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Re: Explosion of Color - Wow!, Wow!, Wow! Started by RichO at 05-05-2007 8:42 PM. Topic has 5 replies. WildflowerHaven... » Texas Wildflowe... » Hill Country » Re: Explosion of Color - Wow!, Wow!, Wow! Hunting Texas Wildflowers - New Book!

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05-05-2007, 8:42 PM RichO Joined on 02-15-2005 San Antonio, TX Posts 637 Explosion of Color - Wow!, Wow!, Wow! I just got in from a short trip to wildflower heaven. A once in a lifetime event seems to be happening in the Hill Country this spring. I took a side trip along two winding country roads, visited a few favorite spots in Mason County and ended up heading home via SH-16.   As Bill Purcell reported, the firewheels are ablaze in the Hill Country. I would have to say they are beyond having a banner year. In my seven seasons of traveling the Hill Country, I have never seen so many firewheels (aka - Indian Blanket). If you want to know why this wildflower was given these two common names then you MUST take a drive along SH-16 from Fredericksburg to Llano Here are the roads I traveled where I saw good displays of wildflowers. Based on what I saw there are probably many others. In San Saba County: US 190, RR-500, FM-45, RR-501 In Mason County: SH-71, Fly Gap Road (requires 4-wheel or all-wheel drive), RR-2618 In Llano County: RR-162, SH-16 In past years the following roads have also have good displays of May wildflowers: In San Saba County: RR-501 from Cherokee to Bend In Llano County: SH-16, CR-226, CR-216 In Burnet County: Park Rd 4 from US 281 to SH-29 In Mason County: US 87 from Fredericksburg to Mason (particularly near Loyal Valley) The bonus surprise in addition to the firewheels were all the bluebonnets still going strong in many spots. Some of the roadside bluebonnets have gone to seed, but I saw many spots with a second bloom of bluebonnets. In addition to the firewheels and remaining bluebonnets there were prairie phlox, blue curls, bitterweeds which look like coneflowers (often solid fields of them), greenthread, lazy daisies, wine cups, skeleton plants, mealy sage, lemon mint, spiderworts, Engelmann daisies and more... http://community.wildflowerhaven.com/photos/hillcountry/category1006/picture2102.aspx Bluebonnets refusing to give up the stage to the Wildflowers of May (Mason County) Wildflower Flag of Texas (Mason County) Blanket of Fire Wheels - Also called "Indian Blanket"  (Mason County) Two more photos: Fly Gap Road: http://community.wildflowerhaven.com/photos/hillcountry/picture2112.aspx SH-16: http://community.wildflowerhaven.com/photos/hillcountry/picture2109.aspx If you can find a sunny day to take a drive in the Hill Country in the next two weeks - DO IT!  You might not see this again for years. RichO Hunting Texas Wildflowers    Report

05-06-2007, 2:34 PM gregner Joined on 03-28-2006 Posts 41 Re: Explosion of Color - Wow!, Wow!, Wow! Incredible! This probably is a once in a lifetime year, if only the weather would cooperate! It's either too cloudy or rainy or too windy, not the ideal conditions for photographing this awesome gift of nature.  The thing that surprises me the most is that bluebonnets are still in bloom in May, that is highly unusual, due most likely to the cooler than normal April and abundant rain.  Lets hope for a calm, sunny day, and soon. Do you know what the white flowers are in your second picture?  Also, I did a brief excursion into San Saba county last Wednesday and did not see many wildflowers at all, what part were you in?      Report

05-06-2007, 3:39 PM RichO Joined on 02-15-2005 San Antonio, TX Posts 637 Re: Explosion of Color - Wow!, Wow!, Wow! Gary, I believe the white flowers are lazy daisies. Here is a close-up of one of the blooms. I need to admend my report to point out that most of the photos I took were in Mason and Llano Counties. In San Saba County, the routes I saw good displays of wildflowers included, US 190, FM-45, RR-500 and RR-501. I took Fly Gap Road from SH-71 to RR-2618 and then RR-1900 to SH-29. (Note to all: Fly Gap Road is a long winding rough road with several low water sanding crossings. You need a 4 wheel or all wheel drive for this road.) Some of the best displays I saw were along SH-16 from Llano to Fredericksburg. County roads leading from SH-16 should also be good spots to check. It was a cloudy drizzly day and not so great for photography. Based on past experiences, I would say that the area around Inks Lake State Park will also be good spot to check. Also, in San Saba in the past RR-501 from Cherokee to Bend has provided some great displays this time of year. I also saw signs of golden-wave getting ready to bloom. RichO Hunting Texas Wildflowers    Report

05-06-2007, 6:57 PM FlowerPower Joined on 03-08-2005 The Woodlands, Texas Posts 136 Re: Explosion of Color - Wow!, Wow!, Wow! Aren't you all lucky out that way! :0)  Thanks for including the photos for those of us that can't see it in person!! Murry Flowers will brighten your day whether mild or wild, Murry!    Report

05-06-2007, 9:23 PM tony_texas Joined on 01-03-2006 Posts 30 Re: Explosion of Color - Wow!, Wow!, Wow! I can hardly believe my eyes.  I'm now desperately trying to figure out if I can get down there next week at least for a few hours.  Just amazing pictures. Tony    Report

05-07-2007, 3:38 PM RichO Joined on 02-15-2005 San Antonio, TX Posts 637 Re: Explosion of Color - Wow!, Wow!, Wow! Tony, I am convinced there are going to be other areas in Central Texas, South Texas and East Texas that will be experiencing the same May-June wildflower explosion. If you can't make it all the way to the Hill Country, I would suggest exploring the Meridian -Clifton - Cranfills Gap area or the Hico - Hamilton area (SW of DFW and W of Hillsboro). From now until mid-June those areas usually have some good displays. If you come to the Hill Country from the north you can travel down through either the above areas or and continue via US 281 to Lampasas. From Lampasas you can either go west to Bend and then to Cherokee or go south to Burnet.   RichO Hunting Texas Wildflowers    Report

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