Spring Has Sprung On the Houston Ave Esplanade

As you turn onto Houston Avenue from North Main Street, take a moment to notice the flowers blooming on the esplanade at the Woodland Heights entrance.

These wildflowers are part of a two-year process started by the Woodland Heights Civic Association, when we adopted two esplanades from Houston Parks and Recreation Department 2024.

We started by planning to plant wildflowers on the first esplanade. The goal was to cut down on mowing, make the neighborhood entrance more welcoming, and hopefully encourage drivers to slow down as they come in.

Following the adoption, WHCA Director of Beautification Ryan Taylor working with volunteers from Boy Scout Troop 30 (also known as 3TO), one of the oldest active troops in the Sam Houston Area Council,  prepared and planted the first round of wildflowers on the northernmost esplanade.

The wildflowers bloomed in the first year, but unfortunately, a contractor accidentally mowed them down. We addressed the miscommunication, but the first round was lost. Now, in the second year, the flowers have returned! They are looking great and we're looking forward to many more years of bluebonnets and wildflowers welcoming neighbors and guests to our neighborhood during the spring and summer. 

If you are interested in supporting the continuing beautification of our Woodland Heights Neighborhood by becoming a sponsor or volunteering to help beautify our adopted esplanades and greenspaces contact Ryan Taylor at beautification@woodland-heights.org.

Wildflower Planting Sowing Seeds for Spring

Last year, the WHCA adopted the Houston Avenue Esplanades near Main Street from the Houston Parks and Recreation Department. We had an idea, that instead of simply maintaining the esplanade by mowing it, which we're happy to say our new landscaping crew is doing a great job of that since this fall, back to our idea. We thought we'd plant the first esplanade in wildflowers so in the spring they would create a great entrance to our neighborhood.

We had a good show of blooms on that esplanade for a first years planting. However, we know it could be better and we're well aware that it takes a little while, good rain, and persistence to create a beautiful wildflower display and we're working on that. 

So to keep up with the persistence part (and hoping for rain this winter into spring) WHCA Beautification Director Ryan Taylor with the help of Boy Scout Troop 30 will be out seeding the esplanade with wildflowers on November 15th. Wildflowers like to be seeded in the fall for a spring bloom. 

If you see them on the esplanade, first slow down and keep them safe, and then honk your horn to say THANK YOU to everyone that's out planting seeds for the spring. 

If you want to know more about the wildflower planting and how you can support the effort and other beautification efforts across our neighborhood, email beautification@woodland-heights.org. Ryan would love to hear from you! 

If you want to learn more about planting wildflowers in your own yard here's a great article from .... for you from Texas A&M Agrilife Today