Posted 12:23 am Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Warm Sunshine Brings Buds Into Bloom On East Texas Trees
CHAD THOMAS
Staff Writer
As if on cue, previously dormant flora seemed to awaken all at once Tuesday as sunshine and warm breezes gave East Texas an early glimpse of spring.
Staff Writer
As if on cue, previously dormant flora seemed to awaken all at once Tuesday as sunshine and warm breezes gave East Texas an early glimpse of spring.
The burst of blossoms, spanning the spectrum of color, were seen for the first time across the city including certain spots along Tyler's Azalea Trail, as temperatures rose into the mid 70s.
That was welcome news for Justin Turner, vice president of the Tyler Convention & Visitors Bureau, who is helping head up the 51st annual Azalea Trail festival that begins March 19.
With huge numbers of travelers and tourists expected to take the Rose City by storm later this month, Turner said he hopes the weather holds up and makes for a vibrant floral landscape.
"We've had enough cold weather and way enough water to have a pretty Trail," he said. "But you've got to have so many warm days before (azalea flowers) open up."
In previous years, hail storms or droughts have drastically reduced, if not devastated, the azalea blossoms prior to, or during, the Trail festival. Although East Texas has received more than enough rainfall in the past year to see a strong flowering period, Turner said aside from severe weather his eyes are fixated on the temperature gauge.
"A freeze is what we're most concerned about," he said. "(The blossoms) are so delicate that they'll just fall right off. We're all sitting around fretting."
Tyler hasn't seen below-freezing weather since Thursday, when overnight temperatures fell to 30. John Adams, KYTX CBS 19 chief meteorologist, said his forecast for the next week shows the coolest temperatures dipping down only to 39 on Tuesday.
By the end of the month, it's historically less likely to see freezing temperatures, Adams said. "Our average last frost is usually the second or third week in March," he said.
Assuming the weather doesn't wreak havoc on the azalea flowering, Turner said he expects the trees to be in full bloom by the second weekend of the festival, March 27-28.
Already, 45 tour buses full of flower enthusiasts are scheduled to tour the Azalea Trail during this year's festival. Turner said each year, prior to the Trail's commencement, the Convention & Visitors Bureau estimates the number of visitors that will come to Tyler. Each year the number surpasses their prediction, he said.
He said he wouldn't be shocked in the least if this year exceeds expectations as well.
"We'll make it just under 100,000, which is very good in East Texas for an event," he said, after mentioning the scads of fliers and promos he's sent to nearly half a million folks. "If half those people will come, I would really be surprised if we don't make 100,000 easy."
