The Texas Hill Country - renowned worldwide for its annual wildflower display - is inviting visitors to experience nature’s beauty firsthand. Spring will be here before long and the Hill Country will be in bloom. Seven central Texas communities have joined to create the Texas Hill Country Wildflower Trail. From late March through June, the towns of Brownwood, Burnet, Fredericksburg, Goldthwaite, Johnson City, Mason and San Saba are celebrating the natural roadside beauty that must be seen to be believed.
Favorite wildflowers found in the Hill Country, include bluebonnets, Indian paintbrush, phlox, Mexican poppy, winecups, Indian blanket and lemon mint.
“The Wildflower Trail is very important,” Deborah Farquhar-Garner, Wildflower Trail Coordinator, said, “because it promotes one of Texas’ prettiest resources - wildflowers.”
The wildflower season in Burnet (www.burnetchamber.org) - the Bluebonnet Capital of Texas - starts around mid-March and ends in July. Sightseers are sure to come upon bluebonnets, Indian paintbrush, coreopsis, straw flowers, Mexican hats, standing cypress, Indian blankets, lemon mint, gay feathers, and white prickly poppies. Guests who time their visits – April: 25th Annual Burnet Bluebonnet Festival, and Highland Lakes Squadron Commemorative Air Show; May: Burnet BBQ Cook-Off and Music Festival, Burnet Rodeo, and Railfair & Market Day.
Over 100 varieties of wildflowers attract drivers to Goldthwaite (www.goldthwaite.biz) from March through September. Bluebonnets, sunflowers, golden rod, redbuds, and wild mustard are but a few of the colorful decorations in subsequent months. Events in this authentic Texas town include in April: 11th Annual Goat Barbecue & Cook Off in the City Park, featuring Miss Texas.
Mason’s (www.masontxcoc.com) springtime activities include Bluebonnet Drives in April and Wildflower Drives in May. Mark your calendars for more... April: Annual Pedal Power Wildflower Ride at LBJ State Park (near Stonewall, Mason County Republican Women's Tour of Homes, Senior 2-Person, Hole Tournament, Mason County Cancer Relay, AJRA Rodeo, at the Ft. Mason Park Rodeo Arena; May: Tenth Annual Dr Pepper Fundraiser to benefit Comanche Creek Golf Course; June: Great Castell Kayak Race, on the Llano River, Eighteenth Annual Junction/Mason Two Person Select Shot Tournament, Member & Guest (2 Person) Tournament; July: Mason County Roundup, Three (3) Person Tournament.
Bluebonnets, galardia, winecups, purple cone flowers, gold yarrow, and blacked-eyed Susans will line the roads leading to San Saba (www.sansabatexas.com) late March through July. Plenty of roads for biking. Special events during this colorful time include Keep San Saba Beautiful and the 2008 Pecan Festival & Rodeo.
Fun things to do during the Wildflower season in Johnson City (www.johnsoncitytexaschamber.com) include April: Silver K Cafe Open Mic nights, ESA Garage Sale at the EMS Building in Johnson City, Ninth Annual Pedal Power Wildflower Ride, Texas Hill Country Food and Wine Festival, Texas Book Festival at the LBJ Ranch, LBJ 100 Bicycle Tour, American Cancer Society Relay for Life, Johnson City Texas Wildflower Days – The Spirit of The Hill Country, Wine and Wildflower Trail, Kirchman Gallery Reception, and LBJ Ranch Cycling Weekend in Observance of National Park Week. Plus abundant wildflowers along the roadsides and county roads.
Late-March through the end of May, visitors to Fredericksburg (www.fredericksburg-texas.com) will enjoy the extra beauty of wildflower-lined roads on every approach. Fredericksburg is home to many events: April - Fredericksburg Theater Production “The Making of the Mousetrap”, Wine and Wildflower Trail (Hill Country), Pedal Power Wildflower Ride, Wildflower Celebration, Historic Rural Schools Benefit BBQ, “Knights of Columbus” Pancake Breakfast, Texas Book Festival (LBJ Ranch, Stonewall), Wine and Wildflower Trail (Hill Country), Bluebonnet Trails Gourdfest, Texas VW Classic, David Burgess Concert – guitar, Texas Woodcarvers Guild Spring Roundup, Scholarship Fest, Wildflower 5K & 10K Run/Walk, PCAA Concert Series in the Park; May - Hill Country Motorcycle Run, Relay for Life, Kay Walton One Woman Art Show, Pioneer Memorial Library Book Sale, Willow City VFD Benefit BBQ, Trail Ride (New Braunfels to Fredericksburg), Maifest (German Chorale Concert), Intertribal Pow Wow, Luckenbach Mother’s Day Celebration, Founders Day, Chorale Spring Concert, Lone Star Street Rod Assn. State Run, Trade Days, 1960’s BBQ (LBJ Ranch, Stonewall), Roots Music Concert, Lavender Fest, Lavender Trail: Farm to Table, David Renner & Betty Mallard Concert – piano, Texas Wine Maker – Vintner Dinner Series, Crawfish Festival, Soap Making at the Sauer- Beckmann Living History Farm (LBJ State Park, Stonewall), Pacific Combat Living History Program, Memorial Day Program. Explore Fredericksburg wildflowers even further by biking on our back roads.
Last but not least is Brownwood (www.brownwoodchamber.org). Great happenings in this community include March: Texas Date Nail Collector’s Show, Rattle Snake Round-Up, Circus Gatti, Bluebonnet Relays, Silver Spur Gun & Knife Show; April: Great Indoor/Outdoor Extravaganza, Heart of Texas Wildflower Exhibit, Gold Wind Road Riders Rally, Heart of Texas Quilt Show; May: Gordon Wood Golf Classic.
There is no charge for driving the wildflower routes. More information on event listings, locations, and activities along the Texas Hill Country Wildflower Trail is available by contacting the Wildflower Trail Headquarters toll free 1-866-TEX-FEST (839-3378), or visit the web site www.tex-fest.com. |