Spring is my favorite time of year in Texas. All around, there is eye candy, ear candy and feelgood vibes. Here are three of the things I appreciate the most.

Open-window weather

Cool weather overnight and in the mornings means I can open my windows and let in cool air. I am saving money on my electric bill, not having to run the air conditioner. I am improving the indoor air quality in my home by letting pollutants escape the house, and replacing them with fresh air.

Showy songbirds

A pair of mating red robbins lives on my street, and I frequently see them flying, roosting in trees, and hopping up and down the street. Earlier this week I walked my boys to preschool and we saw a large flock of birds with yellowish-green bellies, grey backs and a pinkish-red tuft on their heads. They swooped, turned and ducked in perfect unison, a dance in the sky. They landed in a tree just above our heads and we got a close look. Such beauty lifts the spirits.

Texas wildflowers

It is the time of year that everything is in bloom, in gardens, parks and along roadways. It delights both the eyes and nose. Here are some varieties I love, photographed by me yesterday at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin.

Bluebonnets, the state flower of Texas

Buttercups. I also have a ton in my own backyard

Verbena

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