We have had some heavy rainstorms lately and the early spring heat wave has relented and temperatures, while still above average, have cooled considerably. This has returned conditions to near normal. The ground is soft and plants all over the county are growing. Wild flowers are blooming everywhere, mostly bluebonnets but also a variety of others, including wine cup and snap dragon. Birds are plentiful and we have even spotted hummingbirds. The insects are beginning to come back. The drought condition has improved slightly to the monitor's standard report for this year of a DSCI of 100 and essentially 100% of the county listed as D0. The USGS reports the Llano River at Hwy 87 is flowing at 62 cfs compared to the 54-year median of 162 cfs. The record low for this date is 58 cfs, so the river is near the record low despite a big surge after the recent rains. Mason County continues to be under a 90-day burn ban and has been since before Christmas.