Since today is the first day of spring I thought would post a few photographs of what is blooming now.

I made a trip to Pleasure Island on Wednesday and was amazed at the amount of Camphor Daisy that were blooming. I went to the south levee and drove along to top of the high embankment. The Daisies covered both sides of the road for the entire lenght.

Many of the plants blooming now, like all of the following plants are in the Asteraceae (Aster) Family. 

Blue Mistflower is a perennial that attracts bees and butterflies. 

Climbing Hempvine is a perennial vine that like moist soil. The vines are very attractive to bees, butterflies and many other

Late-flowering Boneset is a perennial, grows from about 3' to 6' and attracts butterflies and native bees.

There are about 25 species of Goldenrod that are native to Texas. Thomas Edison once experimented with Goldenrod as a source for rubber.

Swamp Sunflower is a perennial that grow to about 6' tall. Like all the plants mentioned in this article,  Swamp Sunflower attracts butterflies. 

This small often overlooked little flower is often considered a weed in lawn, but makes a nice shade tolerant ground cover. Straggler Daisy is a perennial but will go dormant in cold winters.

On June 16, 2009 Texas Governor Rick Perry signed a bill into law that recognizes the third week in October as Texas Native Plant Week. The bill is intended to highlight the part  native plants play in conservation efforts and to be used as motivation for the Texas education system to instruct students about the value of native plants. 
In honor of this years Texas Native Plant Week (October 14th - 20th) Here are a few Texas Native Plants that are blooming now, here in Southeast Texas.Most Maryland Meadow-Beauty (Rhexia mariana) have usually finished bloom by this time, but I found this nice patch, still putting on a show.

Salvia azurea is a perennial member of the Lamiaceae (Mint) Family. There about 19 different species of Salvia that are native to Texas. 

Bushy Bluestem is a perennial grass that makes a nice ornamental for moist to wet areas of a garden. 

Tie Vine is a perennial and a member of the Convolvulaceae (Morning-Glory) Family. Although many people would consider this a weed, I personally love it.