Hill Country

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RichO — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 18:17:58 GMT

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Coreopsis Rules Mason County

RichO — Sun, 30 May 2010 22:20:11 GMT

This morning (5/30) I took a trip to Mason County and found field after field after field after field of coreopsis in full bloom. I also found some small displays of meadow pink (rose-gentian - Enquist ), lazy daisies and lemon beebalm/purple horsemint. Here is the route I took:

Art-Hedwigs RD:

I got to Art-Hedwigs RD around 9:30, and it was still cool. Birds were singing and butterflies were everywhere and no sound of cars. It was GREAT!

The end at US 87 was covered with coreopsis to about a mile down the road. The other end at SH-29 also had good coverage of coreopsis.

Along Art-Hedwigs RD about 2-3 miles from US 87, I found a low water crossing with hundreds of butterflies. I stopped and got a couple short video clips. (Note: Once the software is on the new system, I plan to share the video clips I have taken this year. )

http://www.pbase.com/richo/image/125069524/original

http://www.pbase.com/richo/image/125069562/

RR-1900: Some large fields of coreopsis along this road. And to my surprise a few bluebonnet still blooming along the edge of the road.

"The unnamed Road": Not much going on along this road until you past the ranch then there are several really good spots of coreopsis with the pink granite rock in the background. There was evidence of n

SH-71: Several large fields of Coreopsis between Fredonia and Pontotoc. Tough to find a safe place to stop along this part of SH-71.

Hickory Grove RD:

At Pontotoc I turned right on Hickory Grove RD. This is the road that runs in front of the brick ruins of the small house along SH-71. Based on the rainfall map, this area and back toward Fredonia got some of the heavy rainfall in the past 30 days.

Saw several nice spots of coreopsis along this road. This is a sandy dirt road like Art-Hedwigs, so there is usually little traffic especially on a Sunday morning. Also found some large patches of meadow pink.

http://www.pbase.com/richo/image/125069564

SH-29 to Llano: Some fields of coreopsis along this route, but not as dramatic as SH-71.

Stopped at Llano: Got a pink lemonade and a scoop of Blue Bell ice cream at Stonewall Pizza - very nice little family like cafe at the corner of SH-16 and the town square.

Lone Grove (RR-2241,CR 202): Some Mexican hat still in bloom along 2241, but coreopsis is not (except a few spots here and there). All I saw were either the seed stalks of greenthread or coreopsis.

SH-16 from Llano to Fredericksburg: Some nice fields of coreopsis and close to Fredericksburg there were some nice stretches of lemon beebalm/purple horsemint.

US 87 from Fredericksburg to Comfort (!-10): Close to Fredericksburg there were some really nice fields of coreopsis (one near the new theater on US 87).

I-10 from Comfort to San Antonio: A variety of basket flower, purple horsemint, and coreopsis.

All in all it was a very nice outing... I strongly recommend going early in the morning or evening as it got really hot around 1pm. I wish I had gotten there at 8 and not 9:30. I will have some photos later.

Inks Lake / Llano County update

Bill Purcell — Wed, 26 May 2010 16:08:16 GMT

As expected, much of Llano County has turned yellow with large blankets of plains coreopsis covering the landscape. Upon closer inspection, there's much, much more to be seen as 2010 continues to provide a stunning and plentiful variety of flowers in the fields.

Faded, late-blooming bluebonnets can still be seen along some roadsides. Coreopsis, mexican hat and gaillardia (both pulchella and amblyodon) are plentiful; others include coneflower, Texas thistle, meadow pink, yellow stonecrop, lazy daisies, sleepy daisies, horsemint ... the list goes on!

Recent rainfall should maintain the display through early June.

I've added recent photos to my gallery:
http://imageevent.com/mpurcell/txwf2010

Thanks for the Memories

TomG — Sat, 15 May 2010 16:39:42 GMT

I have enjoyed following the postings about the "50-year bloom" for the past few weeks and thoroughly enjoyed trying out many of the roads! Went to the Poteet/Natalia area in the beginning, and then focused on the Llano/Mason area: Art-Hedwig, Keyserville, Threadgill Creek, RR152, Hwy 29, Hwy 71, Hwy 87. As many noted, the blooms were spectacular. Thanks for the input from everyone!

