Wildseed Farms is the largest working wildflower farm in the country and also produces seeds that can be ordered by catalog. You can visit the farm in Texas Hill Country.
As you drive down US 290 east of Fredericksburg, in the heart of the Texas Hill Country, you’ll see a colorful patch of land making you think a rainbow might have exploded. It didn’t, but it sure seems like it. This is the nearly 200-acre Wildseed Farms. As the largest working wildflower farm in the country, this attraction is deserving of all the praise it receives.
In 1983, Owners John and Marilyn Thomas opened Wildseed Farms in Eagle Lake as a simple seed producer. At that time, visitors were only welcome in April, and really there wasn’t much to see. Clearly, it was not the tourist magnet it is today.
Everything changed in 1995 when the husband and wife duo bought a generous plot of land (1,000 acres for the working farm and 200 for wildflowers) and opened what is the Disneyland of Lone Star flora.
A visit brings hours of enjoyment. Dallas optometrist Karen Allen loves escaping the city to the Texas Hill Country. “Wildseed Farms is a great place to go to see fields of wildflowers, unique yard art and rustic decorations. You can buy seeds so you can sow your own wildflowers at home,” she says. “It’s on the way form Johnson City to Fredericksburg and make a great place to stop amid all the peach stands the area is famous for. The concentration of color is amazing. It’s very Texas.”
From spring through the first frost, you can cut your own bouquet, take photos and appreciate the wildflowers. There’s a trail through the wildflowers, giving visitors an easy way to spy hummingbirds, ladybugs and lizards among the blooms, and a butterfly garden. There’s also an impressive gift shop where you can buy seeds and gift items (everything from Texas jams and spices to gift cards that, when planted, bloom), as well as an on-site snack shop, the Brewbonnet Biergarten, where you can grab a glass of wine or a glass of sweet tea.
After you see this place, one thing is promised: you’ll want to grow your own wildflowers at home. The good news is it’s possible. The back room of Wildseed Farms is home to all the seeds for sale. Choose from 90 varieties of wildflower seeds, plus several special mixes organized by region of the country. If you have a big farm or ranch you want to fill, skip the individual packets and opt for the bulk bags of seeds. Once home, find a patch of land where there soil is exposed (seeds must touch the soil), or mow the grass down. Scatter them in an area that gets sunshine and water.
Information about Wildseed Farms:
Call: (830) 990-1393- Visit: 100 Legacy Drive, Fredericksburg, Texas
- Online: www.wildseedfarms.com. Visit the website to request a free catalog by mail.
- Hours: Open Daily 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Winter Hours 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. No admission fee.
While There: Other Attractions to Visit
If you have leftover time when visiting Wildseed Farms, here are some other spots to check out in the area.
1. Enchanted Rock State Natural Area
Hike, camp, rock climb or geocache at this pink granite natural wonder.
http://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/enchanted-rock
2. Becker Vineyards
Located in nearby Stonewall, TX, tour the winery, taste the wines and see the impressive lavender gardens.
3. Fredericksburg Herb Farm
Enjoy a relaxing massage in the 5,000-square foot Nature’s Spa, eat at The Farm Haus Bistro, or the Poet’s Haus Gift Shop, where you’ll find candles, lotions and soaps, all made on-site.
