Here in my little corner of the world one of the first harbingers of spring are the fields of bluebonnets that grace our hillsides and byways. This pretty wildflower is our state flower, and it grows in lush patches along many of our highways and interstates, thanks in large part to our former First Lady, Claudia Taylor ( Lady Bird) Johnson. Mrs. Johnson was passionate about beautifying the roadways of Texas and now, years after her death, we are still treated to the fruits of her labors.

a field of Texas bluebonnets

When we lived in the midwest I looked forward to the first serious snow melt, and the first sighting of robins as proof that spring was on the way. Here, when the bluebonnets pop up, I know it’s springtime in Texas. Yesterday I noticed a blue patch growing along Wurzbach Parkway. I’m keeping an eye on my other prime spot along Blanco Road. Their beauty is fleeting. When the heat descends they will be gone. Maybe that’s why I appreciate the sight of them. As the poet says nothing gold can stay.

What says “spring” in your neck of the woods?