Okay, I admit it.  I thought you had to go to Fredericksburg or at least the Hill Country to see bluebonnets.  Some years we have been lucky.   We have been “in the neighborhood” and enjoyed seeing the wildflowers.  Other years, we have trouble making the trip.  Let it be known.  I love seeing bluebonnets and would gladly travel major distances for the chance to see a field of bluebonnets.    The state flower of Texas is beautiful and deserves honor.  Fields of bluebonnets have been known to make me bawled-eyed.

I had heard about the Ennis Bluebonnet Trails sponsored by the Ennis Garden Club.  If we couldn’t travel to the Texas Hill Country to see the bluebonnets, maybe Ennis would be okay.  I truthfully did not expect much.  Let it be known.  I was wrong.  I freely admit it.  W-r-o-n-g.  Oh, me of little faith.  There ARE bluebonnets around Ennis.  There are beautiful fields of bluebonnets along the backroads of Ellis County.  Just think what I have been missing all these years.  Plus – Ennis is only thirty minutes from downtown Dallas.  Thirty minutes.

Acres and acres of bluebonnets were in their glory.  Check out my post from last year when I WAS in the Texas Hill Country – click HERE.  It is a fact.  I got more pictures this year.

What a perfect little flower.  I like them.  I love them.

How fantastic is this?  Cattle grazing in a field of bluebonnets with their friends the cow egrets.  Cows and these cow birds have a very special relationship.   The cattle graze and disturb insects.  The cattle egrets hang around because it is easier to catch the disturbed insects.  Basically the cattle and the birds are dining together.

Along Sugar Ridge Road there are large fields of bluebonnets with no fences.  How generous of the landowners to allow access to the fields.  What a perfect place for pictures.

Families with precious children were taking advantage of the opportunity for photos.  (They were also happy to pose for me – yea!)  What pretty little ladies!  Every Texan should have their photo taken with bluebonnets.

Yes, Doyle from Dallas was actually oil painting.  This reminds me of something from an English movie.

Not bad.  He was having so much fun working to get enough light into his pictures.

There were a few other wildflowers along the trails, but we mostly saw bluebonnets.

Are these orange petals or leaves?  Look at the green at the base of the ????  How unusual.

I did notice something strange.  A few of the bluebonnets were pale in color.  Says I to myself, “I wonder what is going on?”

Sweet Mother of Pearl!  Look at this – white bluebonnets.  I could not believe what my eyes saw.  “What is going on?”

It was wonderful to travel these tree lined roads.

I encourage you to visit the Ennis Bluebonnet Trails – you will not be sorry.  On their website, visitennis.org, you can get excellent information.  There is an excellent updated black and white map with the status information for the bluebonnets.  The peak viewing time is “now”, and it should continue through the weekend.

Blessings to you and yours,

Ever-Lovin’ – King of the Hill.  Bluebonnet Hill that is.