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I was fortunate enough to be able to spend the entire day Saturday (4/28) driving the Hill Country, and witnessed some of the most breathtaking wildflower displays I've ever seen! I had been disappointed that I wasn't able to make the trip a couple weeks earlier during the bluebonnet peak, but disappointment was quickly replaced by bliss when I saw the stunning mixes of color out there this weekend - it made for a fantastic day.
Gaillardias (firewheels) are everywhere right now, turning entire fields red. Bluebonnets, although past peak, are still there - throw in some white lazy daisies, phlox, various yellow flowers, white prickly poppies, peppergrass and some late-blooming paintbrush, and you have a color palette that reaches across the entire spectrum!
Some of the better locations include Inks Lake State Park along P4. The hillsides away from the road aren't yet in full color (the coreopsis is a couple weeks away from blooming in mass), but the roadsides are stunning right now. There are also many spots in both Llano and Mason Counties which are full of color. FM 1900 in Mason County is lined for miles in bluebonnets, and several fields along the route have dense mixes of flowers. Without a doubt, however, the most amazing displays are in Mason County are near FM 2618 and FM 386 (between Mason and Fredonia). There are vast fields full of red, white, and blue with a few other colors sprinkled amongst the splendor. I nearly experienced sensory overload from the aromas and jaw-dropping sights. At one point, I just shook my head and said out loud, "My God, I love Texas!"
If you have the opportunity to visit the Hill Country anytime soon, I couldn't encourage you more to do so. I've added images from Saturday's travels to my webpage along with locations for each photo. Enjoy!
http://www.imageevent.com/mpurcell
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