These are some of my favs:

http://www.pbase.com/photosbytomg/txwildflowers2010&page=1

I will look forward to the coming season!

Tom Gallaway

Hill Country Wild Flower Show

RonV — Fri, 14 May 2010 23:07:49 GMT

If you paste the link below in your browser it should take you to the members sharing site at Photodex.com. Photodex makes the program I use to build slide shows with music. The title of the show I have there is Hill Country Flowers Part 1, right now it is the only show I have on the site. Just click the Title or the small screen above it, give it time to load, you may have to allow active x. Once it loads you will get a bigger screen for it, then just click on the title picture and it will start. It is about 14-15 minutes long.

http://www.photodex.com/sharing/browse

I could not get this message to take a cut and paste or let me make a hyperlink for some reason, so hopefully it will let you do a copy of the link???

RonV

New to Board

JulieR — Fri, 07 May 2010 16:05:53 GMT

Hi Everyone, Am new to posting, but will try and document what I see. Am up in Round Rock and haven't been out to shoot in 2 weeks (am also in school ... again! and it's crunchtime in the semester). Am going to try and do a reconnaissance mission this weekend and see if there are still any good areas up here. Bluebonnets are definitely over up here and paintbrush was sparse here in comparison to other areas. A few weeks ago, CR 100 south of 29 had some good shooting spots, CR 1105 north of 29 had some good places. Canyon of the Eagles was still good about 2 weeks ago (have anyone been there in the last 2 weeks?) and The Sullivan's place on Old Spanish Trail (past Buchanan Dam) had mostly paintbrush (but unfortunately they mowed around the oaks, so it wasn't as good as in past years). I will try and post if there is anything good I find in this area this weekend. Julie

Any options for this weekend?

RobG — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 13:49:36 GMT

Hey guys and gals, Are we in between blooms right now or are there any hot spots to see this weekend around Llano/Mason? I was hoping to get out on Saturday or Sunday mornings.

Thanks for any tips!
Rob

Mason Llano Overview

RonV — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 16:24:43 GMT

Howdy Everyone, Well headed home now and had a very good trip to the Hill Country (Mason & Llano). The absolute best was RR152 Castell to Llano for color. Other really good spots were Pontotoc by the old school. James River Road and Threadgill Creek Road are good but BB are starting to fade, however yellows and reds are in abundance.

Another good spot was the intersection of 2768 and RR 104 just before you cross the Llano River going south on 2678. Took a swing through Willow Creek Loop yesterday and it was so so. There are still some decent fields of prickly white poppies in the northern section and along the east side where you cross a stream there is good color contrast between yellow and fading BB. From there to Willow Creek not much at all. There was also a very good field of prickly white poppies along TX 16 south of Llano, between CR113 and FM 965 on the west side.

Based on what I have seen I would also explore RR 962, RR 3347 and Althous Davis Road. I suspect there could be very good color along this route. RonV

Prairie Mountain and RR-2323

RichO — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 02:16:29 GMT

Flew down RR-2323 and came to a screeching stop just before Prairie Mtn school (okay that was over dramatic...but the view was dramatic).

WOW!...the roadsides were covered on both sides with bluebonnets and on the east side the bluebonnets filled a large long field. I think this is the best I have ever seen that field.

The bluebonnets along this part of RR-2323 still looked good...definitely at peak with some beyond, but still a great lanscape shot.

http://www.pbase.com/richo/image/124046752/large

4 image panorama of RR-2323 just north of Prairie Mountain school.

San Saba county

jasonmerlo — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 01:59:50 GMT

Since I have used the board frequently this year I thought I should contribute something, although it will be only to say that I was disappointed in what I saw of San Saba county. going north on 16 through town and then turning on 500 there is just not a whole lot happening compared to what I've seen in Llano, Gillespie, and Burnet counties. On our ranch north of San Saba, the bluebonnets were significantly less impressive than in 2007. They have now started going to seed already.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this board who has made my wildflower season thus far much more enjoyable.

Photo Meetups

Johnnycb — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 23:11:33 GMT

Would anyone be interested in having photo meetups and shoot as a group? Johnny

SH-16 and Willow City Loop Amaze Me!

RichO — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 03:46:08 GMT

So I journeyed down Willow City Loop from the south end...Wow!...for the first time since 2001, the south end is actually close to what it was in 2001.

