sylbea

My friends are vacationing in Austin and they have been told there are no blue bonnets this year due to the severe drought. Does anyone know where I can tell them to go to see this spectacular event. Maybe it is too early this year? Are there really going to be no blue bonnets? They went to LBJ Ranch hoping to see them but not a one. Thanks for any help.

AustinTraveler

There are some bluebonnets up and down Mopac (Hwy 1). They should head to the Wildflower Center as I'm sure there will be some there. This year's wildflowers will, however, be nothing compared to years when we've had rain.

Here's some first-hand sightings:

http://www.lone-star.net/wildflowers/sightings.htm

ChristieP

It's not in the Austin area, but I-30 east from Greenville to about Mount Pleasant has gorgeous bluebonnets this weekend. Also, along 635 from DFW Airport to I-35, and at MacArthur, there is an entire field of them!

swisshiker

Hello sylbea

Sorry to say, this year's wildflower crop is fairly sparse. Yes, they're here and there along the highways and fields, but absolutely nothing like last year where they were everywhere--literally!

Last week we drove the Willow City Loop, well-known for its magnificent displays. Sadly, this time we basically just "drove" the loop, only stopping a time or two for a few pictures (and one was a cow!). Last year we went three times and spent hours there each time.

You can still get some good photos, just not the fields and fields of them as you see in picture books.

Happy travels!

starrs

The DOT hotline can be helpful to search for bluebonnets - or other wildflowers -

http://www.txdot.gov/travel/flora_conditions.htm

Joanel

we are going to be in the austin, hill country san antonio area starting next week. has the wildflower scene improved at all? if not we may change how long we stay in certain areas.

thanks

swisshiker

In Austin, they're pretty much drying up.

Took a drive today to Brenham from Austin. Absolutely NO flowers along those roads, but the grasses are super green and the trees are our beautiful spring "neon" green. Of course, this area is east of Austin, not in the Hill Country. But usually there's an abundance in the east as it tends to be rainier (is that a word?), so we were hopeful. Not so this year.

Happy travels!

swisshiker

Uh-oh, I meant to say there were no flowers once we left Austin. There's still a spattering here in Austin along the highways, but they're getting drier by the day.

Joanel

slightly off topic, but how cool does it get in the evening? need a light jacket or sweater and jacket or polartec??? we are in the process of packing. coming from the east coast where it is still cool.

thanks

swisshiker

One can only wish that we'd need a polartec in Austin in April.

Checking the weather 10 days out, our lows will be around 70.

Some showers expected, which we greatly need.

P_M

April is my favorite month in Central TX because of the bluebonnets and other wildflowers, but this year has indeed been a terrible disappointment. We usually do the Willow Loop too swisshiker, but we will skip it this year.