We'll be driving from Austin to San Antonio this week and were hoping to see some spectaucluar wildflower displays. Any recommendations on where to see wildflowers we don't mind detouring a bit for the views. thanks!

The LBJ ranch came to mind, but that would be quite a detour - more than just a "bit". But, it's on the way to one of my favorite places - Fredrickburg.

Surely, Lady Bird's wildflowers are still blooming along the interstate system?

Dona, this is a fantastic time of year for wildflowers in Central TX!! You will see them along I-35, but that's not exactly the scenic route, in fact I really dislike driving on I-35.

If you have a day to spend, you could take Hwy. 281 from SA to Johnson City. The wildflowers in that area are incredible, and so is the display at the LBJ Ranch. If you have time, you could go another 30 miles from Johnson City to Fredericksburg, which is a German town with tons of charm, great German food, and a big flower factory going into town that you can't miss. If there is no time for Fredricksburg, then take Hwy 290 from Johnson City into Austin.

If you do not want this much of a detour, then I recommend seeing the Wildflower Research Center in SW Austin, which was founded by Lady Bird Johnson. Here's the link to that:

http://www.wildflower.org/

Enjoy your trip.

Oh my goodness, are you in for a treat! I have lived here 10 years, and for sure this is our prettiest springtime (lots of rain in December & January make the flowers really bloom).

The most direct route, of course, is to take Interstate 35. But if wildflowers are what you want to see, the most scenic way from San Antonio would be to take the back roads (Hwys. 281 & 290) to Fredericksburg, stopping for lunch or dinner for some authentic German food, then onto Johnson City (you guessed it--LBJ Ranch is here), then into Austin from there. You might even consider the very scenic Willow Loop for grand vistas of our beloved bluebonnets, etc. This road is so popular that on weekends loads of tour buses line the roads. You'll even see longhorns grazing in the bluebonnets. In a word, beautiful!

Once you get here, quite a few of the Interstate embankments have flowers. But certainly Loop 360 or Loop 1 are ablaze with color right now.

And while you're here, hope you have time for some BBQ and then some live music on 6th Street! Have a good time.

Dona,
I agree with the last poster. Highway 290 West out of Austin then Highway 281 S. to San Antonio.

Both 290 and 281 are 70mph highways, so you're really not adding that much travel time.

Believe it or not the best wildflower displays are along the center strip of some of TX divided highways.

A somewhat longer and perhaps a little more scenic route is to take Highway 71 west out of Austin (branches off 290 just west of the city at the "Y"). 71 will cross 281 about 30miles further North (wrong direction) vs 290.

There's a wildflower seed farm on 290 near Fredricksburg called Wildseed Farms (www.wildseedfarms.com) that has some of the most beautiful fields you'll see this side of Keukenhof. I don't recall if it's west or east of 281, but definitely worth going to if your desire is to see TX wildflowers.

A few years ago on my way from Austin to visit Enchanted Rock I decided to take a 'county' road 'shortcut' for a more scenic trip. Turned out to be a spectacular drive in the family minivan with fantastic fields full of bluebonnets. The only downside was that this 'county road' was a 20mile dirt road with several low water crossings across the river. No road, no cement 'crossing', just a gravel trail through 3" water. Wouldn't recommend it without a serious 4WD and GPS but definitely the road less traveled.

J62, funny you should mention that road. I think we were on it last year. After the first few miles we realized our map was in the other car. Finally came across a real cowboy working his ranch who, in a wonderful Texas friendly style, assured us we should just follow our noses and "head over yonder a piece" and we'd be off the gravel. Worked like a charm.

Anyway, to dona - now that I re-read your post, I realized you're coming from Austin to S.A. - I gave you directions for the opposite way. Hopefully you get the idea.

I know you asked for a route suggestion and we are giving you a sidetrip instead...but do consider spending a bit of time in Fredricksburg. It may be my favorite place in Texas.

Lady Bird was ahead of her time with her Highway Beautification project... an early environmentalist. How ladylike to pretty up Texas highways and roadside with wildflowers. I have an original oil of bluebonnets that reminds me of her - and my time in Texas.

They are hard to miss this year! Some might see longhorn grazing in the bluebonnets, but we took these pictures of our Hobie Cat grazing in our backyard this afternoon. It's a yard in need of lots of TLC, but the bluebonnets don't seem to mind. (PS...I foiled her plan to eat them then spit them back up on the new rug in the house!) http://www.worldisround.com/articles/156000/index.html

We drove the backroads from our house to Gruene, Texas (New Braunfels) this afternoon and the flowers were spectacular all along the way. If you are pressed for time take the interstate and enjoy them, but if you have time to spare, by all means, the winding back roads are simply lovely and the drive far more enjoyable. This is Texas at her very best!

OO, if the Gruene Dance Hall is still going strong, y'all really need to head back one night. One of my favorite memories...a hot summer night dancing in Gruene. The mill restaurant next door used to be really good too.

Cute pictures! I wonder if there's catnip in those bluebonnets?

Sorry, I got the routing backwards, I was thinking SA to Austin. But it looks like most of us are in agreement about Johnson City and Fredericksburg. The flower place I mentioned is the one that J62 talks about, and it's well worth a stop. Have fun.