Other parts are about what I remember in 2003.

Stopped and talked with one of the ranchers...he said it was about equal to 2001/2003 in most parts.

Along SH-16 there are now fields of blue showing up along the sides of the hills on the east side going north. I do not remember that happening before. Saw bluebonnets in patches and strips in fields where I have never seen bluebonnets.

http://www.pbase.com/richo/image/123813755
(blue color boosted a bit as you can see)

http://www.pbase.com/richo/image/123842841

Roadside bluebonnets are quickly fading, but fields still look good.

LOTS of other seedlings coming...look like either bitterweed or greenthread...

RR152 US 87 East to Llano-Very Colorful

RonV — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 17:42:30 GMT

Left Mason this AM and drove to Llano along RR152. Best between Castell & Llano. What a colorful display of flowers. I do not know all the names but there was quite a bit of good Blue Bonnets along with Coreopsis together in many spots. Also an abundance of bit of Indian Blanket. Still some Prickly Poppies and others I do not know. The yellow just flows out to the fields as you approach Llano Golf course. Plan to go out 29 this afternoon and will give a report later. Probably cut south and do RR152 again with afternoon sun. This is just incredible and I have never seen anything like this in my life.

RonV

James River RD and Threadgill Creek RD - WOW!

RichO — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 02:24:31 GMT

Thought I was going to do a short trip in the Mason area, ended up there all day. Here is a very quick report. James River RD and the portion of Threadgill Creek RD are well worth the trip if you can get there Sunday - Tuesday...a dry warm spell is coming so not sure how much longer these will last - right now they look very good for short range and landscape shots.

Top spots:

1. James River RD: Wish I had gone there two weeks ago, but absolutely glad I did today. This has to be 10 times better than Willow City Loop and several times better than Art-Hedwigs RD. To get to James River RD you travel down RR-1723 from Mason then veer right on RR-2389 which turns into James River RD. The best areas are not until the pavement ends and the road turns to red dirt. There are several low water crossing along this road, so you need a high clearance vehicle. Go all the way until you get to the James River crossing then turn around...

There are bluebonnets literally flowing down the hill sides through the trees and into low lying meadows. Lots of trees so not a good wide landscape area, but there are some long fields with great views, and several water crossings with some bluebonnets.

http://www.pbase.com/richo/image/123936319/medium

I have been down this road many times since 2003 and this is many times the best I have ever seen it. The bluebonnet blooms still look good, some new blooms. Seedpods on some along the road, but not that obvious.

http://www.pbase.com/richo/image/123925010/large

2. Threadgill Creek RD: This is another rocky/red dirt road with several low water crossings. However if you enter from US 87 (about 4 mi south of Loyal Valley) and travel 4-6 miles you will go through some of the best parts and the road is fairly level and easy to travel (still rocky/dirt road). There is one sloping large field about 5 miles from US 87 that is 80-90% solid bluebonnets. I have never ever seen this type of view along this route. Several other nicely covered areas along this route.

http://www.pbase.com/richo/image/123924856

http://www.pbase.com/richo/image/123953794
The other side of this same field and the part to the right of the image above.

http://www.pbase.com/richo/image/123943627

3. Lower Willow Creek RD: Some interesting mixed wildflower views along this road. About half way, I had to stop...one low water crossing over Willow Creek was a torrent of water and I could not see the road bottom..

http://www.pbase.com/richo/image/123937238

4. Keyserville RD: Still going strong...some signs of seedpods along one stretch, but still some great views there.

http://www.pbase.com/richo/image/123944094

Hill Country Wonderland

Debbi — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 19:06:56 GMT

Thanks to this site, I just returned from a very successful Hill Country wildflower hunt. Once the rains stopped and the clouds parted, it was beautiful. The most prolific site was [name withheld on request of property owner] Road. It's not a road that I would recommend without a truck. We went thru there on Saturday and there had been flash floods the night before, washing out parts of the road. But, the bluebonnets were far beyond my imagination and I've lived in Texas my entire life. I ended up walking most of the road because there was just so much to see and photograph. Below is one image from that road, with another from the railroad tracks in Llano County at sunset the same day. Thank you again for all of the sighting reports!

http://www.pbase.com/bphotographix/image/123774878

http://www.pbase.com/bphotographix/image/123774879