Spring 2021 Guide to Wildflowers in San Antonio and Texas
April 7, 2021 - Texas
Wildflowers at work. Public etiquette must be followed, which includes not picking the wildflowers unless allowed. Courtesy Images: San Antonio Botanical Garden.
By Valeria Torrealba, Senior Reporter | San Antonio Sentinel
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- With Spring 2021 commencing, various parks across the City of San Antonio have opened up to showcase the blooming nature after winter storm Uri.
- All parks allow for safe and socially distanced viewings, and many have hiking and biking trails.
With hints of spring and summer in the air, Texas’s wildlife slowly begins to bloom once more, covering the state and its cities with vibrant colors. In San Antonio and surrounding areas, bluebonnets — the signature Texas flower — begin to grow and color the city with their petals: but where can they be found?
Below is a list compiled of the varying places to visit that have the wild flowers spreading all throughout. Each has their own unique mix of hiking trails, campsites and flower trails to admire.
Guadalupe River State Park
Located outside of San Antonio in Boerne, the Guadalupe River State Park houses spring wildflowers, all accompanied by a 13-mile hiking and biking trail. It is also a camping site, welcoming campers as the weather warms up. The park also offers guided tours, teaching those who attend about the flora, history, geology and fauna of the site. For more information, visit the Guadalupe River State Park website here.
Castroville Poppy House
A beautiful, secluded historic slice of land that is home to a multitude of blooming poppies, the Castroville Poppy House is a must-see as the flowers begin to grow. Full of history and hundreds of poppies, this enchanting retreat is surely one to visit and take photographs of. More information can be found on their Facebook page.
Blanco State Park
Just about an hour out of San Antonio, this park stretches across the river, making it a mesmerizing sight to camp, hike, fish and swim at.
With daily admission costing $5 — with no charge to kids 12 and under — the Blanco State Park not only houses blue herons but allows for bluebonnets, Engelmann daisies, Texas paintbrushes, firewheels, four-nerve daisies and more. In addition to the flora, various wildlife creatures can be found, with blue herons perched amidst its dams, turtles and leopard frogs basking in the river.
For more information, visit the Blanco State Park website here.
McAllister Park
Located in the heart of San Antonio, McAllister Park is made up of 976 acres, providing hiking and biking trails, as well as plenty of flora to observe. The park allows for picnics and barbeque days, offering a friendly atmosphere for families to safely gather outdoors with their children and pets. Bluebonnets are also known to bloom here, making it a great spot for photos and sightseeing.
For more information, visit McAllister Park’s San Antonio website here.
Government Canyon State Natural Area
A vast landscape comprising 12,000 acres, this land has 40 miles of trails across its park. The perfect spot for scenic photos, this area carries a multitude of flowers, as well as the only trail with dinosaur footprints on public land in Bexar County.
Admission for the Canyon State Natural Area is $6 a day, with children 12 years and under free. For more information, visit their website here.
Wildseed Farms
Located in Fredericksburg, Texas, this farm focuses on planting flower seeds and blooming them to create mesmerizing bushes and a landscape worth exploring and photographing. Founded in 1983, this farmland provides a wildflower farm filled with various different flora blooming, as well as a tasting room and vineyard. The farm has walking trails to explore the flowers, and it is free to visit.
For more information, visit the Wildseed Farms website here.
Valeria Torrealba is an opinions columnist and public relations assistant at the University Star, a student publication of Texas State University. Email her at reporter@sasentinel.com