Hill Country bluebonnet drive
Bluebonnets peak a little later in the Hill Country than in Austin and San Antonio. The superbloom I photographed south of San Antonio two weeks ago whetted my appetite for more, and since Austin’s roadside ‘bonnets have faded, I headed into the Hill Country on Wednesday. Cruising west on Highway 290, north on Ranch Road 1323, and along the picturesque, 13-mile Willow City Loop, I saw plentiful bluebonnets lapping up against dirt roads.
Bluebonnets sparkling in the meadow at the old abandoned Sandy schoolhouse.
Bluebonnets brightening a spiky vignette of prickly pear and yucca.
More blue!
And more
I always enjoy seeing the fence of upturned cowboy boots on the Willow City Loop.
Quintessentially Texas
White prickly poppies are making a good showing too.
Bluebonnets, white prickly poppies, and a live oak — a classic Hill Country scene
I was thrilled to see a vermilion flycatcher for the first time! What a beautiful bird.
Roadside rainbow
The wildflowers here aren’t as thick as I saw in the San Antonio area, nor as prolific as they’ve been in other years on the Willow City Loop.
But there are many good stands of our diminutive state flower.
Plus flowering yuccas
The loop is scenic at any time of year, but especially at bluebonnet time. It’s best to go on a weekday to avoid crowds.
Parts of the loop have free-ranging cattle.
A pair of white calves were head-butting each other in a flowery meadow — a case of spring fever?
They were frolicking and having a good time.
So cute! Mama stood by patiently.
A shaman figure keeping watch over prickly poppies
A chimney-like butte along the loop
It’s been a particularly good year for bluebonnets and other wildflowers in Central Texas. I’m happy that I was able to see so many on my wildflower drives. I hope you enjoyed them too!
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Digging Deeper
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The wildflowers are tremendous this spring. I always like to see them. The Vermillion Flycatcher makes a perfect Red, White and Blue picture. So very American. 🙂
You’re right, Lisa. That color scheme is Americana all the way.
Beautiful!
Thanks, Deb!
Great capture of that Vermillion fly catcher.
I was thrilled to get a photo of it, Jenny. I only wish I could have gotten one of the courting bluebirds I saw in Dripping Springs that day too.
So gorgeous! Oddly, lupines seem to be in short supply along the roads on our peninsula this year despite our heavier-than-usual winter rain and the superbloom in the foothill and desert areas of SoCal.
Maybe they need another year to catch up on seed dispersal. Fingers crossed for next year, Kris!
Wow these are beautiful Pam. Bluebonnets never get old. Gotta say though I’m surprised the cattle didn’t eat all the bluebonnets in the field with them. The longhorns eat every single one around here.
Is that right? I just assumed maybe they weren’t tasty.
Beautiful. I live in an ‘open range’ area of Arizona. I didn’t know they had that in other states…. Sadly a lot of them get hit out here, not good for cattle or people.
No indeed. 🙁
That’s quite an eyeful of color! I thank you and the 2018 Garden Bloggers’ Fling for opening my eyes to the amazing wildflowers Texas has to offer. I still remember the drive from the airport to downtown Austin, with the highway verges filled with yellows and oranges. What a wealth you have there! Thanks for sharing these beautiful blues, Pam.
I’m so glad you enjoyed the later wildflowers last spring, Jane!