The 2010 OMW Spring Ozark Outdoor Recreation Report
For the Twin Lakes Area of the North-Central Arkansas & South-Central Missouri Ozark Mountains
Updated weekly early March until May 1 when early summer begins

Final Report For Spring 2010 - Friday, April 23

We are now in early summer. The redbud bloom is over. Dogwood blossoms are blowing off the trees today and will be gone by this weekend in most locations. Trees are now 100 percent leafed out and nearly summer green. The lakes will be warm enough to swim in with two more weeks of sunshine.

If you are planning a trip to this area this weekend watch the weather closely. We are under severe storm watches for Friday and Saturday.

May is our favorite Ozark month of the year. The weather tends to be clear and cool, but not cold. Trees and grasses are never more green. There's no better month than May for nature photography. Fishing is very good as well. So if you can get away in May, plan a trip. You'll love it!

Thanks for visiting our spring report this year. We'll see you again here for Spring 2011!

Gary and Mary Cooley

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Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Many trees are near full leaf-out. Within a week trees will have a summer that green summer look. Redbuds are now past peak, some color remains, but almost all will be gone by week's end. Dogwood are still in full bloom but will soon begin to fade.

The weather for this week looks good except Friday when we may have a little rain. This weekend's forecast is for sunny, cool weather. Daytime temps have been in the 70's and 80's. The wind has died down into gentle breezes with only a few gusts now and then.

As far as the birds, bees, and butterflies are concerned, summer is already here. Wildflowers are blooming in field and forest. We have about two more weeks to spring, then we'll be in early summer.

Friday, April 9, 2010 - This is spring for sure! Beautiful weather, redbuds and dogwoods now in peak. Trees rapidly turning green, full leaf-out within two weeks at this current rate. Redbuds will last about 5 or 6 more days, dogwoods about another 10 days in most spots. This weekend's weather forecast calls for sunny cool days - prefect spring weather. Fishing is good in lakes and rivers.   Wildflowers, butterflies, songbirds all active. Wild turkey mating season is on so you may see Toms strutting in the fields.

April 3, Easter Weekend - This weekend is going to be beautiful. Warmer weather and rain triggered a fast greenup. Starting just south of Mountain Home redbuds are in full bloom. Wild cherry and wild plum trees are also in peak bloom. These wild fruit trees, along with service berry trees, are heavy with blossoms this spring.

Just south of Mountain Home tree leaves are appearing. By the time you get to Mountain View leaves are half-way out. By midweek we'll see leaves popping out in the Mountain Home area.

The "Service Berry" is named after the use Ozark pioneers had for the tree. Because it has supple branches which bend but don't break, they used service berry to make woven outdoor shade covers where church services were held. In many locations there were no church buildings, so the use of what is now known as the "service shelter" was common. In most years service berry trees will be in full bloom on Easter Sunday.

The taller trees with white blossoms seen in yards and other landscaped areas are pear trees and are not native to the area, but are indeed beautiful.

Dogwoods buds are just beginning to appear so the dogwood bloom should be well underway this coming week. From 100 feet away it is easy to confuse service berry for dogwood until  you see the two trees side by side. However, about the time dogwoods bloom service berry is past peak.

Motorcycle rides will be most "spring scenic" south of Mountain Home this weekend. We recommend Highway 5 between Mountain Home and Mountain View, Highway 341 south through the Sylamore District of the Ozark National Forest, and either east or west on Highway 14. Daytime temps will be in the mid 60's. The weather will be mostly clear with some clouds. We did get heavy rain around midnight last night. Roads will be dry by late morning.

Thursday, April 1, 2010 - Area weather has warmed up into those beautiful spring days that force one to day dream too much. At dawn the song bird chorus gets louder by the day. Wild cherry, wild plum, and service berry trees can be seen all over the hillsides as they are in peak white bloom. Some people mistake these wild fruit trees for dogwoods, which are still two weeks away from blooming. Redbuds are now showing fine color, and will for the next two weeks.

This weekend, according to the current forecast, will be mostly sunny. We expect more rain Friday afternoon, followed by clear weather that should last well into Monday. Day time temps will be in the 70's.

The green of early spring leaf buds are just now beginning to show, yet many trees remain bare. That will all change within the next week if weather stays as warm as it has been.

Fishermen are enjoying both lake and river fishing as the fish are active. We have had several inches of rain over the last two weeks but waters remain mostly clear or just slightly colored. Small wild flower species are blooming close to the ground. The first butterflies have appeared, and we expect our annual hummingbird population to return soon. Wild pasture and meadow grasses are greening up now. Lawns in many areas have been mowed, many more will soon need mowing too.

Friday, March 26, 2010 - Lawns are green. Flowering shrubs are in bloom. The white and pink blooms of wild cherry trees can be seen on the hillsides. Buttercups, bluets, and pussy toe wildflowers are in bloom.

Redbud trees are just starting to bud and bloom. By next week they'll be in full bloom. Service berry trees are beginning to bloom. They can be mistaken for dogwood because of their heavy cover of white pedals. Dogwoods will not bloom for at least another two weeks.

Songbirds are migrating into the area. Fish are active on the lakes. Now if we just had a few sunny days! This weekend will be rainy on and off. However, next week promises beautiful sunny days in the mid 60's - perfect spring weather.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010  (Updated about once a week, or as spring conditions change.)
While a little late spring 2010 is here. Winter 2010 was colder than normal. Rainfall was normal so as soon as we get a week of warm sunshine green will pop out quickly.

The evening spring peepers are singing loudly. Local songbirds are staking out nesting sites. White bass on the lakes are starting to spawn. Any day now wild cherry trees will be in bloom. Depending on the weather, redbuds should starting appearing next week.

Lake levels are normal so access is very good. We are about a week away from beautiful spring weather. We'll update as soon as we start to see redbuds and green appearing.
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