Spring is my favorite time of year. Almost on a daily basis I can see new life forming, either for the first time or emerging from its winter rest. This year, just when we thought we were finished with freezing nights, we had another round in February. So a few things that had already sprouted had those shoots freeze back and had to make new ones.
Here are some happy spring signs that I have seen now that we’re into March:
Desert Willow (Chilopsis linearis). This is the tallest and fastest growing of the trees I have planted here. New leaves are appearing on every branch.
Mexican Plum (Prunus mexicana). This tree was chosen because it produces blooms very early in the year, even before its leaves. Last year it only managed to produce leaves, but this year it looks like there will be blooms for the first time.
Turk’s Cap (Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii). This is a very resilient and versatile plant, and yet I failed to keep alive the first one that I planted. This one was new last year and is growing back from the ground after the winter freezes.
Texas Lantana (Lantana urticoides). I gave this shrub a particularly severe pruning over the winter, because it was only spreading along the ground and not growing taller. I see some new growth, so I didn’t kill it!
Flame Acanthus (Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii). I have three of these shrubs here (two red, one orange), and all are growing leaf sprouts throughout the plant.
Skeleton-Leaf Goldeneye (Viguiera stenoloba). Two of these plants were added last year, and both are growing new leaves.
Aquatic Milkweed (Asclepias perennis). I have no idea what to expect with this plant, being new to aquatic plants in general and being unaware that this even existed until I bought it last year. But it survived the winter and has put out some new leaves.
Gregg’s Mistflower (Conoclinium greggii). I gave this plant a severe cut-back last year because it was outgrowing its space. However, I was confident that it would grow back and it certainly is.
Prairie Verbena (Verbena bipinnatifida). Of the three of these planted near the pond last November, one is growing particularly well and is even flowering.
Horseherb aka Straggler Daisy (Calyptocarpus vialis). This is a useful native groundcover that is growing back from the roots after freezing during the winter.
Blackfoot Daisy (Melampodium leucanthum). Both of the new plants are happy and blooming.
Texas Bluebonnet (Lupinus texensis). After last year’s good start, this year there are hundreds of Bluebonnet plants all over the place. I first saw buds on March 6.
Birds. I’ve witnessed quite a bit of singing and nest-building activity so far this spring. In fact, I watched a pair of doves gather supplies from my garden to build a nest in a tree next door, and they already have eggs.
Insects. There is plenty of insect activity, although there aren’t many nectar-bearing flowers available yet for them. Of the butterflies I have seen, I’ve already recognized Bordered Patch and Black Swallowtail.
Rewilding My Lot 
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