15th Annual Becker Vineyards Lavender Festival!

On April 28^th, 2013 I visited one of Fredericksburg’s favorite weekend spots, Becker Vineyards. The parking lot was teaming with visitors ready to experience the 15^th Annual Becker Vineyards Lavender Festival! Vendors of all sorts were present. Food and cooking demonstrations, lemonade stands, arts and crafts, and a vast array of lavender products were enjoyed by patrons.
As usual, the wine tastings and tours were in full force.

A live band played under a shaded tent in the middle of the courtyard while couples jived to the jitter bug and little girls twirled in their Sunday dresses. As for myself, I relaxed on a shaded wooden bench and enjoyed a bowl of chocolate lavender ice cream from the Clear River Pecan Company booth, a locally owned and operated business on Main Street.

Richard and Bunny Becker were inspired to plant 10,000 lavender plants in the 3 acre field in summer of 1998 from their many trips to Provence, France. The blooming season is typically April to May but varies depending on weather conditions, which is often difficult to predict in Texas.

But! Come rain or shine, the annual Lavender Festival still presses on! Additionally, part of the proceeds ($2,884) from this event benefitted Blake Miller, Candidate of Leukemia & Lymphoma Society 2013 Man of the Year.

—Good cause, tasty wine, lovely lavender, funny staff, and a great experience!—

For more information on upcoming Becker Events and information, visit their website or check them out on Facebook!

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The strength of a community is reflected in its’ people. When considering a place to call home and putting your roots down, one major consideration is finding a church home. We ask ourselves, “Where will I be able to give and fill up so I may be a rooted, happy & a productive citizen? ” FBG is filled with many wonderful churches, Priest/Pastors & active community of believer’s. Our yellow pages are filled with phone numbers and addresses of possible churches you may call home with communicants waiting to welcome you. I know you’ll be pleased….check us out!

Pictured: St Barnabas Episcopal, Creek St.

CENTURY 21 INTERNATIONAL AWARD WINNERS

So proud of these agents. Peggy Cox, Quality Service Pinnacle and Masters Ruby; Robert Menking, Quality Service; Mimi Bartel, Centurion and Quality Service Pinnacle; Wes Giesbers, Quality Service Pinnacle and Masters Ruby.

CENTURY 21 INTERNATIONAL AWARD WINNERS

So proud of these agents. They worked hard and are rewarded with great recognition.

CENTURY 21 HILL COUNTRY COUNCIL AWARD WINNERS

Robert Menking, John Kuker, Mimi Bartel and Wes Giesbers were all honored at the annual banquet with being in the top 10 award winners for the entire Century 21 Hill Country Council.

Over 5000 wildflower species make their

Over 5000 wildflower species make their home in the State of Texas. The Texas Dept of Transportations’s seasonal wildflower hotline is 800-452-9292.

Spring is Here!! – By Ginny Stehling

Spring is Here!!!! The Bluebonnets are in full bloom and growing up daily all over the Hill Country! Now is the time to spend your weekend driving through the beautiful Hill Country with your windows down and radio on. Even though we didn’t get all the rain when needed to get this past fall the Bluebonnets still seem to have made their way up through the ground to grace us with their presence. Bluebonnets have been loved since man first trod the vast prairies of Texas.

Indians wove fascinating folk tales around them. The early day Spanish priests gathered the seeds and grew them around their missions. This practice gave rise to the myth that the padres had brought the plant from Spain, but this cannot be true since the two predominant species of bluebonnets are found growing naturally only in Texas and at no other location in the world. How lucky we are to be able to stop our cars, jump out, and take great family pictures with them all spring long? Thank you bluebonnet for continuing to grow every year for us to enjoy your beauty….

LAND SALES FOR CENTRAL HILL COUNTRY BOAR

LAND SALES FOR CENTRAL HILL COUNTRY BOARD OF REALTORS
These sales are from 12/28/2012 thru 4/1/2012 properties with no improvements.
58 ac 6 mi N $8319/ac
94 ac L. Willow Creek $3157/ac Castell
179 ac RR 2721 $6408/ac Johnson City
925 ac Valley Springs/home $3602/ac
103 ac Johnson City $6000/ac
125 ac RR 965, 2 lakes $6808/ac
53 ac Hye 290E $7601/ac
58 ac KC 479 $4502/ac Junction
70 ac RR 2721 $5686/ac
81 ac Valley Springs $4791/ac Llano
856 ac Valley Springs $3502/ac Llano
220 ac Llano $4211/ac Llano
99 ac FM 2093 $7583/ac
99 ac 290E & Gellermann $13,153/ac River
117 ac 17 mi W 2 bumpgates $3100/ac Mason

Texas Hill Country Parks

We are very fortunate to live in our beautiful Texas Hill Country. I had the opportunity during spring break to enjoy two of the many parks Fredericksburg is surrounded by. Our first stop was Canyon Lake. Even though I have lived here all my life I had never been fortunate enough to visit Canyon Lake. The entire lake has many parks for visitors to enjoy hiking, camping and just enjoying a wonderful spring afternoon.

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Our next stop was Pedernales State Park. As everyone knows we haven’t had a lot of rain so unfortunately the Pedernales wasn’t as full as we have seen in the past. However, it was a great hike on the rocks and everyone seemed to enjoy the park and the warm spring day.

Pedernales State Park

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Tell us what your favorite park is? Why is it your favorite?

Orchid Tips by Mimi Bartel

Some orchids are fussy and difficult to grow but phalaenopsis, paphiopedilum and vandas do well in a sunny windowsill in your home. I’ve had these orchids for six years. In late winter they begin to develop a mitten and by spring, I have a full blooming orchid. I’m no expert, but I water mine weekly under the kitchen faucet and let all water run completely out.  Orchids do not like wet feet but they do enjoy humidity. In non-blooming times, I feed them orchid food about once a month. If you are trying to sell your home, orchids are a quick splash of color and add interest to brighten up your home.     Orchid Realtor.