I don't suppose those wildflowers will still be around May 27? We will be in Houston for our granddaughters graduation and would love to see them. Our son says they are beautiful.

So sorry, cd. Just returned home from Austin last night. The blue bonnets are peaking and will begin to fade soon. The equally gorgeous Indian Paint Brushes and Cosmos will hang in there a bit longer but not until your trip, I'm afraid. BUT, it's worth a trip to Austin just to see Austin. Actually, it's more appropriate to say "eat your way thru" Austin. Best place for good food, LOTS of good food and unique people watching! Enjoy your trip.

Thanks to everyone for the wonderful ideas. Sounds like we've got good timing on the wildflowers and we'll definitely take the side roads and meander down to SA. And yes, we plan on eating lots of the great Texas barbeque and hearing some good music in Austin too.

Starrsville, Hobie thanks you.

I'd thought about writing something about the Gruene Hall, actually. It was in full swing yesterday and I WISHED I'd had my camera. What a neat place! I don't know who the group was, but they must have had close to 150 people in the hall, loving it. Those rickety old floorboards, screened sides on the building, good music, a cool spring day = a very special moment. I felt glad to be "back" (in Texas) even!

I'd picked up a brochure while we were there, sort of in awe of what we had stumbled onto between that, the quaint teeny town, and the Guadaloupe, all surprisingly pretty! According to the brochure, Gruene Hall "has been instrumental in starting the careers of Lyle Lovett, George Strait, Hal Ketchum (?) and many others. The stage has seen the likes of Bo Diddley, the Dixie Chicks, Jerry Lee Lewis, Garth Brooks, and Willie Nelson." It hosted Nolan Ryan's 50th, and has been featured in numerous music videos and movies. They've got a website: www.gruenehall.com. I looked at upcoming events and see Taj Mahal (I went to school with him at UMass and still remember him singing at some of our freshman functions), Dr. John, and Leon Russell will all be there this month. It's only 15 minutes from our house so we'll be back for sure! We didn't have nearly enough time--would have loved to have stayed and listened longer, but the Masters was calling loudly to DH so we left.

Oh, OO, you really HAVE moved to God's country! We used to head down to the hill country every weekend we could when I lived in Dallas. Only lasted a year without hills and trees.

The ABSOLUTE highlight of my dancing life happened at the GDH. A "long drink of water" cowboy approached me and asked me to dance - without words. I've two-stepped before but never with true grace. I GLIDED across the dance floor that night! In fact, we danced the whole night and he barely spoke - but who cared. I was a Texas Princess that night. My group would order pictures of water for the table (unusual for that venue and the only breaks we took were for more water for me and a long neck for him.

One day I'll go back. When you go, please report back!

If Hal Ketchum heads back, let me know. He released an album after years away from the industry. I'll fly out to hear him and to visit with some of my TX friends.

Hugs to Hobie!

A tip - it is OK to pick just a few of the flowers if you leave enough for others to enjoy seeing.
Another tip - wildflowers often house wildlife - be on the lookout for fireants and snakes

Starsville - Hal Ketchum plays the One World Theatre in Austin June 24th I believe. I may have to see him too!

www.oneworldtheatre.org

OO,

I am guessing you saw Mickey and the Motorcars at Gruene Hall. An up and coming Texas band. Hal Ketchum plays there in August.

If you enjoyed Gruene Hall, come down to Kerrville for the Folk Festival. Starts Memorial Day Weekend for two weeks through June 12.

the festival focuses on singer/songwriters. Peter Yarrow (Peter Paul and Mary) and Arlo Guthrie will be there. Others whose music you might have heard without knowing their names are Ellis Paul, Willis alan Ramsey, Ruthie Foster, Terri Hendrix, Sara Hickman and Jimmy LaFave. New Folk Competition is Memorial Day Weekend. Several of the finalists will camp with us. Past Finalists include Lyle Lovett, Shawn Colvin, Lucinda Williams, John Gorka, David Wilcox and Nancy Griffith.

starrsville...if that isn't the making of a romantic movie, I don't know what is! Of course he'd have to ride off into the sunset...without ever speaking, just as he probably did in real life. Fun read, thanks! Yes...we will go back...it might even fill a big hole left by our favorite St Pete Sunday afternoon beach bar. sniff...sniff

LDLee...just looked it up. Judging by the time we were there, it was Bret Graham (a group though) and I see they play other Sundays, no cover, no tickets. They were good and it looked like fun.

The Kerrville Festival does sound like something we'd really enjoy. Is it a mob scene and/or traffic hellacious getting into or out of town? I'm thinking something along the lines of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival which was fun when it first began, but a whole different animal now. Still remember a stretch limo pulling up and a very very large black man climbing out. My husband excitedly exclaimed, "That's BB King"! At that point in my life I had no idea who BB King was. That was probably the first or 2nd of the Jazz & Heritage Festivals. Anyway...are the events remotely similar? I would surely enjoy hearing Peter Yarrow and/or Arlo Guthrie. Sarah Hickman I know and enjoy, but I'm not familiar with the others. Dosn't mean I wouldn't think they were terrific, but as with BB King, I just wouldn't know them--yet. When you say "several of the finalists will camp with us" what did you mean? (Do you run a camp in that area?) Have never been to Kerrville and it's already on our list of places we want to visit.