Bluebonnet season

Wildflower experts reveal complex forecast for 2025 season in Texas

Texas Bluebonnets and Texas Paintbrushes are a common sight along the Texas highway

Photo courtesy of Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

The annual Texas wildflower forecast sees a mixed outlook for 2025, with regional changes expected across the Lone Star State. According to experts at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, persistent drought conditions will likely impact blooms this year.

"If predicting the weather is a challenge, then predicting the wildflower bloom for a big state like Texas is even more of a challenge," says Johnson Wildflower Center horticulture director Andrea DeLong-Amaya in a press release. "With fluctuations in weather and micro-climate scenarios (where one small geographical area may have received different weather than others), it's sometimes hard to make a big sweeping prediction. This is one of those years."

Eastern Texas is projected to have a more robust display, while western regions may see fewer beloved species like Texas bluebonnets and paintbrush.

Blooms at the Wildflower Center
Despite variable conditions across Texas, the Wildflower Center offers a reliable destination for flower enthusiasts who are willing to travel to Austin. It's working on an upgrade across its nearly 300 acres of gardens, so things will only get more colorful in coming seasons.

"Our experts know how to coax blooms in our gardens," says executive director Lee Clippard. "Visitors to the Hill Country can guarantee a robust floral experience by visiting our gardens and trails this spring."

While early blooms might be sparse in some areas, experts suggest this could benefit late spring and summer species like firewheel and purple horsemint, especially if Texas sees more rain this spring.

Visitors planning their wildflower viewing trips might also enjoy the added attraction of the Wine & Wildflower Journey Passport program, offering tastings throughout the Hill Country's renowned wineries during peak bloom season. Those opening up their trip around the state can also add some reliable spots from past years for a better chance at success.

Wildflower of the Year
In addition to predictions on this year’s wildflower population, the Wildflower Center named Gregg's mistflower (Conoclinium greggii) as the 2025 Wildflower of the Year. This resilient perennial, featuring striking purplish-blue blooms, stands out for its extended flowering period from March through November and its particular appeal to pollinators, especially Queen butterflies.

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center houses extensive gardens, walking trails, and educational exhibits in Austin. The facility honors Lady Bird Johnson's environmental legacy and vision.

hill country nature texas bluebonnets wildflowers

Travel advisory

Top tips to navigate DFW Airport during busy, busy spring break 2026

DFW Airport

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Spring break travel through Dallas Fort Worth International Airport will require some planning and patience for both passengers and their chauffeurs. According to a release, 4.7 million customers are expected to travel to, from, and through the airport during the 2026 spring break travel period, March 5-March 24.

The busiest days (when curbsides and routes in and out of the airport will be most congested) are expected to be the weekends of March 13-16 and March 20-23, they say.

The top three overall busiest days, and volume of customers traveling to, through, or from DFW, are expected to be:

March 15: 262,000
March 22: 259,000
March 13: 253,000

The top five busiest days, and volume of customers beginning or ending their trip at DFW, are expected to be:

March 22: 126,000
March 13: 125,000
March 15: 123,000
March 12: 118,000
March 19: 116,000

"With many North Texas school districts observing spring break during the same week of March 16-20, travel demand will be more concentrated than usual, making it especially important for customers to plan ahead - including prebooking parking, allowing extra travel time and using DFW’s digital tools to help navigate peak conditions," airport officials say in the release.

Terminal curbs and access roadways will experience the highest congestion from late morning hours into the early evening each day, they say. There will also be especially heavy traffic when approaching terminals from the north, they say.

"Terminal C roadway detours remain in place on International Parkway as bridge construction continues," they advise. "Terminal C is only accessible via the southbound entrance from International Parkway. Customers arriving from the sout, will be required to travel northbound past all terminal entrances and take the left-hand U-turn exit before the North Exit Plaza to return to southbound International Parkway. Then, all customers will take the existing left-hand exit to Terminal C."

Here are some tips they give to help make travel through DFW Airport smoother during spring break:

Arrive early: Plan to arrive at least two hours before domestic flights and three hours before international flights. Using drivetime apps to check traffic conditions will ensure proper planning of transit times needed to park, check-in and clear security screening ahead of departure.

The DFW Airport mobile app, available on iOS and Android, can help provide:

Live parking availability and security wait times.
Terminal-specific alerts and construction updates.
Push notifications for helpful information.

Consider public transit: DART's Silver Line connects Plano to Terminal B with stops in Richardson, Addison, Carrollton and Coppell, while DART’s Orange Line, with service from Plano, downtown Dallas, and Irving provides direct access to Terminal A. Trinity Metro’s TEXRail connects riders to Terminal B. Additionally, Trinity Railway Express (TRE) offers service from Dallas and Fort Worth to CentrePort/DFW Airport Station, with terminal access via the TRE Link shuttle. For details on transit schedules and fares, visit DART or Trinity Metro.

Prebook parking: By prebooking parking online, customers can get the best rates as well as save decision-making time when arriving at the airport. In addition to terminal parking options, Express and Remote parking lots provide quick and convenient shuttle service to every terminal.

Follow curbside rules and parking protocols: DFW officials remind that terminal curbs are reserved for active loading and unloading only. Customers waiting to pick up passengers should use designated free cell phone lots or one-hour parking inside terminal garages.

A perk for AA customers: Customers flying American Airlines may check in at any terminal and go through security at the location with the shortest wait times, then connect to their gate using Skylink. Based on live traffic conditions, access into Terminals A, B and C are typically quickest from the north, while Terminals D and E are generally easiest to access from the south, they advise.

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