SIGHTSEERS GET READY FOR BLOOMS -
TEXAS HILL COUNTRY WILDFLOWER TRAIL BRINGS ROADSIDE BEAUTY

For Immediate Release-FEBRUARY 2005

The Texas Hill Country - renowned worldwide for its annual wildflower display - is inviting visitors to experience nature's beauty firsthand. Ten central Texas communities have joined to create the Texas Hill Country Wildflower Trail. From late March through June, the towns of Brady, Burnet, Early, Fredericksburg, Goldthwaite, Johnson City, Lampasas, Llano, Mason and San Saba are celebrating the natural roadside beauty that must be seen to be believed.

Spring will be here before long and the Hill Country will be in full bloom. Favorite wildflowers found in the Hill Country, include bluebonnets, Indian paintbrush, phlox, Mexican poppy, winecups, Indian blanket and lemon mint.

"The Wildflower Trail is very important," Deborah Farquhar-Garner, Wildflower Trail Coordinator, said, "because it promotes one of Texas" prettiest resources - wildflowers."

Some of the highlights during the wildflower season town by town include, Early invites visitors the fourth week of March through the end of May, when wildflowers are at their peak. Visitors may also want to pull over for a peek in Early's many antique shops, fine eating establishments, or even a round of golf at the Feather Bay Golf Course. The Saturday before Easter, kids can take part in the Easter Egg Hunt. In July, join them for the Vietnam Veteran's Boogie on the Bayou at Riverside Park.

The wildflower season in Burnet - the Bluebonnet Capital of Texas - starts around mid-March and ends in July. Sightseers are sure to come upon bluebonnets, Indian paintbrush, coreopsis, straw flowers, Mexican hats, standing cypress, Indian blankets, lemon mint, gay feathers, and white prickly poppies. Guests who time their visits - January: Annual Burnet County FFA & 4H Livestock Show and Premium Show, Texas Indian Hobbyist Association Powwow; April: Spring Arts and Crafts Show, Texas Indian Hobbyist Association Powwow, Annual Bluebonnet Festival & Air Show, Hill Country Lawn and Garden Show; May: ' Burnet Square Market Day, Highland Lakes Annual Barbeque Cookoff; June: Texas Indian Hobbyist Association Powwow, Burnet Rodeo, Hill Country Railfair and Festival.

Over 100 varieties of wildflowers attract drivers to Goldthwaite from March through September. Bluebonnets, sunflowers, golden rod, redbuds, and wild mustard are but a few of the colorful decorations in subsequent months. Events in this authentic Texas town include: last Saturday in April, Mills County BBQ & Goat Cookoff; Texas Friendship Wagon Trail, 3rd Weekend in April and 3rd Weekend in October; Goldthwaite FFA Rodeo, 2nd Weekend in June; Christmas in July.

Mason's springtime activities include Bluebonnet Drives in April and Wildflower Drives in May. Mark your calendars for more... February: Chamber of Commerce Banquet, Mason Country Opry: Jake Hooker; March: Mason Country Opry; April: Republican Women's Home Tour, Mason Country Opry; May: Mason VFD Annual Bar-B-Q Fundraiser, Mason Country Opry and June: Mason Country Opry.

Gardeners will find more to interest them on their drive through Lampasas. The Bloomin' Fest is a festival geared to springtime gardening, featuring arts, crafts, and, of course, plants. More Spring events include March: Quilt Show; Lometa Diamondback Jubilee; April: Bloomin' Fest, Chamber Golf Classic, City Wide Garage Sale; May: Memorial Golf Classic; June: Sulphur Creek Car Cruise, - Little Night Music; Lampasas Riata Roundup Rodeo.

Visitors to Llano may not find time to see the wildflowers with all the activities underway during the March - June season. Events include February: Llano Country Opry; March: Llano Country Opry, Texas Indian Hobbyists; April: Wildflower Trail and Carnival, VFD Fish Fry, Open Fiddle Contest, Llano Country Opry, Annual Crawfish Open and May: Llano Country Opry.

Bluebonnets, galardia, winecups, purple cone flowers, gold yarrow, and blacked-eyed Susans will line the roads leading to San Saba late March through July. Plenty of roads for biking. Special events during this colorful time include the Volunteer Fire Department Cow Camp Cook-off in May; June: 66th Annual Rodeo, Rodeo Parade and Dance.

Fun things to do during the Wildflower season in Johnson City include February: Cabin Fever Days, JC Women's Club Bingo and Spaghetti Dinner; March: Men's State Chili Cook-off; April: ESA Annual Garage Sale, Wildflower Festival; May: JCVFD Fish Fry and Raffle Fund-raiser, Johnson City Market Day. Plus abundant wildflowers along the roadsides and county roads.

Late-March through the end of May, visitors to Fredericksburg will enjoy the extra beauty of wildflower-lined roads on every approach. Fredericksburg is home to many events: March 1-June -Texas Hill Country Wildflower Trail, April: "Art Splash" - Art Show and Annual Open House, Rural School Barbecue, Garden Club/Native Plant Society Plant, Wildseed Farms Wildflower Celebration, Student Art Show, Country Peddler, DFW Vulcan Riders and Owners Club Hill Country, Fredericksburg Trade Days, Wine & Wildflower Trails, Flint Knappers Gathering, Hill Country Motorcycle Rally, Herb Fest '05, Fredericksburg Volunteer Fire Dept. Benefit Fish Fry, Ranch Heritage Day, Wildflower 5K-10K Run and Walk, Annual Scholarship Fest, Texas VW Classic, Blaskapellenfest, Texas Woodcarvers Guild Spring Roundup & Show, Country Run and Bluebonnet Ball, and Lavender Fest. May activities - Maifest, Gillespie County Relay for Life, Chorale Spring Concert, Friends of the Pioneer Memorial Library Booksale, City VFD Annual Auction and BBQ Fundraiser, Fredericksburg Inter-Tribal PowWow, Founders Day Festival, Coltman and Friends, Lone Star Street Rod Association Rod Run, Trade Days, Nativescapes Garden Tour, Roots Music Concert Series, Antiques Show, Triple LLL Farms Lavender Festival, Art Show - Faces & Places of Gillespie County, Texas Street Machine Nationals, Hill Country Heroes Benefit, Fredericksburg Crawfish Festival, and Luckenbach's 150th Birthday. Wonderful events in February and March too. Explore Fredericksburg wildflowers even further by biking on our back roads.

Lakes, rivers, and streams provide a shimmering backdrop to the wildflower display around Brady. Visitors will be surprised to discover fields of sunflowers growing in McCulloch County, accenting the bluebonnets, Indian paintbrush, dogwood, Mexican hat, brown-eyed Susan and goldenrod. Top events through the Spring include the Texas Muzzle Loader Association Spring Shoot at Brady Lake, Lions Club Honors Banquet and Heart of Texas Swap Meet/Car Corral. Drag Boats at Brady Lake in May. Brady is also home to the Heart of Texas Museum and the Heart of Texas Country Music Museum.

The Texas Hill Country Wildflower Trail was created in partnership with the Lower Colorado River Authority. There is no charge for driving the wildflower routes. More information on event listings, locations, and activities along the Texas Hill Country Wildflower Trail is available by contacting the Wildflower Trail Headquarters toll free 1-866-TEX-FEST (839-3378), or visit the web site tex-fest.com.