Bluebonnet Season

Let me ask you, what does spring in Texas mean to you? Is it just the end of winter or a time to put the cold clothing away?  To me, it’s slow, meandering drives down endless country roads, blooming dogwoods and open windows; the fragrances of everything blooming wafting through the air. However, when I talk to people outside the Texas borders what I mention first are wildflowers!  Those spectacular color-ramas that span a hillside and let us photograph our families amidst the bluebonnets.  Nothing says Texas quite like bluebonnets.

We first see the bluebonnets peeking out at us from along the roadsides down in the hill country in late March, early April. Denton, being a climate zone or two north of the Hill country sees bluebonnets from early April to early May depending of course on current climate conditions. A lingering, colder winter may mean a slight delay in the flowers; a warmer, drier winter may mean we see them slightly earlier.  Along with those brilliant blue spikes we see the beginnings of the summer wildflowers – Indian Paintbrush with its brilliant, almost iridescent red plumes and finally, the daisy-like flat red and yellow colors of Indian blanket.

The Bluebonnet was adopted as the state flower of Texas by the Texas Legislature in 1901. It was named the bluebonnet for both its spectacular blue color and the resemblance of the petal to a woman’s bonnet. “It’s not only the state flower but also a kind of floral trademark almost as well known to outsiders as cowboy boots and the Stetson hat.”, wrote historian Jack Maguire. Seeds were gathered by early-day Spanish priests and grown around the missions. As a result, a myth was generated that these flowers were brought by the settlers from Spain. In fact though, the two predominant species of bluebonnets are only found growing naturally in Texas – nowhere else in the world.

These and other wildflowers can be easily grown in your own yard. The key is fall planting and the removal of weeds and other perennials. Most of the flowers go to seed in late spring or summer and naturally the seeds would be spread by birds, insects, animals as they dried and fell to the ground.  Once you grow your first bluebonnets, watch for the seed pods to appear. The pods will twist as they dry and eventually split open, so make sure you pick the pods before they split, open the pods and save the seeds for fall planting again.

Before this wonderful spring wildflower season blends into summer, get in your car and take in those fabulous Texas wildflowers along our highways and back roads. You might even get that perfect Christmas card photo you can use for next year! To find out more about wildflowers go to www.wildflower.org or www.lone-star.net/wildflowers/.

Photograph courtesy of Dimples Photo Journeys  |  www.dimplesphotojourneys.com |  940.372.5002