|
Update 4/8/2006: I visited the Mason County area on 3/8/2006. I traveled RR 386, RR 2618, RR 1900, Art-Hedwigs Hill Road, and US 87. Conditions have only slightly improved. Some roadsides were lining with strips of bluebonnets. The strips were 1-3 feet in width with a few spots wider. Art-Hedwigs Hill Road was virtually devoid of any wildflowers. RR-1900 had the widest strips of bluebonnets with one or two sections covering much of the shoulder. I did not spot any fields of bluebonnets.
Routes Traveled:
I took the long way to get to Mason County via Menard County. I wanted to check the area in northeast Menard County and northwest Mason County that received near normal rainfall between Sep-Feb and above normal rainfall in the past 30 days.
First signs of bluebonnet blooms was along SH-29 traveling east of Menard to FM-1222. The area in northwest Mason County and northeast Menard was greener, but at this time there just was not that much blooming. The bluebonnets that were blooming along SH-29 were mainly in strips lining the roadsides.
From SH-29, I took FM-1222 through Katemcy to Fredonia. Strips of Bluebonnets in early bloom were lining the roadsides with some spots spreading into the shoulders. It was obvious that as you approached Katemcy that the area had received more rainfall, but not nearly as much as in past years. I have traveled this route several times in the past 3 years and this is the worst I have seen it. I do believe that by April 7-15, that the strips of bluebonnets will be wider and will provide a nice view for the local residents traveling FM-1222 and SH-29.
The field in Fredonia along Katemcy Road did not show any signs of blooms or plants.
RR-2618 only had narrow strips of bluebonnets lining the roadsides.
RR-386 from RR-2618 to the town of Mason was a repeat of what I had already seen, except that it got worse as I approached Mason.
US 87 from Mason traveling southeast toward Fredericksburg was pretty much the same with only strips of bluebonnets lining the road and a few patches here and there.
Summary:
To sum up the conditions this year in Mason County all you had to do is compare two photos from last year with one taken this year.
This is a photo taken Mar 11, 2005 along US 87 in Mason County: http://www.pbase.com/richo/image/40713664
I should have been able to see at least this type of growth with early to full bloom all along the routes I took. By this time of the season the bluebonnet growth throughout the Hill Country should look like this photo of CR-226 in Llano taken Mar 19, 2006, last year: http://www.pbase.com/richo/image/41079774
The best I saw along the roads was closer to this photo of SH-71 taken Mar 10, 2006: http://www.pbase.com/richo/image/57115648
The best display of bluebonnets I saw during my 368 mile tour of Menard and Mason County was this yard full of bluebonnets in the town of Mason.
RichO
Hunting Texas Wildflowers
|