Miles of Beauty—and the Perfect Wildflower Pictures—at Wildseed Farms

It’s the time of year when all good Texas moms drag their offspring out to the side of road, random fields, or Interstate medians to plop them down among our state flower to take the quintessential spring Texas picture: cuteness in the beauty of bluebonnets.

It’s a rite of passage, and if you don’t get it right, it’s a big #momfail.

But can I tell you a secret? You don’t have to brave the side of the road or deal with 18-wheelers flying by to find the perfect spot for pictures. I know a spot that even includes wine.

Yes, you read that right. I wouldn’t lie to another mom. Just load the kids up and head out to Wildseed Farms.

Located on Highway 290 E just outside of Fredericksburg, Wildseed Farms is my go-to for a fun trip that includes the perfect wildflower pictures every time. Bluebonnets, poppies, pink evening primose, delphiniums, and more fill the fields around Wildseed Farms, a wildflower farm a little more than an hour from San Antonio. Fields of wildflowers bloom from March through October, giving you a fantastic natural background for fun, floral shots much of the year.

On our recent visit, I saw a mom with her two incredibly cute girls in a wagon, keeping them clean and pristine until picture time. Another mom had a tiny stool with her, perfect for her little one to sit in the flowers. A mom of “fur babies” was prepping her canine companions for their time in the flowers. (They were fabulously photogenic chiweenies.)

Point is—it’s really not my secret. But it is something we love to do. There’s space to roam and explore, making it a great spot for kids, and a winery for mom. (I told you I would never lie to another mom.) There are terrific plants to check out if you’re looking to add to your garden at home, as well as all sorts of garden and home décor. (I’ll be honest—I usually check that out on my own while my son watches the fish in the pond with his dad. It’s more enjoyable for everyone that way.)

There’s also ice cream, snacks, and sandwiches, live music on many afternoons, and wild creatures that make surprise visits. Hummingbirds dart about through the butterfly garden, and you might be “lucky” enough to spot a snake around the fish pond. (“Lucky” is all in how you look at it. Fun for the littles to see = bonus. Having even a harmless snake within 20 feet of me = gross.)

And that wine? There’s a tasting room for Wedding Oak Winery located onsite. With samples and flights of wine available to enjoy, it’s the perfect spot to savor a glass after you’ve snapped pictures and soaked in the beauty of the wildflowers.

Wildseed is a very short drive from Fredericksburg, so if you want to make a day of it, there’s all sorts of fun to be had. Check out Inga’s Fredericksburg tips and have fun exploring.

If bluebonnets are the pictures you crave, make sure to get out to Wildseed soon. You can check Wildseed’s website for bloom updates before you go. The Red Corn Poppies are absolutely stunning right now and will only get brighter in the next few weeks. And their pink poppies are equally amazing. Actually, everything out there reminds you how fabulous Mother Nature can be, even when it’s planted and cultivated.

A field of red poppies at Wildseed Farm.
Another gorgeous field of beauty, usually in bloom later in the spring (late April/early May).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wildseed’s FAQs cover much of what you need to know. But from one mom to another:

  • Go early. It can get hot and too sunny later in the day, so get out there early and enjoy time in the flowers.
  • Bring extra clothes. I guarantee your little ones are going to want to roam and explore, so rather than worry about it, just have extra clothes with you in case they enjoy Mother Nature too much.
  • Respect the flowers. Signs are posted telling you where you can roam—don’t go beyond that. Remember, this is a working farm. These flowers will ultimately go to seed and those seeds are harvested. Don’t stomp on them, pick them, or destroy them.
  • The flowers are wild and so is Mother Nature. Like flower fields anywhere, you can expect to find ants, caterpillars, bees, snails, and more. (The snake “friend” I mentioned was slithering across a pond, but they can also hide in flower fields.) So let your awesome Texas mom flag fly—score a #momwin with the #perfectpicture in the #bluebonnets today!

 

Dawn
An Army brat who came to Texas for college and ultimately managed to make the Lone Star State her permanent home, Dawn became a mom “AMA” (advanced maternal age), giving her the opportunity to use a stroller vs. a walker as she navigates the world of motherhood. Her growing up way too fast native Texan loves all things Star Wars, Legos, dinosaurs and keeping his parents on their toes. When she’s not busy parenting the original strong-willed child, Dawn runs Tale to Tell Communications, a San Antonio-based PR and marketing agency. An award-winning writer, Dawn also contributes to San Antonio Woman, Rio Magazine and Texas Lifestyle Magazine. She and her family enjoy exploring all that San Antonio has to offer, going on adventures and playing tourist together as much as possible. Favorite Restaurant: Clementine Favorite Landmark: The beauty of the River Walk, especially La Villita Favorite San Antonio Tradition: Celebrating anything and everything with color, music and food

2 COMMENTS

  1. Thanks for sharing that location. I’m a mom putting the kids on side of a road. 😂 This will make our photos in the bluebonnets that much more fun this season. Yahhhhh

    • I’ve done the side of the road too! I’ve never braved the median of a highway, but I’ve thought about it. Good luck getting great shots this year!! The flowers are fading fast, which happens when you start blooming in February!

Comments are closed.