SAN ANTONIO, TX – We may not be through with April showers just yet, but flowers are already in full bloom across Texas and at one Fredericksburg-area farm, in particular.
"This is a good season. This is in the top 10," said John Thomas one recent morning as he looked out over nearly a dozen solid acres of bluebonnets.
Thomas is owner of Wildseed Farms, a fully functioning farm dedicated to preserving wild flowers for generations to come. He not only grows the flowers, but focuses on harvesting their seed.
The former rancher and rice farmer said the idea for the business first took root about four decades ago.
"I kept noticing people pulled over on the highway taking pictures of bluebonnets,” he said. “Having a farming background, I said, 'Somebody needs to be growing these for seed."
Since then, his business has bloomed. The fully functioning farm ships out seeds to buyers around the world.
Among its clients are 28 state highway departments in the United States, including the one in Texas.
"A lot of the color you see on the roadsides, we may have had a hand in that,” Thomas said.
Thousands also visit his farm each year, he said, to avoid the hectic highways, a place where they can safely enjoy the scenery.
"The mornings are unbelievable here. It's fun to come out to work and see the color,” Thomas said. "Seeing it in bloom at this time of the year, you can't get tired of that. "
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