Every spring, the Texas Gulf Coast does something that surprises people who've only seen it in summer.

The roadsides turn blue with bluebonnets. The fields fill with Indian paintbrush. The coastal prairie — flat and brown all winter — erupts in color that lasts for weeks.

If you're at Surfside Beach RV Park in March or April, you're in the right place at the right time.

Wildflower timing on the Texas Gulf Coast depends heavily on winter rainfall. A wet winter produces spectacular displays; a dry winter means fewer blooms. But in most years, you can expect:

• Late February: Early bloomers — evening primrose, henbit, and some phlox
• March: Peak bluebonnet and Indian paintbrush season; the best displays are usually in the second and third weeks of March
• April: Bluebonnets fade but coreopsis, spiderwort, and winecup take over; coastal prairie species peak
• May: Late-season blooms; the heat starts to shut things down by mid-May

The Texas Department of Transportation maintains a wildflower hotline (1-800-452-9292) that gives current bloom reports by region.

The Texas state flower is the star of spring, and it grows throughout Brazoria County. Look for it along:

• TX-332 between Surfside Beach and Lake Jackson
• TX-35 between Lake Jackson and Angleton
• County Road 227 and other rural roads through the coastal prairie
• Roadsides throughout Brazoria County

Bluebonnets prefer well-drained, slightly alkaline soil — the kind found on the low ridges and roadsides of the coastal prairie.

Indian paintbrush blooms alongside bluebonnets and is often found in the same fields. The brilliant red-orange bracts (technically not petals) make it one of the most striking wildflowers in Texas. It's a hemiparasite — it attaches to the roots of nearby grasses to supplement its nutrition.

Pink evening primrose is one of the most abundant wildflowers on the Texas Gulf Coast. It blooms in large masses along roadsides and in disturbed areas, creating pink carpets that are visible from a distance. Despite the name, it blooms during the day.

Winecup is a low-growing wildflower with deep magenta cup-shaped flowers. It's common in the coastal prairie and along roadsides throughout Brazoria County. It blooms from March through May.

The coastal prairie near Surfside Beach supports wildflowers you won't find inland:

• Sea lavender (Limonium carolinianum) — blooms in salt marshes in late summer and fall
• Saltmarsh morning glory (Ipomoea sagittata) — pink flowers along tidal edges
• Seaside goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens) — yellow spikes along the coast in fall

The auto tour route through the Brazoria NWR passes through coastal prairie habitat with excellent wildflower displays in spring. The combination of wildflowers, birds, and alligators makes this one of the best spring outings from Surfside Beach. The refuge is about 20 minutes from the park.

About 45 minutes from Surfside Beach, Brazos Bend State Park has good wildflower displays along its trails in spring. The park is also one of the best places in Texas to see alligators at close range.

Some of the best wildflower displays are along the rural roads between Lake Jackson, Angleton, and West Columbia. These roads see little traffic and the roadsides are often spectacular in March. A slow drive through the county on a March morning is one of the great pleasures of the Texas Gulf Coast spring.

About 45 minutes north of Surfside Beach near Pasadena, Armand Bayou Nature Center has native prairie restoration areas with good wildflower displays in spring.

• Morning light is best — the low angle of the sun creates warm, directional light that makes colors pop
• Get low — the best bluebonnet photos are taken at ground level, looking across the field
• Overcast days work well for wildflowers — the soft, even light reduces harsh shadows
• Don't pick — it's illegal to pick bluebonnets and other wildflowers along Texas highways, and picking depletes the seed bank for future years

Spring at Surfside Beach RV Park means wildflowers, warm weather, and the Gulf two blocks away. Call 979-233-6919 or book through RoverPass.