[Blog Post by Ann Hall, ahall@thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov]

Nationwide, beautiful wildflowers are enhancing our outdoor environment. Initiated in 1988 by the American Wildflower Society, National Wildflower Week is celebrated yearly during the first full week in May. Since 2003, the Ladybird Johnson National Wildflower Center has served as the permanent home of this yearly focus on our nation’s wildflowers.

Enjoying wildflowers in The Woodlands is as simple as taking a walk, visiting a park, local forest or garden. Bring along a wild flower field guide to assist with identifying the plants in bloom. The definitive resource, Texas Wildflowers: A Field Guide, was recently revised and is available for purchase. Use your phone or camera to capture the beauty of your excursion into nature.

With the resources available through the Ladybird Johnson National Wildflower Center, the opportunity to learn more about these fascinating plants is almost unlimited. To learn what is blooming in a given week, access “What’s In Season.”

For a directory of wildflower suppliers, access the National Suppliers Directory.

Local native plant societies in our area offer additional resources, nearby educational opportunities and plant sales focused on Texas native plants. The Native Plant Society of Texas-Houston offers a variety of useful native plant resources on their website.

Make an appointment with yourself by adding your wildflower walk or hike to this week’s calendar. Our wildflowers are blooming! Enjoy them!