2012 Wildflower & BBQ (& Pie) Tour: Opie's Barbecue and Hill Country Bluebonnets

Central Texas -- in particular the Texas Hill Country -- is well known as an area rich in wildflowers.  Every Spring, throughout Austin and all around, fields, yards and even highway medians become a breeding ground for wildflowers like Indian Paintbrushes, Indian Blankets, Wine Cups and especially Bluebonnets, the state flower of Texas.  While you can see a pretty good variety of flowers throughout the city, the best way to experience the color display is to head out into the countryside and hit the back roads.

For the last few years, some friends of ours have tried to organize a day of leisurely driving and photo-snapping, along with the added attraction of another of Central Texas' calling cards, barbecue.  Last time around we couldn't join in the fun.  This year though has been a much better year in terms of rainfall.  The best since we moved down here without question.  So we weren't going to miss out on the 2012 edition.

A week or so ago, we all sensed that the wildflower bloom was peaking.  Since the season is way too brief, we decided we'd head out over the weekend to see what we could find.  After considering our options, we decided to head west past the lakes and into Hill Country, making at least one BBQ stop at Opie's Barbecue in Spicewood.

Our eventual route

We timed our departure so that we arrived at Opie's at a great time.  Right after we got in line, the people started flooding in.  None of us had ever eaten at Opie's, but a four-star rating from Full Custom Gospel BBQ gave the place some cred and our taste buds some anticipation.  As you make your way to the front of the line, the meat options are there on display to draw you in.  Which we were.  Not knowing if we'd make another 'cue stop or not, we ordered a healthy mix of meats and sides: brisket, sausage, chicken, baby back ribs along with some beans and the usual accoutrement, plus one small dish of something we just couldn't resist ordering, tater tot casserole.

Hot, well-crusted brisket at Opie's

We thought the 'cue was pretty solid. The brisket was tender and smoky -- not as spicy as some others, but plenty flavorful.  There was no consensus on the rest, but nobody thought anything was a clunker.  And one member of our party was blown away by the tater tot casserole and spent most of the time in the joint lobbying the group to go in on another order.  So it might not make the critics tingle like Franklin, Snow's or Louie Mueller, but if you're out by Lake Travis and in the mood for some smoked meat, Opie's is worth a pit stop.

Smokin' outside Opie's in Spicewood

Now satisfied, we continued west in search of some flowers. The blooms were pretty good even along the main roads, but we wanted to see some good country, so after a bit we headed south toward Round Mountain, then across to Willow City.  Our first spontaneous stop was the Round Mountain Cemetery off Ranch Road 962W, a picturesque little spot with a mix of graves old and new, and with a mix of Bluebonnets and other wildflowers that were worth a few snapshots.

Continuing west, we next headed toward Willow City before cutting down to Fredericksburg. We found our best wildflowers along Farm Roads 3347 and 1323.  One big field was sprinkled with Bluebonnets and White Prickly Poppies as far as you could see, and the green and blue together with the bits of white sparkling in the sun was pretty dramatic. If you ever have a chance to make it to Hill Country for a wildflower drive, definitely get off the main roads.  You'll be rewarded.

The driving was great, but we were ready to stretch our legs at that point, not to mention that it was getting close to 3:30.  That's means it's time for pie!  Thankfully, Fredericksburg Pie Company was just around the corner from where we entered town, and while it might not be Royers of Round Top, we enjoyed sharing our slices of both peach praline and chocolate meringue.

Fredericksburg Pie Co's Chocolate Meringue (front) and Peach Praline (rear)

Well, before we could call it a day, we felt obligated to make like the locals and grab a beer and the Fredericksburg Brewing Company (another very creatively named joint in Fredericksburg). The beer garden out back is a great place for a cold one.  After that, we were finally ready to get back in the car to relax and digest for the drive home.
Central Texas Wildflower Resources

This wildflower season is just about over here in greater Austin.  If you want to head out though, there are some resources out there to help:

Wildflower Sighting Updates

• Texas Wildflower Pictures Wildflower Report
• Wild About Texas Wildflowers
• Wildflower Haven
• Hill Country Portal has a list of other sites and phone numbers for updates, plus lots of other useful tips

Other Resources

• Central Texas Wildflowers: Good photographs of many different flowers
• HighlandLakes.com: More photos and a bit of info on the most common wildflowers found in the area
• Wildflowers in Bloom: Lots of wildflower information from Texas A&M
• Johnson City, Texas Chamber of Commerce: Info on flowers and events and suggested routes
• Celebrating Wildflowers Texas Hill Country Coloring Book: Like it says; very cool, for kids or arty types
• Hill Country Cruising: A route aimed at motorcyclists
• Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: If you can't make it outside of Austin city limits

Best of luck on the hunt!