One could not help but hope to see bluebonnets on our trip to Gruene, Texas.  After all – it is springtime in the Lone Star State, and we would be driving through Central Texas.  We were not disappointed.

Be still my heart!  Along the highways of our beloved state, bluebonnets’ indigo color paint the landscape.

Even when there are just a few bluebonnets struggling in a field, I could not help but take a picture.

The right soil conditions for bluebonnets can be found in only about 35% of Texas.  This area is called the Bluebonnet Triangle.  From Houston to San Antonio and the Dallas/Fort Worth area of Central Texas are the best places to see bluebonnets.   Of course, there is the hump of the Hill Country also.

The mixture of wild flowers is beautiful.

I learned something.  In 1932 the Texas Department of Transportation hired a landscape architect to maintain, preserve, and encourage wildflower and native plants along Texas highways.  By 1934 they began the practice of delaying mowing until the wildflower season had past (early summer).  Now, each year 30,000 pounds of wildflower seeds are sown along Texas highways each year.  (KERA)

Our beloved former First Lady – Lady Bird Johnson – was also instrumental in promoting the beautification of Texas highways.

For 20 years, starting in 1969, she encouraged the beautification of Texas highways by personally giving awards to the highway districts that used native Texas plants and scenery to the best advantage. Her focus was on the ecological advantages as well as the beauty of native plants-a passion that would lead her to create the National Wildflower Research Center in 1982 on the occasion of her 70th birthday. (From the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center website.)

We saw fields and fields of bluebonnets along the 130 toll road around Austin and on the highway into New Braunsfel.

On our way home, we visited the Bluebonnet Trails around Ennis, Texas.  Ennis has the distinction of being named the Bluebonnet Capital of Texas.  In North Texas, the bluebonnets will be at their peak through Easter weekend, and they should linger until the end of April and possibly (if we are lucky) until the first of May.

I had seen a picture of a longhorn in a field of bluebonnets, and I dreamed of getting such a picture.  These cows were the best I could do, but they do look good.

Oh, how I wished for the grandkids.  I do want/need a picture of them surrounded by our state flower.

Hope you see many bluebonnets.

Blessings to you and yours,