27 January 2016

Wild About Wildflowers


Seven miles east of Fredericksburg, Texas on US HWY 290, Wildseed Farms extends a COLORful welcome to visitors throughout most of the year. 2015 brought abundant rainfall and wildflowers to the Texas Hill Country. Creeks, Rivers and Springs are recharged and gushing, baby bluebonnets are coming on strong along the backroads in the Texas Hill Country! Spring 2016 COULD be one of those "Once in a Lifetime Wildflower Seasons!"

Life Is Not Measured By the Number of Breaths We Take...
But By the Moments That Take Our Breath Away! 

Just to get you forward thinking about spending some Best Friend time with the Wildflowers... here are some scenes from Wildseed Farms last year... Spring 2015. 


A Demonstration Garden at Wildseed Farms with Texas Bluebonnets and Purple Verbana. What a rich palette of purple and blue
The Texas State Flower
Texas Bluebonnet Lupinus Texensis... miracles on the stem! Wildseed Farms has a HUGE collection of Wildflower seeds and mixes. They recently added a Pollinator Mix to their catalog. 

Miles and Miles of Bluebonnets, the state flower of Texas... as far as you can see... spring meadows of brillant blue!
Miles and Miles of Texas Bluebonnets
Seems like us humans have been a little too slap happy with all the concrete and impervious cover and we forgot to leave some of Creation wild and abundant with native forage for the pollinator species, like birds, bees, butterflies, humming birds and bats. Their habitat has disappeared under parking lots and office buildings many pollinators are suffering. Particularly, migratory species that depend on finding forage to sustain their long journeys. And, if the pollinators are disappearing... it's not going to be good for us, since they are responsible for pollinating most of our favorite fruits, vegetables and nuts. 
Each one of us should dedicate a little, or a lot! of our outdoor space to pollinator gardens! With more flowers in the world we would ALL be healthier and happier!

When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe. 
- John Muir

A field of big, healthy Texas Bluebonnets with a few orange paintbrush scattered in here and there, at Wildseed Farms near historic Fredericksburg, Tx in the beautiful Texas Hill Country!
Go Out and Plant a Meadow!
The BEST things about Wildseed Farms, if you've never planted a seed, or plant, or planned a garden... are the WOW-Factor Walking Trails, Wildflower Fields and Demonstration Gardens. They are literally like "Living Instruction Manuals" on how to create a beautiful and inspirational space in your backyard, or back forty!
Monarchs on Purple Butterfly Bush it's a flittery Picnic!
Butterfly Picnic in Progress

A wooden fence row of scarlet red poppies is brilliant in the foreground and a field of mixed poppies, reds, pinks and whites, in the background.
Red Corn Poppies
Artful Plantings! Purple Butterfly Bush, Red Poppies, Red Roses create living art... on a living canvas!
WOW-Factor Gardens at Wildseed Farms
A field of scarlet corn poppies at Wildseed Farms in Fredericksburg, Texas!
Fields Where Scarlet Poppies Run...
Field of Red Flanders Poppies with Dark Centers. Paper thin flowers float on the Texas breezes
Fields of Flanders Poppies
A Wildflower field of Red Corn Poppies at Wildseed Farms in Fredericksburg, TX
Inspiration! Amazement! Awe! Thanks for Beauty!
Golden Cosmos flower in a Texas Summer Shower
Golden Cosmos in a Texas Summer Rain
Macro...Cosmos Flowers, of three  in a never ending field of pure GOLD!
Cosmos... petals of sunlight!
One of Many... in a Field of Golden Sunlight
A field of Cosmos...vibrant, rich golden ... this is the REAL Treasure!
Real TREASURE!


























06 January 2016

A TEXAS SIZE VIEW!

Eighteen miles north of Fredericksburg, Texas, on RR 965, a large dome of pink granite bulges out of the rolling hills of live oak, mesquite and cedar... getting BIGGER and BIGGER as you wind closer on the snaking Texas back road, this spectacular Hill Country Treasure is a must share with friends, family, children, parents! Winter weather makes kids of all ages want to go out and play! Exploring the GREAT outdoors makes us happier and healthier! So, why not start your new year with a climb to the top of Enchanted Rock? Be sure to pack some yummy snacks and plenty of water! Take your time as you climb. It's not a race and you really do want to see the Texas Size View from rock top... it's going to make you want to crow, "God Bless Texas!"

Two land Texas back road approaching Enchanted Rock! A BIG Pink dome in the distance!
Explore the GREAT outdoors!
A telephoto shot of the top of Enchanted Rock. Climbers and Hikers are seen near the summit!
Climb the Rock for an Enchanted View!
A Vernal Pool at the Top of Enchanted Rock... a haven of life in a harsh and unstable environment... granite and sun.
Vernal Pool on the TOP of Enchanted Rock!

Be sure to call before you drive! The park sometimes fills to capacity on weekends during peak season and on holidays! Enchanted Rock State Natural Area is located 18 miles north of Fredericksburg, Tx on Ranch Road 965.

Dogs on Enchanted Rock
Your canine friend, if leashed, is welcome at Enchanted Rock, but test the granite surface with your bare hand before you climb with your dog... the surface temperatures, in the heat of Summer can
seriously BLISTER your dog's paws!

Enchanted Rock State Natural Area in the Hill Country has been designated an International Dark Sky Park by the International Dark-Sky Association.

16710 Ranch Rd. 965
Fredericksburg, TX 78624
(830) 685-3636
Latitude: 30.505381
Longitude: -98.819844

Reservations on Line
Phone Reservations: 512-389-8900
View of the Texas Hill Country from the top of Enchanted Rock. In the foreground of the photo a vernal pool ripples in the wind.
View from Rock Top! Miles and Miles of Texas!