Wildseed Farms: Fields of Wildflowers in Fredericksburg, Texas
My grandpa loved gardening. I learned much from him. To this day I enjoy puttering around in our garden, growing plants for beauty and food.
A blaze of wildflower colors viewed at Wildseed Farms.
Wildseed Farms, which is just seven miles east of the Hill Country town of Fredericksburg, offers much more than just wildflower seeds for sale. Be sure to take your camera if visiting there in spring or summer, as one is guaranteed to see vast fields of flowers in bloom. You don't want to miss the chance to come away with some brilliantly colorful photos of these wildflowers.
My husband and I happened to be in that area of Texas in April one year, and we decided to see what the largest wildflower farm in the country looked like. If one can envision hundreds of acres (200 to be exact) of different patches of vividly colored wildflowers swaying in the country breezes, then one has an idea of the appearance of this farming locale.
Walking trails lead into the center of some of these wildflower fields, all of which are carefully cultivated in order to harvest their seeds.
Wildseed Farms
https://hubpages.com/@peggy-w
Wildseed Farms
The name of this establishment is most suitable because farming is the basis of what they do and wildflower seeds are the crux of their business. Much like most businesses Wildseed Farms has diversified their offerings so as to entice more people to visit and from what we saw they have succeeded.
April is a beautiful time in Texas because of the Texas bluebonnets (our State's official flower) blooming along the highways in fields and pastures. Despite the cost of gasoline people head out to see the annual blaze of wildflowers which include the bluebonnets and other wildflowers.
Parents take photos of their children sitting amidst the fields of flowers for use in adorning greeting cards later in the year or to simply put into family photo albums to be enjoyed for years to come.
Many of the seeds cultivated at Wildseed Farms undoubtedly end up being distributed along our Texas highways and elsewhere.
Wildseed Farms
https://hubpages.com/@peggy-w
Wildflower Plants
My husband and I decided to join the other visitors in strolling through the paths with wildflowers blooming almost everywhere we cast our eyes. The different wildflowers had signs marking the names which made it interesting as well as helpful in case one was unfamiliar with the different plants and had a desire to grow them.
Seeing a picture on a packet of seed is not quite as nice as seeing a vast field of that wildflower in bloom!
Naturally I was busily engaged with some picture taking and the photos in this post are from that April visit. Were we to return during the summer months different wildflowers would be in bloom.
Colorful fields of wildflowers at Wildseed Farms.
Peggy Woods
After walking amidst the area where the flowers are grown, one can then purchase that specific garden seed for one's home garden.
Read More from WanderWisdom
Native wildflower seeds as well as more domesticated kinds can be found and wildflower mixes can also be purchased if one wants a mixture of colors and shapes as is found often naturally occurring in nature.
Wildseed Farms
Peggy Woods
Drummond Phlox
This is a fragrant annual plant native to Texas that generally blooms in the spring to summer months. It is grown in the southeastern part of the United States from Texas to Florida and also other states in which it has adapted.
A Scottish man by the name of Thomas Drummond (1793 - 1835) took plant seeds he collected in Texas and they made their way back to England where the pretty phlox flowers have been used successfully in European gardens ever since. They like well drained soil and sunny conditions.
There are a variety of colors. Growth habits vary in height between eight inches to about two feet. They make pretty bouquets or are nice additions to other cut flower arrangements.
Wildseed Farms
Peggy Woods
Seed Packets and More
Truthfully we did not know what to expect other than knowing that we would see wildflowers at Wildseed Farms and that we saw in abundance!
This business establishment also offers so much more.
Some of the items one can purchase among other things include the following:
- Pots and jardinieres
- Plants of all types
- Specially prepared foods like local jams and jellies
- Specialty items like statuary for one's garden
- All types of gift items in addition to an enormous selection of seed packets for sale.
If one needs to study up on the art of gardening before delving in to the process of planting and maintenance...no problem! Gardening books are also available for sale to help in that effort.
Browsing through the gift shop one is likely to see a multitude of items that are not only useful but could make that perfect and pretty gift for other gardeners which one happens to know.
Moss Verbena
If you are looking for a hearty perennial flower that grows in just about all of the southern regions of the United States originally coming from South America then this is the plant for you! It grows as an annual plant further north.
It has a sprawling habit and can be a perfect ground cover plant. Moss verbena grows to around a foot or foot and a half in height. It typically has blue to purple to violet coloration and likes growing in full sun.
Another plus is that it is drought resistant. It blooms from late spring to early fall and birds, bees and butterflies love this prolific blooming plant but deer will generally leave it alone.
Wildseed Farms
Peggy Woods
Wildflower Farms
While there are other wildflower farms located in other parts of the United States it was a pleasure getting to take a look at the largest one in the great State of Texas.
As they say, "Everything is bigger and better in Texas!"
Looking at the video below you now know more of what is located at Wildseed Farms including a butterfly exhibit, the Brewbonnet Biergarten (note the German influence in the name) and other things in which makes visiting here a pleasure.
If you are visiting Fredericksburg, Texas be sure to allow a bit of extra time to drive out into the countryside and tour the beautiful fields of flowers and don't forget the picture taking opportunities! Open seven days a week, a journey to those wildflower fields with all their fluttering butterflies is sure to be a sensory delight.
Almost every person, from childhood, has been touched by the untamed beauty of wildflowers.
— Lady Bird Johnson
Location of Wildseed Farms
Source:
This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.
Questions & Answers
Question: Is there a charge for touring the Wildseed Farms?
Answer: There is no charge for touring the Wildseed Farms.
Question: Can you take dogs to Wildseed Farms in Texas?
Answer: I am not sure whether they allow dogs there, but here is a number you can call to check on that or any other question you might have regarding visiting Wildseed Farms. (800) 848-0078
© 2011 Peggy Woods
