Wildflowers bloom after recent rains: What types you can find this spring
AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Trail Conservancy, a nonprofit that helps take care of 300 acres along the hike and bike trail in downtown Austin, will host a variety of events in April to promote biodiversity and wildflower conservation.
Meteorologist Tommy House sat down with Grady Reed, the Vice President of Park Operations at the Trail Conservancy, to learn about the types of wildflowers you can find this spring.
Read an edited version of the conversation below or use the video player above to listen.
Meteorologist Tommy House: So, talk to us about what the Trail Conservancy is and ways people can get involved.
Grady Reed: The Trail Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with an operating agreement alongside Parks and Rec. We help take care of 300 acres along the hike and bike trail here in downtown Austin. There are plenty of ways to get involved. If you go to our website, trailconservancy.org, we run volunteer events every weekend. We also have a bunch of exciting events coming up in April, including a large trash cleanup, an Earth Day Jubilee, and a big 'Bio Blitz' over in the Holly area, where we get kids on microscopes and people with hoop nets, really learning about biodiversity and everything that’s out there.
House: What are some of the different kinds of flowers to look out for on these trails?
Reed: Right now, with the recent rains, you’re going to start to see bluebonnets emerge, followed by paintbrushes and firewheels. You’ll also start to see purple horsemint and Greg’s mistflower. Along with the wildflowers, you’ll also notice woody species, shrubs, and trees starting to bloom as well.
House: What are the best places to see these specific flowers on the trail?
Reed: On the trail, we seed about 30 acres of wildflower areas each year. The largest ones are on the east side, over at Festival Beach. Another big one is on the west side near Austin High, and there’s also a large, continuous space between Lamar and Congress, as well as between Cesar Chavez and the trail.
House: And how do we protect these gorgeous flowers during these months?
Reed: I think the biggest thing is to stay on the trail as much as you can. The flowers are pretty resilient, and they rely on a combination of rain and specific weather conditions. This recent weather is really going to help them out a lot.