2Cooleys 2011 Spring 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

Friday, April 22, 2011 - Last Report For Spring 2011

Weather forecast for this weekend says we're going to get wet again. There will be mixed rain, thunder storms, and sunny skies. Sounds like spring to us!

We're now in early summer. Dogwoods are past peak, although you can still see several trees in bloom. These remaining trees will lose their blossoms over the next few days. We've had a lot of rain so the ground is saturated with water. This is a good thing as we have been in a drought period. Trees are nearly 100% leafed out now.

If you want to enjoy the most beautiful time of the year in the Ozarks visit during May. The weather is not too cool, nor too hot, nor humid. The skies are clear blue, tree green is the brightest, and the fields and hillside meadows are the greenest they'll be all year. There is no better time of year for nature and landscape photography, fishing is great, and scenic drives are beautiful.

This is our last report for 2011. Some 15,000 people followed our report this year. Thanks to all of you for that! We'll see you here again in Spring 2012. Be sure to visit us this fall for our fall foliage report at ozarkmtns.com/foliage.

Have a great  summer!

Gary and Mary Cooley
The 2 Cooleys
2Cooleys.Com

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Thursday, April 14 - This weekend will be that perfect spring feeling we all wait for. The forecast calls for temperatures in the low 70's with mostly sunny skies. The greenup is well under way. Dogwoods are still in peak, redbuds are over in most locations. Hummingbirds have returned. Butterflies are everywhere. Songbirds are in full chorus each morning about 6am. Almost all trees will be fully leafed out in a week to 10 days. Two weeks from now we'll be in early summer. If you can't make it now, yes, you'll miss spring. But early summer, which is usually the entire month of May, is, in our opinion, the most beautiful time of the year in the Ozarks. Next week will be our last report for Spring 2011.

April 6, 2011- Spring is here at last. Redbuds are in peak bloom right now, and dogwoods are also now in bloom. The next two weeks will make great dogwood viewing. Redbuds will hang in there for another week to ten days. Hillside trees are just beginning to show a hint of green. Trees in town are showing considerable green. People are mowing their yards and planting gardens. Butterflies can be seen on domestic and wild flowers. You'll hear bluebirds and other songbirds during the day, crickets, peepers, and frogs at night.

The weather forecast for this weekend calls for a sunny and warm Saturday, but a cloudy, partly rainy Sunday. If all you want to do is relax rainy spring days can be very pleasant. The flowering trees take on a whole different look in the even wet light of a rainy day.

Friday, April 1, 2011 - Unusually cold wet cloudy weather has slowed the greenup and redbud bloom. While grass and trees are greening slowly, we're a good week behind normal. We need a few warm sunny days. Saturday and Sunday are forecast to be in the 70's and partly sunny. While dogwood buds are swelling, they have not opened. But a day or two of sunshine will change that.

Thursday, March 24, 2011
Over the last week daytime temps have been in the 70's and even the 80's. As a result redbuds are now in bloom, wildflowers are showing up in bright colonies, and frogs, peepers, and toads are singing about it all night.

There is still very little tree bud green showing. Dogwood buds are swelling and showing a hint of green, thus we're still a good two weeks away from full spring. Redbuds and flowering yard bushes will continue to show strong color for the next two weeks.

This weekend's weather forecast predicts cloudy, cool weather with daytime temps in the 40's and 50's, with night temps running in the 30's. Lake fishing is picking up very well. If you've been waiting for that spring fishing surge, it has started, and will be very good for the next month.

Saturday Update: Virtually overnight redbud blooms are appearing. You'll see trees with thousands of  white blossoms near homes, in parking lots, and along highways. These are various forms of flowering pear trees.

The white blossoms now appearing in the forests are wild plum and wild cherry. You'll also see service berry which looks similar to dogwood from a 100 feet away. More wildflowers are appearing, especially the species having larger blossoms.

Friday, March 18, 2011 Few changes from last week. It's still early spring but temperatures have been reaching the '70s. Redbuds have not bloomed but will soon, especially if these warm temperatures continue. This is the time of year we get windy days. Be sure to bring a light jacket.

Second Report - Thursday, March 10, 2011
Over the last week weather has been typical early spring - cold and cloudy. Early wildflowers continue to appear but you can't see them unless you are standing right over them. They are the tough tiny early bloomers which have adapted to cold growing conditions.

Tree buds are appearing but they have a long way to go before you'll see green. The weather forecast for this weekend calls for warm, mostly sunny days with cool nights. Expect daytime temperatures in the low 60's with night temps in the lower to mid 30"s.

The area has had a lot of rain so the ground is nearly saturated. As soon as the weather warms we'll see a strong and fast green-up. The redbed tree bloom is still at least two weeks away, the dogwood bloom is about a month away. But of course, when they bloom depends almost entirely on the weather. We've had enough rain for a good heavy bloom, now all we need is the warm weather.

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First Report For Spring 2011 - Thursday, March 3

Today's weather forecast calls for a high of 74 degrees! The area has had quite a bit of rain so with this warm weather we'll have an early spring - if the warm weather lasts. It's not unusual to see an Ozark snow storm or two in March.

Peepers are singing, wild flowers are blooming, and grass is showing green. The redbud bloom is still a week or two away, the dogwood bloom is about a month away. In a normal spring trees will be fully leafed out by April 15 or 20th.

Spring is one of the best times of the year for driving tours, hiking, and fishing in the Ozarks. It is also a good time of the year for wild life photography. Within the next week or two the spring wild turkey mating season starts and you'll see the gobblers strutting in the fields.

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