Texas wildflower season has begun

Bluebonnets and Indian paint brushes
decorate roadsides in Central Texas.

Plan your wildflower drive now.

As we approach the end of March wildflowers have really begun bursting into color on central Texas roadsides. The next two or three weeks should provide the best opportunities for seeing bluebonnets, red Indian paint brushes, and numerous varieties of pink, white, yellow, orange, and purple flowers that decorate the Texas Hill Country landscape each spring.

If you love wildflowers, now is the time to plan a leisurely drive through the Texas Hill Country. Thanks to winter rains, bluebonnets are reaching their peak earlier this year, although the striking red Indian paint brushes seem to be a bit later. Roadsides and occasional fields will soon be bursting with color.  

If you decide to take wildflower viewing day trip, keep a few guidelines in mind. Be vigilant of traffic when stopping beside the road, and be mindful not to trespass on private property. Enjoy the sights, and don't forget your camera!



Indian blanket

In past years, we have headed out from Austin for a wildflower drive, turning west on Hwy 71 towards Marble Falls. We stopped along the highway at several thick patches of bluebonnets—the perfect backdrop for photos of kids and dogs. Thanks to seeding by TXDOT, roadsides have sprouted with thick carpets of bluebonnets in many locations. Just be sure there’s ample space to pull off the road and take photos without trampling the flowers.

Bright orange claret cups decorated a roadside patch.

If you drive by Horseshoe Bay on FM 2147 there’s a long white wooden fence with bluebonnets in front which makes a lovely photo. A gorgeous patch of orange flowers, dotted with blue, pink, red, and purple caught our attention further on.  Plentiful bluebonnets lined the hilly, curvy Park Road 4, one of our favorite routes.  Several groups of bikers sped by, also enjoying this springtime ritual.  Later we traveled on FM 2341 near Burnet towards Canyon of the Eagles.



Bluebonnets and huisache daisies cover a roadside field.

If you get to Llano, look for beautiful bluebonnet displays on Hwy 16 and south of Llano.  You might see a large field of prairie verbena near Johnson City on the south side of U.S. 290. The old school yard at Prairie Mountain, which you'll pass on the way to Fredericksburg, is generally filled with pink and yellow flowers that make a lovely photo.

As usual, Willow City Loop will likely be gorgeous. If you chose to drive the Loop, remember that it’s a private road through private property, and it’s against the law to trespass (but there's no law against picking wildflowers). Take care and leave the seasonal show for others to enjoy, too.


We couldn't resist posing among the bluebonnets!

Another area within day trip distance from Austin includes fields and roadsides around Brenham and Chappell Hill. If you head that way, be sure to stop for some Blue Bell ice cream in the city where it was created.

Photos by Beverly Burmeier

Wildflowers are peeking out in central Texas

April means wildflowers in central Texas.  For many locals that calls for a day trip into the countryside following routes noted for spectacular sightings. But just as folks go to Washington D.C. in the spring to see pink cherry blossoms and journey to New England for autumn leaf peeping, intrepid travelers head south to see the annual burst of bloom along Texas roadways.

Bluebonnets, the state flower, dominate landscapes in an endless sea of royal beauty.  Unbroken fields of flowers transform rocky soil dotted with cacti into an absolute wonderland of color.  Throughout the hills and valleys a large variety of wildflowers emerge: pink spiderwort and evening primrose, red Indian paintbrush, burgundy claret cup, purple prairie verbena, yellow daisy, and white prickly poppy. Indian blanket, coneflowers, and Mexican hat add yellow-tipped red petals while Texas lantana grows wild in a rainbow of hues.

While Mother Nature is the main force behind this awesome treat, today many of the wildflower meadows are manmade—seeds are sown and allowed to grow undisturbed in fields.  The Texas Department of Transportation, encouraged by former First Lady Lady Bird Johnson, broadcasts bluebonnet seeds along numerous highways.  Still, flower displays are at the mercy of the weather, determined by temperatures and rain during the fall. All the conditions were just right in 2010 for the most outstanding show in a decade.

Here’s a recap of our wildflower drive from last year that provided many glorious sightings and gorgeous photos. Prime color is still a few weeks away for 2011, but this route won’t disappoint. From Austin, we headed west via State Highway 71, passing the communities of Bee Cave and Spicewood on the way to Marble Falls. We veered off onto Hwy 2147 to Lake LBJ, one of the Highland lakes, and Horseshoe Bay, where lovely fields of yellow flowers surround huge oak trees. 

Then we backtracked to Marble Falls. If it had been lunch time, we would have stopped at the Bluebonnet Cafe, famous since 1929 for its yummy homemade pies and home-cooked meals. We parked just before the city limits to marvel at a gorgeous conglomerate of flowers right beside the road.

Next, we headed towards Burnet on SH 281 but turned off on Park Road 4 to Longhorn Caverns, another spot that rewarded us with plentiful blooms dominated by bluebonnets.  If you’re into caves, this is a cool one to visit.

Back on our wildflower drive, we took RR 2341 toward Canyon of the Eagles on the shores of Lake Buchanan, and then returned to Hwy 29, which goes through Llano, where you can get some of the best old-time pit barbeque ever at Cooper’s.  Then we headed south on 2323, stopping often to hop out of the car and stoop low for the best photos.  Halfway to the German community of Fredericksburg we detoured at the old Prairie Mountain schoolhouse for more dazzling pictures of wildflower fields.  By the time we arrived in Fredericksburg it was too dark for photos, so we grabbed a quick meal and headed back to Austin on State Highway 290.

Other spots known for wildflower displays include Enchanted Rock State Natural Area and nearby Willow City Loop (through private property, so stopping is discouraged), FM 1980 to Sweet Berry Farm, RM 1431 on the north side of Austin, and Hwy 290 south towards Brenham. Daily wildflower sightings are noted at several web sites including www.wildflower.org and www./one-star.net/wildflowers/sightings.htm/

Contrary to popular belief, it is not against the law to pick bluebonnets—but it is against the law to trespass, so tread carefully.  Wherever you decide to drive, take time to enjoy the beauty that only Nature can provide.

Photos by Beverly Burmeier
Read more travel stories by Beverly at Striped Pot andAustin Adventure Travel 
Also read Texas Hill Country in Spring by Elizabeth Rose.