Where the Wildflowers Are | Parks to Paddle | Spring Fishing | Bighorn Lambs at Franklin |

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Spring Wildflowers Are Happening Now

Wildflower assortment in field, video link

Spring is the time to get out to your parks and hike, walk, camp, paddle, fish – all the things! April has it's own special appeal because that's when spring wildflowers burst out like fireworks across the landscape. See what it's like in our video Somerville Wildflowers.

Wildflowers will vary depending on where a park's located, and the Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine story Parks in Bloom tells you what to expect where. Our Texas Wildflowers on Flickr also has examples of flowers spotted at different parks. Check the Texas Top 20 list of wildflowers to put names to flower faces.

New Bighorn Lambs at Franklin Mountains

Desert bighorn sheep were recently reintroduced to Franklin Mountains. The first lambs have been spotted at the park, and the rangers are smitten. Take a look at the video on Facebook and you'll understand why!

Bighorn ewe and lamb on mountainside at Franklin Mountains SP

Spring is a good time to visit the park, and the rangers can tell you where to look for bighorns. Find out more about their journey in our magazine story A New Home for the Bighorns.

Go With the Flow

Caddo Lake State Park

Do you need a little getaway? A fun day on the water may be just what you need, and your parks have plenty of sweet places to paddle. Many parks rent canoes, kayaks or stand-up paddle boards with life jackets and paddles provided.

3 parks for paddling:

1. Purtis Creek – near DFW
2. Martin Dies Jr. – near Houston
3. Meridian – near Waco

When you plan to paddle, keep safety top of mind: tell someone where you plan to paddle, stay aware of weather conditions (like wind), and take the free online Safe Paddling course. Bring water and sunblock, and always, always wear a life jacket!

Thanks to our partner Whole Earth for making April state parks month!

April is state parks month at Whole Earth, with link

Unwind at a Park With Free Fishing

Meridian State Park

The weather's warming up, and wildflowers are in bloom – the perfect time for a relaxing fishing trip at a park! Did you know you can fish from the shore or a pier at any state park without a fishing license? And to make it easy, many parks will lend you fishing gear. Just bring bait and a smile.

Try fishing these parks:

Lake Colorado City – Midland area
Lake Somerville – Austin area
Sheldon Lake – Houston area
Lake Whitney – Waco area
Lake Tawakoni – DFW area

If you're new to fishing, your parks are a great place to start. Try some of the different group-fishing activities they offer. If you're not sure of what bait to use, check out one of our favorite vintage videos – Fishing101: Bait & Lures.

CONSERVATION LICENSE PLATE SUPPORTING STATE PARKS, WITH LINK

Chill Out Video: Guadalupe River State Park

Guadalupe River flowing between boulders, video link

Take a moment to relax in the peaceful sound of the river, as its waters flow through the park over rocks and past ancient cypress trees in our short video Postcard from Texas: Guadalupe River State Park.

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Messages from Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine advertisers:

Wildlife Ranch at Natural Bridge ad, link

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