RIVIERA, Tx — Riviera drivers might see nature's color palette traveling down 771 or 1110 N County Road in Riviera. Riviera is seeing the first big wildflower bloom since 2019.
Riviera teacher Rhonda Yaklin grew up in West Texas and said she always heard of the Indian Paintbrushes and Blue Bonnets and dreamed of seeing them in real life one day.
Years later and moving to Riviera, she now gets to step outside the classroom and walk into a whole other world.
"From the Indian Paintbrushes to the Blue Bonnets, they all have a legend. So when you can tie that legend into the flowers and walk out and see them, then you get what they stand for," Yaklin said.
Texas legend has it that some flowers represent the blood of Texas heroes during the Battle of the Alamo. Other flowers, like the Indian Paintbrushes, have other legends tied to them.
"I know that it was brought here by Indians, and the paintbrush was left there to create color," Yaklin said.
Experts said that winter rains along the coast have helped the seeds germinate. Richard and Delora Unterbrink agreed and said there were many factors that tied into giving them a field of dreams right in their backyard.
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"This is God's creation. There's no human that can paint a canvas like this and that provides timely rains and seeds to start. We got these seeds probably over 20 years ago and scattered them just in front of the barn. From there, the seeds have been carried by wind, birds, rain, and flood," the Unterbrinks said.
Those interested in checking out some wildflowers can stop along 771 or drive past 1110 N County Road.
"It's just another thing God does that we don't always see happen. So even if we don't know the legend perfectly we know these flowers are native to South Texas and this is what we're given as a picture of beauty," Yaklin said.
Kleberg County Commissioner for Precinct 3 Jerry Martinez said he has heard of people visiting from different areas of the region just to see the bloom. He also recommends reading A Small Town in God's Country, riviera, Tx by Idella Strubhart for more history on people, places, and things native to the small town.
Want to check out more wildflowers around Texas? Here are some famous spots that you can go see for yourself!
High Plains Loop
Directions: Take I-27 south from Amarillo. West on Rt. 60. South on FM 168 through the Refuge to FM 1075 east. Follow FM 1075 as it turns north and east toward the town of Happy, which brings you back to I-27. Google Map it!
Piney Woods and Bayou
Directions: From Marshall, north along Texas 43, then right onto FM 134 toward Karnack. Head into Karnack for a pit stop or turn directly left on FM 2606/TJ Taylor Avenue. Turn right on FM 2198 to Uncertain. Visit Caddo Lake State Park on your way back to Texas 43, which takes you north to Atlanta. Then US 59 to Linden. Texas 155 to Avinger, then Texas 49 to Jefferson. Then US 59 back to Marshall. Google Map it!
Dogwood Heaven
Directions Loop One: From Palestine, east on US 84 to Rusk. Then south on US 69 to Alto. Skirt border of Davy Crockett National Forest on Texas 21 to Crockett. Then back to Palestine on US 287. Google Map it!
Loop Two: Take TX 21 west from Nacogdoches to Weches. FM 227 south to Ratcliff. Then TX 7 back to Nacogdoches. Google Map it!
Brenham’s Bluebonnet Loop
Directions: Starting in Brenham, take TX 105 through Navasota to Plantersville. Then south on FM 1774 to Magnolia and west on FM 1488 to Hempstead. Hop on US 290 north of Hempstead to return west to Brenham. Take note of the jog in the road at Navasota that takes drivers along the access road for Texas 6 to get to the adjoining portion of Texas 105. Google Map it!
Cowboy Capital: The Bandera Loop
Directions: Head northwest from Bandera on TX 16. In Medina go west on FM 337 to Vanderpool and Leakey. In Leakey turn south on Hwy 83 to Garner State Park. Turn Left on FM 1050 to Utopia. Turn left on FM 187 in Utopia. Turn right, heading north/northeast, on FM 470 to Tarpley. Continue on FM 470 to TX 16 and turn right to Bandera. Google Map it!
Davis Mountain Loop
Directions: From Fort Davis, head south two miles to TX 166. Proceed west and then north on TX 166 to TX 118, then right to return to Fort Davis. Google Map it!
Willow City Loop
Directions: From Fredericksburg, head north on TX 16 for approximately 13 miles, go east on Ranch Road 1323 for nearly 3 miles to Willow City, then turn left onto Willow City Loop. Return to Fredericksburg via TX 16. Google Map it!
