Texas Bluebonnets Facts and Fiction
Texans Know Bluebonnets!
How many states in the USA would even know their state wildflower?
In Texas the Lone Star State, Bluebonnets are reverered in a very special way. The Texas Bluebonnet is an amazing little flower. It is a small member of the Lupine family. Actually you can find forms of the Bluebonnet in many areas of the world. However, Joyce and I have never seen the perfuse and beautiful hillsides, valleys and fields of Bluebonnets that we have found in the Lone Star State.
The Texas Bluebonnet often grows naturally in many regions of Texas. Some Texas roadways and pastures are seeded with Bluebonnets by landowners and by the State of Texas. The density and beauty of the Texas Bluebonnet varies from region and by the blessing of nature. Some years are amazing like 2007 with the contrast of 2008 where their appearance was sparse at best. However, there are almost always exceptions where the Bluebonnet blooms spectacularly.
When to View the Texas Bluebonnet
Bluebonnets begin to pop up in the Spring between the middle of March to April. They begin to seed weeks later and are gone usually by May or before.
Where to Find Bluebonnets
In many cases the Hill Country around Austin and San Antonio and West are a great area to look for the Texas Bluebonnet. However they may be seen in many parts of Texas. We have often found some of the best places to veiw Bluebonnets are in North Central Texas around Ennis and Bristol.
The Texas Department of Transportation monitors the growth of Bluebonnets throughout Texas and is always a "go to" place for information on where to find the Texas Bluebonnet in the Spring. This year they already being found in South Texas around Kingsville. http://www.lone-star.net/wildflowers/txdot.html
Texas Bluebonnet Lore
Stories of the Texas Blueboonnet abound. Stick around long enough and you will hear a new one. Most are handed down from generation to generation as tradition. Some actually may have some element of truth but most are probably of questionable substance. Here are some site you may want to check out. http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/plantanswers/flowers/bluebonnet/bluebonnetstory.html
Growing and Caring for Bluebonnets
Joyce and I would like to tell you that we have been successeful at raising bluebonnets but that would only be in one of our dreams. Our friend Dave Delabreaux has compiled some great suggestions on growing bluebonnets. You can click on this heading and it will direct you to a page specifically on Growing and Caring for Bluebonnets.
Additional Resources:
- Amazon.com has a variety of books on the subject of bluebonnets, including The Texas Bluebonnet by Jean Andrews
- Another good book is the Texas Wildflowers Guide. Wonder