The bluebonnets

This is probably my favorite time of year for Texas. In late March and thru April the weather still hasn't acheived the typical uncomfortable humidity of summer. Christians shortly shall celebrate that most important day of the year, Resurrection Day (I do not call this day "Easter" because that was the name of a pagan fertility goddess, and thus has nothing to do with Christ's Resurrection). San Antonians are getting prepared for the party-to-end-all-parties, Fiesta. And the wildflowers are blooming!

In South Texas, if there's been a rainy winter, and other conditions are favorable, the wildflowers can truly be awesome this time of year! Alas! the winter we just suffered was DRY, DRY, DRY. Hence no one expected much in the way of wildflower blooms in '06. Few pink flowers of prairie primrose, few yellow petals and dark centers of blackeye Susan, few reds of Indian paintbrush. . . and few of the state wildflower, the beautiful, cool-water-reflecting-the-sky bluebonnet. :-(

Indeed, I'd seen few wildflowers, until Saturday. That day I went out to Fiesta Texas theme park, northwest of San Antonio out IH Ten. Near the park, now a part of the Six Flags chain of amusement parks, the median for the interstate highway presented a couple of expansive beds of the little brilliant blooms of bluebonnets! What a beautiful sight! Past years have been more magnificent, but considering the weather conditions of the past several months - can you say "drought"? - we Texans must be thankful for whatever we get in the way of wildflowers in '06.