Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Visiting Wildseed Farms for Autumn Fun

In early October I joined members of my neighborhood garden club for a trip to Wildseed Farms in Fredericksburg just over an hour away from San Antonio.  Wildseed Farms is the largest working wildflower farm in the country and is well known as a mail order source for wildflower seeds.


It's a beautiful facility designed to match its surroundings of historic Fredericksburg.  We were greeted by John Thomas, President and Founder of Wildseed Farms, who guided us on a detailed tour of the main buildings.


Wildflower seeds were expensive and difficult to find before John Thomas began farming them in the 1980s.  Now through his efforts and those of others your favorite wildflower seeds are just a click away.

John reviewed the important points of growing wildflowers in our gardens.  Most wildflower seeds work best with fall sowing.  It's very important to keep them moist during germination and into early stage growth.   The key to wildflower germination is good seed to ground contact and this seed planter he patented allows for large scale planting along roadsides and ranch land (note the name on the machine).


John also pointed out the parking spot which belonged to Lady Bird Johnson when she would visit from her ranch near Johnson City just east of Fredericksburg.  This meadow near the main buildings is named in Lady Bird's honor.  In the spring tens of thousands of visitors photograph the wildflowers blooming here.


During the fall months they prepare the fields and plant spring blooming wildflowers which bring all those spring visitors to the farm.  In addition to the operation in Fredericksburg, the company produces wildflower seeds at a farm near Houston and also overseas in Germany.  Because his customers are all over the world he does not specifically limit his selection to Texas native wildflowers.


We visited in the fall so these Salvia Farinacea 'Victoria Blue' which are native to Texas and Mexico were among the few flowers blooming in the fields.


This field of Cosmos (in the background) were on their way out to be replaced with seed for the next crop.


We toured the large butterfly garden and spotted a few Monarch butterflies stopping off on their way to Mexico for the winter.  The butterfly on the left is a Queen butterfly.


Then it was time for lunch from the Brewbonnet Cafe and a tour of the nursery and shops.  Seasonal plant combinations adorned the posts along the big arcade.  It was such a beautiful day we enjoyed our lunch in the outdoor area in the background.



The shaded arcade connects the nursery area to the shops.


Garden club members Melody and Lorelei admiring the succulent arrangements around the cistern in the courtyard.  I think a cistern like this would work great in my garden.




More seasonal goodies in the huge selection of gourds







This walk will take you out to the wildflower meadows best viewed in spring.



I circled back for a less crowded tour of the beautiful gardens.  First the large demonstration garden.



Loved the light on these morning glory blooms though it was well past noon at the time.

My Vitex quit blooming months ago.  This one is in more shade so that must be the secret.


Ice plant in a stone container works great.


Lovely vistas throughout the gardens.


This Duranta, probably Sapphire Showers, was striking in full bloom.


I am undecided as to whether I prefer the solid purple Salvia leucantha....



....or the one with a bit of white on the flowers.  Hmmm, still undecided.  I should plant both just to be sure.



The Butterfly Garden is full of blooming milkweed



These Queen Butterflies always seem to prefer the Gregg's Mistflower just as in my garden.



More of the butterfly garden


This building displays information on identification and the life cycle of the butterfly.  The huge cannas (probably Pretoria) with the native milkweed Asclepias tuberosa is a combination I'd like to try.


Then it was off to a tour of the borders along the entry drive.






Back to the nursery section.  Passion flower vines still in full bloom are beautiful


Roses are incredible in the fall in Texas.



These metal giraffe sculptures are enjoying the view.  They are also for sale but there wasn't enough room in the car on this trip.



Oh, yes, we are still in Texas!


Wildseed Farms has an extensive selection of pottery.  I especially loved these Talavera planters.


If you're visiting Fredericksburg, Wildseed Farms is a fun place to visit any time of year!  Be sure to try the Peach Ice Cream.


If you don't live near Fredericksburg, you can always order your seeds from Wildseed Farms website.

28 comments:

  1. Oh, I did enjoy this visit to Wildseed Farms! I've ordered seeds from them many times in the past. And I am coveting those Talavera planters.

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    1. Those planters are so different from the typical Talavera. They are a great company and I really want to go back in the spring.

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  2. So much color despite your drought! It gives me hope.

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    1. It was so nice to see flowers even at the slow time of year.

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  3. Wildseed Farms is one of the fun stops on any trip to Fredericksburg. We've been many times. It's truly a destination garden shop/nursery.

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    1. It's a destination in itself or combined with a trip to Fredericksburg makes it a very special day.

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  4. The place looks fun! And I wouldn't one or three of those metal Saguaro cactus!

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    1. Those metal sculptures are nice and probably quite cold hardy too!

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  5. Shirley, thanks for a trip down memory lane! I saw things in your photos for the first time! There was so much to see while we were looking around that I missed seeing things like those Talavera boots. Love them!

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    1. Oh I know! Maybe we need another field trip or two. Those strawberry pots are calling my name!

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  6. Wildseed Farms is one of my favorite places. I try to visit at least once a year. My very first wildflowers from seed came from a packet I bought there years ago. And when you visit (because you definitely SHOULD) don't forget to check out the hard to find jams and jellies sold in the shop by the BrewBonnet - Mustang Grape, Dewberry, and the nice selection of salsas and local wines sold there. Gardeners gotta eat (and drink!).

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    1. We carried out bags full of all the tasty treats in the shop too.

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  7. Oh, I too, enjoyed this visit.

    I think the secret to late blooms on Vitex is deadheading.

    Definitely the solid purple Salvia leucantha.

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    1. The solid purple gets several votes from my friends and it's the one I have planted. Maybe I'll put a few of the others in the back.

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  8. What a cool place! Love the cactus sculptures. You need a cistern like that in your garden and a giraffe or two. Next visit, you'll have to take a truck.

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    1. It's a bit of a challenge to ask my friends to give up their seat for a meal giraffe so maybe next time solo. Fortunately it's not a long drive back.

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  9. An excellent tour, Shirley-thanks for that. Wildseed Farms is such a great place. I haven't been there in a while; I need to rectify that!

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    1. They keep getting better so always something new to see.

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  10. What a beautiful day and great photographs! I have never heard of Wildseed Farms. I haven't been to Fredricksburg in years, now I have a reason to go back. Thank you for sharing!

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    1. It's a wonderful place to spend a weekend and, if you do, give me a shout because you have to drive right by here to get there!

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  11. What could be better than a field trip with friends? Maybe sharing it with all your blog buds.

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    1. Oh, that's so true. Sharing it with friends and then the blogger buds. That's why I blog!

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  12. That shaded arcade is really pretty. Fredericksburg sounded familiar, and I was thinking we had been there when we visited the San Antonio area many years ago. We did tour part of the Texas Hill Country. But then when you mentioned Lady Bird Johnson, I remembered that I read a book about the Fredericksburg community and someone who was childhood friends with the Johnsons. I can't remember the name of the book, but I remember enjoying it. That garden center would be a place I would want to visit. It's so encouraging to see so many things blooming. :)

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    1. It's a beautiful area with many great attractions so you probably did visit if you toured the Texas Hill Country. It's on the road to Johnson City and not too far from the ranch. We stay very warm until Thanksgiving and then it's still not that cold by WI standards.

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  13. that mixed pot of succulents looks to be mostly familiar South Africans

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    1. I love visiting blogs from South Africa to see Aloes and other succulents in their native range.

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  14. What a wonderful place! I've heard/read that this is a great company. It must be gorgeous in the spring/summer.

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    1. I do need to go back when the poppies are in bloom.

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