Wildflowers around Austin, TX (answer, not question)

I will be in the Austin area in about 2 weeks, and was interested

in shooting locations there, especially for wild flowers. Looks

like the flowers will be peaking conviniently in about 2 weeks.

Here's an email I received from Al. Moler, of the Texas highways

dept. (I think) on places to shoot:

 

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Praveen Murthy

 

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Date: 13 Mar 1997 12:21:06 -0500

From: Al Moller <Al.Moller@noaa.gov>

To: Return requested <murthy@EECS.Berkeley.EDU>

Subject: Re: nature sites in Austin/Dallas/San Antonio area

 

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Praveen:

 

1) Wildflowers - Wildflowers peak in April and May. The bluebonnets

(state flower) peak in early April, with some of the most splendid

displays in the Texas Hill Country (mainly west of Austin, including

areas around Llano, Fredericksburg, and Johnson City). There should

be some bluebonnets in late March, and you should go to the National

Wildflower Research Center (<http://numedia.tddc.net/wildflowers/> on

the internet), just northeast of Austin for early displays. Check

with the chamber of commerce in Austin about its exact location.

There are also excellent stands of bluebonnets in Washington County,

especially on the country roads in most directions from Brenham (east

of Austin). In general, country roads offer the best wildflower

photography, although by early and mid-April, the I-35 corridor from

Dallas-Fort Worth to San Antonio can be spectacular. Highway 71 from

Austin to Llano, highway 29 from Burnet to Llano (try farm road 261 on

the west side of Lake Buchanan), and the "Willow City Loop" north of

Fredericksburg offer great wildflower viewing, usually by very late

March and early April.

 

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2) Old Missions - Most definitely the center of attention is in and

very close to San Antonio. Talk to the chamber of commerce in that

city about the "mission trail". The San Juan Capistrano mission has a

nice nature trail. The San Jaun mission has an excellent museum that

covers all the area museums. (Tip of the hat to Roland Nunez in our

office for the information on missions.)

 

3) Other natural areas - (1) Enchanted Rock State Park, on Farm and

Ranch Road 965, about 15 miles north of Fredericksburg, (2) LBJ State

Park (great wildflowers), about 12 miles east of Fredericksburg on

Highway 290, (3) Inks Lake State Park, south of Lake Buchanan, (4)

Pedernales State Park, about 10 miles east of Johnson City, (5)

Longhorn Cave, between Marble Falls and Burnet. These natural areas

are listed in the order that I would visit them, if I had a limited

schedule.

 

Good Luck, Praveen!

 

 

Alan Moller

I was in Austin on April 6, 7, &8 and the bluebonnets along Highway 71 from Columbus to Austin were in full bloom. The Austin area has a good crop along Highway 183 and along Highway 290 from Austin to Brenham. Fredericksburg is in full bloom right now. The Marble Falls Burnet area have not bloomed as thick as around Austin, Brenham and Fredericksburg. If you have time to go to Plantersville and Montgomery the flowers are great. For your information the Wildflower Research Center is closed on Mondays.