Texas Hill Country

Livingston neighbors saying good-bye

We left our Livingston neighbors and headed west towards Austin and the hill country around it landing just southwest of Dripping Springs which is about 30 miles west of Austin.  We managed to hit Austin at rush hour and, from the freeway, it felt a lot like any other big city.  But once we cleared the suburbs we could appreciate the terrain and scenery.

WiFi HotSpot at our campground

Friday we drove around the countryside; out to Blanco, then Luckenbach (yes, there really is a Luckenbach Texas), through Fredericksburg and on to Enchanted Rock State Park; a 460' red granite outcropping at one time both feared and revered  by the Native Americans.  Being wussie, geezer girls, we admired the climbers from the ground.

Enchanted Rock in the distance

 Much of the area's first non-native settlers were German immigrants so the place names like Fredricksburg, Boerne and Gruene make me feel like we're back in Wisconsin, until we see some longhorn cattle grazing in a field.  Creek beds cross the countryside, mostly with low water levels or dry now due to the drought, but flood level markers are placed along the roadsides so you know that when it rains, the water really flows.  The land is hilly and the roads winding.  Scrubby cactus fields are side by side with fairly lush, woody areas.  It seems that the hills and waterways create varying micro-climates.  We are here in spring when things are probably at their greenest, but it's very attractive.  Also, it's Texas Bluebonnet peak blooming season and roadsides are covered with carpets of blue flowers.  The area has a lot of appeal.

Texas Bluebonnets along the road

Saturday we headed into downtown Austin for the Farmer's Market.  The greens are in along with carrots, beets, garlic scrapes and a few tomatoes.  Lots of free-range eggs, beef, lamb and pork.  We scored some "jowl bacon", the tiniest Brussels sprouts I've ever seen, some lettuce, eggs and lamb.  We should be set for the rest of the trip.  Then off to the highlight of Austin so far; The Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center.  Regardless of anyone's politics, you have to love this place.  It was created as a research facility in conjunction with the University of Texas.

 It's a beautiful set of gardens and walks clearly demonstrating good gardening practices for the variety of Texas ecosystems in an amazingly attractive setting.  It was a perfect day for a garden walk and we made the most of it.

Garden entry with rain conservation system

Resident Great Horned owl nesting at the garden entrance

Today we're off the the First Unitarian Church of Austin, a congregation of 500 which will be a big change from my usual church of 100 members.  Then more exploring the city.  We have a very slow Internet connection this morning so I won't post anymore pictures right now, but come back for more wildflower and Austin pictures.  Stay tuned.

Following a visit to Luckenbach, the navigator goes native.