Pinks are the dominant wildflower

 When people think of wildflowers in Texas, they think of bluebonnets, Indian blankets and maybe Indian paintbrushes.

But the dominant wildflower is Oenothera speciosa. I’ve seen them as early as January along Zarzamora Creek. But this year, they’re late. I saw the first real stand on March 18, a couple of days before official spring.

I tend to see them first in sheltered places. The south side of the Commerce Street Bridge is the lee side — the bridge blocks the north wind, which still has some bite in it.

Other species that come in with pinks: yellow dandelions, yellow coreopsis and little white asters.

The duckweed in sheltered spots on the lake is spreading.