning their annual display, turning Texas into a vibrant tapestry of colors. Many early blooms are small, like the tiny Bluets, which measure just 1 cm across their four pale blue petals. Crowpoison's white flowers are appearing across lawns and are a favorite nectar source for small butterflies. We've recently observed Carolina anemone and Tenpetal anemone growing on the property and along roadsides. These small white flowers are a must-see in early spring. They belong to the buttercup family and have no petals; what appear to be petals are actually sepals. The name anemone refers to Greek mythology, meaning "god of the winds." These flowers are believed to bloom with spring breezes and have a very short blooming period.
From the U.S. Forest Service website:
According to Greek mythology, Zephyr, the god of the west wind, was enamored with a nymph named Anemone. Zephyr’s wife Flora was displeased by this, so she transformed Anemone into a flower that would bloom when courted by Boeeas, the god of the north wind.
Other flowers to look out for in early spring include Indian Paintbrush, Camphorweed, Henbit Deadnettle, Texas Bluebonnet, spiderwort, Smallflower Fumewort, Mousesear, and Southern Dewberry. Flower names are so delightful!
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