Last week I had a chance to make a quick trip down to Texas to photograph the spring wildflowers in the Texas Hill Country near Fredericksburg.
The Texas Hill Country is a vernacular term applied to a region of Central Texas, that features tall rugged hills that consist of thin layers of soil lying ontop of either limestone or granite. It also includes the Llano Uplift and the second largest granite monadnock in the United States, Enchanted Rock, which is located 18 miles north of Fredericksburg.
The Texas Bluebonnets were in full bloom and lined the sides of many of the roads and went well out into the fields in many locations.
Willow City Loop is 13 miles of country road winding its way through some of the oldest and most unique geology in central Texas. This spectacular, rugged terrain is awe-inspiring any time of the year and gorgeous during wildflower season. The two-lane road winds through canyons carved by picturesque Coal Creek, and over hill tops where the views are stunning. In wildflower season, March – April, the hillsides and low lying meadows are ablaze with the colors of a multitude of wildflower varieties. Stopping on the road or on the side of the road is not permitted on the loop, since this is all private property and the landowners must have access to thier land.
Bluebonnets, the official Texas state flower, blanket large portions of the state in early spring. Their peak blooming season is in late March and early April. Bluebonnets depend on abundant winter rains and warm spring weather.
Click here to view the entire Texas Hill Country Gallery.