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I had a late start to my scouting trip to Marble Falls and Burnet areas. By the time I got to Marble Falls the clouds from the approaching "wintery-like" weather system had already obscured the sun. The wind was chilly and more February-like than April.
Good new is...
The famous house just north of Marble Falls on the left side of US 281 heading north is once again surrounded by a field of bluebonnets. If the Marble Falls area escapes from any damaging sleet tomorrow (4/7/2007) then the bluebonnets at the house should be peaking in about 4-5 days. Most of them still had greenish-white tips and I did not see any seedpods. Along the roadside of US 281, the firewheels were lining up for their debut in the coming weeks.
US 281 from San Antonio to Marble Falls was hit and miss with spots of bluebonnets to a few stretches heavily covered. A few fields were noticed along the way, but nothing remarkable enough to make me stop until I got to the famous "house at Marble Falls."
Park Road 4 from US 281 was also hit and miss with some stretches heavily covered and a few fields. Better coverage was seen closer to Longhorn Cavern State Park and once again near Inks Lake State Park. This photo is of one of the better stretches along Park Road 4 near Longhorn Cavern State Park.
SH-29 from Inks Lake to Old Spanish Trail was also hit and miss with a few heavily covered areas and other areas with no bluebonnets. The field at FM-690 and SH-29 is back and coverage looked to be 60-80% (see photo from 2005). It was just too little light to get a photo today.
Old Spanish Trail was disappointing compared to previous years. I only saw small patches of paintbrush here and there and a few larger areas mixed with bluebonnets.
Kingsland RR and Kingsland was also hit and miss. The RR crossing north of Kingsland had very little bluebonnets, but in Kingsland one of the RR crossings along FM-1431 was covered with bluebonnets.
Summary:
All in all the theme for the entire trip was "hit and miss" with spots heavily covered and others that should have bluebonnets were without or with very few bluebonnets. With a little scouting around, one might find some really nice spots. I did not have the time today to do that.
The house at Marble Falls is worth the trip alone and so is Park Road 4 near Inks Lake. I did not have time to travel down FM-690 or FM-2241. In the past, both of these routes have provided good coverage. Most of the bluebonnets seem to be near peak, but should last through mid-week unless they are damaged by the sleet forecasted for the area. Personally, I think the winter weather will also be hit and miss with some isolated areas receiving the heavier amounts. I lived where sleet was more common and when it sleets one side of a road can be covered while the other side is not.
RichO
Hunting Texas Wildflowers
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