The last stretch of cool mornings is beginning to loosen its grip across the central Ozarks. Early light now arrives before most porch lights click off, and the hills around Rolla are nearly fully leafed, aside from a few late oaks still carrying pale green edges. Dogwoods are fading back into the understory while blackberry brambles push fresh white blooms along fence rows and creek banks.

Recent rain kept the ground soft through much of the week. Gravel roads still hold damp pockets in shaded stretches, and low-water crossings are carrying slightly more flow than usual for mid-May. Moss along north-facing stone walls looks almost electric after sunrise. In only a matter of days, the woods have shifted from sparse spring openness into layered green cover.

Afternoons are settling comfortably into the upper 70s between passing storm chances. Overnight temperatures look milder through the coming week, with frost concerns now fading for most hollows and valley bottoms. Soil temperatures continue climbing steadily, and beans, squash, and corn should move quickly once planted into worked ground.

You can hear the seasonal handoff happening after dark. Spring peepers have quieted noticeably since April, while whip-poor-wills and barred owls stand out more clearly in the evening air. The first fireflies of the year have also begun appearing in sheltered grassy areas shortly after sunset.

Start Date: Sunday, May 10, 2026
Sunrise: 5:59 AM
Sunset: 8:03 PM
Daylight Length: 14 hours, 4 minutes
Daylight Gain Since Last Week: ~15 minutes
Moon Phase: Waning Crescent
Average High: ~77°F
Average Low: ~54°F

Warm days in the 70s continue with intermittent chances for showers and thunderstorms. Overnight lows should remain mostly in the upper 40s through upper 50s. Soil temperatures are steadily rising.

Multiflora rose is beginning to flower heavily along roadsides and field edges. Wild blackberry blooms are widespread, especially near old pasture margins and creek bottoms. Fleabane has started appearing in gravel pull-offs and disturbed ground, while coral honeysuckle remains active where planted.

Late iris varieties are opening around older homesteads and cemetery plots. In wetter timber, mayapples have now reached full umbrella form, hiding their small white flowers beneath the leaves.

A pair of eastern bluebirds spent much of the week working the same fence line along an open pasture edge, repeatedly dropping into fresh-cut grass after insects stirred in the afternoon warmth. The male has already softened slightly from his brightest spring color, though he still catches evening light.

Tree swallows are flying lower over ponds now, skimming close enough across still water to leave faint ripples behind them.

A young raccoon was spotted crossing a limestone drainage ditch shortly after dawn, still carrying the uncertain stagger of early independence. This is the season when juvenile mammals begin ranging farther from den sites, especially after warm nights following rain.

Softened mud near culverts and creek crossings is beginning to hold clearer tracks now, making morning walks especially good for noticing overnight movement.

The planting window has opened fully for warm-season crops across most of the central Ozarks. Beans, cucumbers, squash, pumpkins, and sweet corn can now be seeded directly into the ground with good success. Tomatoes and peppers should establish quickly if mulched ahead of the next round of rain.

Keep an eye on slug damage around lettuce and young beans where mulch stays consistently damp. Cutworms are also active in garden beds near heavy spring vegetation.

Native milkweed patches are beginning strong upward growth. Avoid mowing field edges where possible while young stems are emerging.

The woods no longer smell like thawed leaves.
The air has shifted toward warm grass and wet stone.

Clover is thick enough now to pull steady bee traffic by midmorning.

Most creeks are still running cool from repeated spring rain.

This is the week when spring begins leaning unmistakably toward summer.