Saturday, April 4, 2009

Field Trip!

For two weeks, Daughter #2 (Loudon's mom), and I have planned a trip to the Wildseed Farm in Fredricksburg west of Johnson City smack dab in the middle of the Texas Hill Country. I had the day off (woo-hoo), and I have been hankering to check out the wildflowers in bloom, specifically the Bluebonnets.



But first we had to go into Fredricksburg to find some sustenance to take us through our journey. We stopped at the Rather Sweet Cafe for a wonderful lunch of tomato basil soup, roasted veggie sandwich on Focaccia. You can't go to the Rather Sweet without getting desert, so we split a lime tart--yum!




Then it was on to the Wildseed Farm to walk off our lunch...



Everywhere we were outside, the song of this wind chime was evident.
The size of it is HUGE, and it had a deep bass that made you stop and go find it.





There are just no words to describe the immensity of the farm. I bought a few packets of seeds, but strolled through the gift shop without any other purchases. The hardest was not buying any pots of flowers in the lovely nursery, but I managed quite nicely. I'll leave you with a few shots of some of the sights we enjoyed.
















23 comments:

Brenda Pruitt said...

I haven't been to that wonderful place since I lived in New Braunfels. I often think how much I'd love to go back. Wonderful herbs there!
Brenda

Susie said...

Looks like a perfect day. I don't know how you left with just seeds. I would have been wanting to buy everything. Thanks for taking us with you on your trip.

Monica the Garden Faerie said...

Looks like a great nursery and a great day, though your lunch seems pretty healthy and not a lot to walk off!

Morning Glories in Round Rock said...

Brenda, it is a wonderful place. You need to plan a trip down sometime and go! You are right, they had the best selection of herbs. I didn't look too close because I just can't buy any right now--and if I look, well, I just know some would follow me home! ;-)

Morning Glories in Round Rock said...

Susie, you have no idea how hard it was not to load up a cart with all the lovely plants they had! I'm glad you enjoyed my field trip--I don't get to take too many so I just had to share.

Morning Glories in Round Rock said...

Monica, we had a great time in spite of the fact there was a severe weather warning out for high winds. When we started climbing into the hills you could see a brown haze over them--dust!

Believe me, I wanted to get two desserts, but DD is much more conscientious about her diet, and so self control prevailed...sigh...but I went home and ate a Reese's Easter Egg, to drown my sorrows of not getting the chocolate cinnamon Mexican Cake or any plants! eh,eh,eh!

ShySongbird said...

What a lovely day you had, it looks and sounds like such a nice place to visit. You were very self disciplined regarding the plants and the dessert! That wind chime looked amazing and sounded even more so I suspect.
Remembering a previous post of yours, I do hope your husbands work is still safe in these troubled times.

Morning Glories in Round Rock said...

Dear Shy Songbird, It was a lovely day. We have always enjoyed going places together, and this was all the more enjoyable because we seldom are able to anymore. Our lives have gotten too busy...

Things seem to have stabilized for Hubby's job at the moment. There are just so many reasons why I am having to be careful with spending right now, that I can't justify spending any money on plants right now. I feel like I can treat myself to a packet or two of seeds though! :-)

Nola said...

Those chimes are amazing! The first photo is wonderful, I see those beautiful poppies in the foreground, with the bluebonnets all around, that just screams "spring in Texas" to me!

Roses and Lilacs said...

What beautiful display gardens. I love that first photo with the cactus. Sounds like a great lunch spot too. NOt bad for a day trip.
Marnie

Rose said...

MG, what a wonderful place to visit! I love all your photos and today's music, too. I would have had a hard time leaving with just a packet of seeds; you showed a lot of restraint:) It looks like the perfect day to unwind and rejuvenate, especially seeing that field of wildflowers. I hope you were able to relax and just enjoy the day; you deserved it!

Morning Glories in Round Rock said...

Nola, my pictures just don't do justice to the beautiful masses of color that were at the farm. But it does say Texas in Spring, doesn't it?

Morning Glories in Round Rock said...

Marnie, it is one of my favorite day trips. Fredricksburg is part of a neat artists colony, and boasts some of the best peaches in Texas--later in the year, of course. Hubby and I like to antique around there, and I saw several new stores we haven't been to, so I see another trip in the future--if I can get him away from the golf course! LOL!

Morning Glories in Round Rock said...

Rose, thank you, I thought I showed a lot of restraint too! Tee, hee! I enjoyed the day so much--DD and I haven't gotten away to spend time together like that in ages. Seeing the wildflowers always puts a smile on my face! I'm glad you like my music--I wanted to put together some fun pieces that I hope others can enjoy.

Rock rose said...

It looks as though there may be something to see at Wildflower Farms after all. We drove by there on the way to Big Bend and most of the fields looked empty. We are planning another day trip out there soon.

Morning Glories in Round Rock said...

Hi Lancashire Rose, There are still lots of fields that are bare, but I could tell they were planting a lot, and much activity all around the area.

I have never been to Big Bend, and would love to go sometime. Did you camp? Were you there to bird watch?

Anonymous said...

Hi Jenny, what a great day you had. Only some seeds? Wonderful restraint too. We used to live in the Woodlands and the bluebonnets and other wildflowers were the high point of living there for me. And the proximity to the Rose Emporium in Brenham! HA Thanks for showing us all the fun spots.
Frances

Morning Glories in Round Rock said...

Frances, going to the Rose Emporium is on my to-do list. I am not sure I can show as much restraint there if I do go... ;-)

Debbie in CA : ) said...

Your sweet encouraging comments on my blog have been such a gift . . . a blessing. I thank you so.

And now having found a brief respite from the routine and the opportunity to come by for another visit, I find such a peaceful meander through such lovely gardens -- well, I must simply thank you for another gift.

You bless me coming and going, it seems. : D

Thank you, friend.

Annie in Austin said...

It's been a few years since we drove out to Fredricksburg and Wildseed Farms, MG - looks like you went at a good time!

There's a similar large deep bass windchime hanging from an ancient live oak in South Austin at the Great Outdoors Nursery. Have to make it sound everytime we go there ;-]

Annie at the Transplantable Rose

Morning Glories in Round Rock said...

Annie, the day we went, we didn't have to make it gong to hear it. It was one of the many days we have had a Severe Wind Advisory Weather Alert. I'm not sure how strong the wind gust were, but that day there was a grey haze over the Hill Country from dust, and when the wind whipped the weighted clapper, I was afraid to get too close for fear it would fly off and kill someone!

Anonymous said...

I may have told you our son lives in Leander and works in Austin. On one visit we went to San Antonio for the day and I love the wildflowers in the hill country. I have beautiful photos from San Antonio. I could not believe seeing the Alamo among the bigger buildings and all the trees. My mental picture of the Alamo is on a desert hill all alone. Thanks for your photo tour.
QMM

Morning Glories in Round Rock said...

Hi Peggy,

I think most people are so disappointed to see the Alamo in that setting. Most of us suffer from a Hollywood skewed view of what it should look like. Did you fall in love with San Antonio? There is nothing more fun than dining outdoors on the Riverwalk on a pleasant evening.