With spring approaching, the upcoming wildflower seaon is upon us here in the Texas Hill Country! This is many peoples favortie time of year. The weather is just about perfect, the countryside comes to life, people are out and about enjoying all the area has to offer, and beautiful shades of red, yellow, pink, and blue cover the landscape. It’s a truly special time.
Wildflowers along Hwy 71 near Llano.
When most think of flowers in the Hill Country, the dazzling displays of Bluebonnets are the first images that come to mind. Though the bluebonnet is the iconic image of the Texas wildflower display, there are many other flowers that are worthy of a look in their own right! Among these are the Indian Blanket, Indian (or Texas) Paintbrush, Greenthread, Winecup, Square Bud Primrose (or Sundrops), and even the Prickly Pear Cactus. Either way, come March, you’ll be in for a real treat! However, if you want to get the best bang for your buck, aside from veturing out a few times throughout the spring, take a closer look at when your desired flower will tend to be in peak bloom. For example, Bluebonnets tend to peak in the first week of April, while the Indian Blanket’s are strong from the end of May through early to mid June. Another factor is the current and prior winter’s weather. Depending on temperature and moisture conditions, among others things, wildflowers will bloom earlier or later, be abundant or sparse, and in some cases localized areas may not have any that bloom at all. There are several great sorces that can be tapped for, literally, up to the minute condition reports. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, or Wildseed Farms in Fredericksburg provide an endless wealth of wildflower information.
Throughout the Hill Country, there are some very special places to witness, first hand, these brilliant wildflower displays. You’ll see people enjoying them anywere from the hills of Loop 360 in Austin, to the ranchland around Lampasas, to Uvalde, to SanAntonio, and everywhere in between. You really can’t go wrong, but there are certainly places that will ensure that you do it right! One of the best is known as the Willow City Loop from Fredericksburg. This can be truly spectacular if you time it right, but is still beautiful no matter what. Basic directions are as follows:
Head north out of Fredericksburg on Hwy 16
Left on Lower Crabapple Rd (+/- 1 mile from 290)
Right on EckertRd
Left on Hwy 16
Right on Willow City Loop
Left on RR 1323
Right on RR1631 back to 290 and Frederickburg
This is approx 50 miles and can take you anywhere from an hour and a half to six hours depending on how much you stop, take pictures, etc…
This is just one example of a classic Hill Country wildflower drive. Most of the highways and backroads around any of the Highland Lakes are usually a sure bet as well. Hwy 290 and even I-10 can provide some great viewing! Again, do some digging on the current condition before heading out. Here are a few good places to start:
Hill Country Wildflowers!
With spring approaching, the upcoming wildflower seaon is upon us here in the Texas Hill Country! This is many peoples favortie time of year. The weather is just about perfect, the countryside comes to life, people are out and about enjoying all the area has to offer, and beautiful shades of red, yellow, pink, and blue cover the landscape. It’s a truly special time.
Wildflowers along Hwy 71 near Llano.
When most think of flowers in the Hill Country, the dazzling displays of Bluebonnets are the first images that come to mind. Though the bluebonnet is the iconic image of the Texas wildflower display, there are many other flowers that are worthy of a look in their own right! Among these are the Indian Blanket, Indian (or Texas) Paintbrush, Greenthread, Winecup, Square Bud Primrose (or Sundrops), and even the Prickly Pear Cactus. Either way, come March, you’ll be in for a real treat! However, if you want to get the best bang for your buck, aside from veturing out a few times throughout the spring, take a closer look at when your desired flower will tend to be in peak bloom. For example, Bluebonnets tend to peak in the first week of April, while the Indian Blanket’s are strong from the end of May through early to mid June. Another factor is the current and prior winter’s weather. Depending on temperature and moisture conditions, among others things, wildflowers will bloom earlier or later, be abundant or sparse, and in some cases localized areas may not have any that bloom at all. There are several great sorces that can be tapped for, literally, up to the minute condition reports. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, or Wildseed Farms in Fredericksburg provide an endless wealth of wildflower information.
Throughout the Hill Country, there are some very special places to witness, first hand, these brilliant wildflower displays. You’ll see people enjoying them anywere from the hills of Loop 360 in Austin, to the ranchland around Lampasas, to Uvalde, to SanAntonio, and everywhere in between. You really can’t go wrong, but there are certainly places that will ensure that you do it right! One of the best is known as the Willow City Loop from Fredericksburg. This can be truly spectacular if you time it right, but is still beautiful no matter what. Basic directions are as follows:
This is approx 50 miles and can take you anywhere from an hour and a half to six hours depending on how much you stop, take pictures, etc…
This is just one example of a classic Hill Country wildflower drive. Most of the highways and backroads around any of the Highland Lakes are usually a sure bet as well. Hwy 290 and even I-10 can provide some great viewing! Again, do some digging on the current condition before heading out. Here are a few good places to start: