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bluebonnet time in texas

updated thu 24 feb 05

 

Dale Neese on sat 12 feb 05


From the Texas Department of Transportation's website:



Motorists searching for the best places to see wildflowers along Texas
highways have help at their fingertips.
The Texas Department of Transportation's wildflower hotline (800-452-9292)
and Web site (www.dot.state.tx.us/wflwr/main.htm) give users information on
the best spots to find wildflowers along the 79,000 miles of the Texas
highway system.

The hotline will be active at all hours through early May. Maps showing the
best spots for viewing wildflowers are available through the TxDOT Web site.

To make it easier to find wildflowers in bloom, hotline callers may request
information by seven regions: Central Texas and Hill Country, Southeast
Texas and Upper Gulf Coast, East Texas and Piney Woods, South Texas and
Lower Gulf Coast, West Texas, North Central Texas, Panhandle and Plains.

Information on the hotline and Internet comes from TxDOT's maintenance
offices, from chambers of commerce, and parks officials.

"There should be an above-average crop of bluebonnets," said Ben Bowers, a
vegetation manager with TxDOT. "If the wet weather continues, the wildflower
crop will be as abundant as last year."

Many blossom-watchers consider April the best month for viewing wildflowers
in abundance.

With the amount of fall and winter rains we have had, including today, there
should be plenty of beautiful wildflowers. I look for an early spring.

Dale Tex

"across the alley from the Alamo"

San Antonio, Texas, USA

Eleanora Eden on sat 12 feb 05


We are travelling to Houston, TX for a fair March 18-20. One of my
rationales for this venture is an excuse to see the bluebonnets in
spring. Please don't tell me I will be too early. The one other
time I was in Texas was in May and that was too late.

I would really like some advice about places to go in the hill
country. Maybe also places not to go? We will be in the camper, not
doing hotels. We will have 3-4 days after the fair and before we
have to leave for Pensacola.

Thanks in advance.

Eleanora

Neil Fallon on sun 13 feb 05


I lived in Texas in the mid-80's. I could make a list of likes and dislikes
of my four year residency in the Lone Star State with the dislikes out
numbering the likes by 4 to 1. But one of the most wonderful things about
Texas is the Spring season. It rushes up on you. One seemingly goes to bed
in late winter and wake up the next morning with spring bursting out like a
firework display against the nigh sky. It only last for a few weeks, and
then Texas turns brown, but those weeks are brilliant in comparison. Thanks
for reminding me of those days. Any chance the DOT has a web cam of the
Bluebonnets for those of us that are still snow bound in mid-march?

Neil Fallon
Rock Pond Pottery

Crystal Nolfo~Brown on wed 23 feb 05


Hi Eleanora,

I'm behind on reading and see this note about your trip. If you are looking
for flowers you ought to stop by and see the Wild Louisiana Irises. There
is nothing like seeing a huge patch of Wild Irises. They MAY be in bloom
around that time. As of right now I see the foliage is sprouting out. You
may also want to take a swamp tour if you aren't in a hurry. No this is not
a sales pitch. I'm not part of the tour but I am born and raised here. I
love for people to realize the beauty and wildlife that is prevalent in the
area. There is an interesting swamp tour that I actually went on and even
though I'm from here I really enjoyed it. You could see blue herons, wild
flowers and alligators being feed while having a very enjoyable boat ride.
If you would like the web address let me know I'll email it to you off the
list. There are several others but I've only been on this one. Also, if you
like, I will be able to tell you if the irises are actually in bloom at the
time of your visit since I have a bird's eye view. Oh and if you do come
you have to visit Big Al's and taste the crawfish. I think you will find
that most of the people around here are friendly, respectful and fun as
long as they are met with the same.
Have a fun trip,
Crystal

On Sat, 12 Feb 2005 09:39:51 -0500, Eleanora Eden
wrote:

>We are travelling to Houston, TX for a fair March 18-20. One of my
>rationales for this venture is an excuse to see the bluebonnets in
>spring. Please don't tell me I will be too early. The one other
>time I was in Texas was in May and that was too late.
>
>I would really like some advice about places to go in the hill
>country. Maybe also places not to go? We will be in the camper, not
>doing hotels. We will have 3-4 days after the fair and before we
>have to leave for Pensacola.
>
>Thanks in advance.
>
>Eleanora
>
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