Bad year for bluebonnets, but not for the Internet

By DAVID SIKES
Killeen Daily Herald

KILLEEN, Texas - Bluebirds, bluegrass, blue skies, blue seas. All capture the essence of Mother Nature.

But to a Texan or anyone else lucky enough to see a country road cutting through a field blanketed with bluebonnets, there's no more breathtaking sight. Painters, photographers, naturalists, children, even dogs are drawn to the Hill Country bloom that is typically Texas in the springtime.
But, sadly, not this year.

For the most part, autumn's drought has left only Texans blue this April.
So far, this year seems to be the worst bluebonnet showing in 10 or 15 seasons, according to wildflower watchers.

Usually, travelers to and from Austin, Lampasas, Marble Falls and even as far south as Brenham and Uvalde are treated to virtually miles of roadside vistas of violet. The sight has prompted many to stop along bluebonnet-bordered highways to wallow and wade in purple. Typically, on sunny days in April and May, hundreds of motorists can be seen taking snapshots of their children and dogs running through the patches of pastel.

But this spring, photos and paintings of the purple perennials may be all many Texans will have unless they are willing to put out a little extra effort to find the now-elusive adopted flower of Texas.
The five or so varieties of bluebonnets officially became the state flower of Texas in 1971 after a selection process that spanned seven decades. The two predominant species of bluebonnets grow naturally only in Texas.

The bluebonnet season is generally from mid-March or April to the end of May, depending on rainfall and temperature. A wet fall coupled with a sunny spring provide the best conditions for a bountiful crop, according to James Davis, Bell County agricultural extension agent.
Of course, it might be difficult to convince visitors of Texas' usually manic wildflower growth because of their scarcity this season.

But, for those craving an immediate wildflower fix, there are several sources that may be able to help - one of which may seem rather unlikely.
It seems that in Texas, even the information superhighway has bluebonnets on it.
In late March, the Texas Rural Communities organization began an Internet service called the BluebonNET.

The service provides net surfers and nature lovers with all the information needed to seek and find wildflowers throughout Central Texas. The idea is the brainchild of Pete McRae, special assistant for project development for TRC.

TRC is a non-profit organization concerned with rural development, preservation and tourism. And according to general manager Leland Beatty, its new method of promoting rural Texas is catching on quickly in the wake of this year's bluebonnet crisis.

"There are some really good patches of wildflowers to be found," Beatty said. "You just have to look for them. That's where we come in. This is a great benefit to nature lovers, consumers and the (rural) communities."

Here's how it works. Anyone with access to the Internet through a personal computer with a web browser and a modem may access the BluebonNET home page. Once on the page, people can get directions to wildflower sites, hidden bluebonnet patches, area lodging and restaurants. They can even download maps and book accommodations at more than 20 bed-and-breakfast establishments.
Updates on where wildflowers are coming into bloom are submitted at least weekly by operators of each bed and breakfast and "reporters" from chambers of commerce.

"Usually the fields are thick with bluebonnets around here," said Beverly Solomon, BluebonNET reporter and part-owner of the Moses-Hughes Ranch, a Lampasas bed and breakfast, which depends on the abundance of flowers to attract visitors each spring. "But so far, we've only seen a couple of acres of plants, and they haven't bloomed yet."

Perhaps the fact that the bluebonnets aren't as prominent this year is prompting wildflower seekers to look to other sources, such as the BluebonNET, to find the usually bountiful blooms.
"We had so many 'hits' the first few days we had to switch to a faster machine to accommodate the load," Beatty said. "In just two days this (past) week we had more than 550 people access the site. The number of hits depends a lot on the amount of media attention we get."
The BluebonNET site may be reached at http://bluebonNET.texasrural.org/.

Another source for wildflower seekers is the National Wildflower Resource Center in Austin.
The 42-acre center, opened last year, is a $10 million complex inspired by Lady Bird Johnson and dedicated to the splendors of North America's indigenous flora.

The service supplies information similar to that of the BluebonNET, but also provides facts and hints through an information clearinghouse for a small fee. A wildflower hot line and travel tips are also available for those planning wildflower trips and tours.

The center receives between 1,000 and 1,500 calls a week from people inquiring about Texas wildflowers, according to Patricia Alholm, NWRC public relations and marketing director, who said this year's news isn't as good as she'd like.

"There are some bluebonnets out there, but they don't stand out as much against the brown grass," she said. "You have to look a little harder. They're just not as vibrant."

Despite the scarcity of early blooms, Alholm urged wildflower lovers not to despair. When the bluebonnets, Indian paintbrushes and primroses are gone, that still leaves 497 native wild plants in bloom throughout Texas, she said.

"Actually, there are a greater variety of wildflowers in bloom in May when the bluebonnets start disappearing than any other time," Alholm said.

The annual Wildflower Days festival in April is the center's biggest celebration of the year. Billed as a the nation's premier wildflower fest, this year's event is scheduled for this weekend.
A variety of guest speakers, performers, food and shows are included at the nature party set in the Texas Hill Country.

For up-to-date information on Texas wildflower sites from March 20 though May 30, call (512) 832-4059. For NWRC information, call (512) 292-4200.

Officials at the center said they expect more calls than ever this season as wanting wildflower seekers discover a scant supply of the evasive flowers.

Perhaps next year, spring will once again reveal to more than a fortunate few the annual Texas transformation of its stark winter landscape into an impressionistic scene reminiscent of Monet.
It's enough to humble even the most devout Texan.