A False Spring?

 If you hadn't looked at a calendar lately, you might not realize it is still mid winter. With only a few light freezes, we are experiencing one of the milder winters on record. Remember the 36 hour deep freeze of last winter? We're not out of the woods yet, but a repeat of last year's cold snap doesn't seem likely.

Thankfully its been a moist season, not drought busting, but it is shaping up to be a great year for wildflowers. We have received over 7 inches of rain on campus since December 1st.

In our wildflower plot, located in the Susan Fillman Memorial Garden, bluebonnets blanket the ground. Standing cypress are scattered among them, and several are already blooming.

Several of our nonnatives are showing color: rosemary, primrose jasmine, and Mexican bush sage.

Some of our perennials never entered dormancy: white mistflower, mountain sage, and echinacea among them. 

Even an annual, cowpen daisy has survived so far.

If any monarch butterflies are reading this, we're ready for you.

Mr. Rosenberg has resolved some minor plumbing issues in our pond which has a healthy red ear slider population. Steven T. donated a pair he has raised from infancy, Dr. Aquatica and Shellshocked.

No redbud blossoms yet, but the agarita buds are about to burst.

Photos by Carissa