Spring may officially arrive on March 20 in 2016,
but Spring's true arrival in each area in the world is not based on a date on the calendar.
Instead, each nook and cranny in the world has its own signal that Spring has arrived.
Bluebonnets are the unofficial first sign of Spring in Texas,
much like robins are the unofficial first sign of Spring for the northern states.
In 2014, the bluebonnets were glorious all around Ennis, Texas
as seen in the following post first published in May 2014.
Part of the joy of living is reliving special times in our lives.
Please enjoy the reliving of the 2014 bluebonnets,
one of the two most spectacular Springs for bluebonnets in my life.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Fields and fields of wild
but Spring's true arrival in each area in the world is not based on a date on the calendar.
Instead, each nook and cranny in the world has its own signal that Spring has arrived.
Bluebonnets are the unofficial first sign of Spring in Texas,
much like robins are the unofficial first sign of Spring for the northern states.
In 2014, the bluebonnets were glorious all around Ennis, Texas
as seen in the following post first published in May 2014.
Part of the joy of living is reliving special times in our lives.
Please enjoy the reliving of the 2014 bluebonnets,
one of the two most spectacular Springs for bluebonnets in my life.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Fields and fields of wild
Texas bluebonnets
were fields of dreams for early settlers.
Wide open spaces appeared as painted by a
French impressionist.
Bright greens, blues, and yellows
promised fertile lands for crops and livestock.
Today the wildflower fields around Ennis, Texas
are dotted with cattle on the horizon.
The acres of wild bluebonnets as seen by early settlers were
unobstructed views, beckoning farmers and ranchers to stay.
And, stay they did,
enclosing the wide open spaces with fences.
Barbed wire and wooden fence posts have given way to more
modern fencing materials.
Today, the fields of dreams are sometimes enclosed by metal fencing.
The Texas bluebonnet fields are filled with varying shades...
from pure white to pale blue to medium blue to cobalt blue.
Rarely there are even shades of pink and red bluebonnets in some fields.
More common than pink and red bluebonnets are
Indian Paintbrushes.
Most years paintbrushes bloom around the same time
as bluebonnets, and often will grow interspersed in the same field.
These paintbrushes are growing along the side of the road
near a field of bluebonnets in the background.
Both bluebonnets and paintbrushes are annuals and
reseed themselves to return each spring,
carpeting field after field with their beauty.
Bluebonnets are in the lupine family, and
varying wild lupines grow in thirty states,
according to the U.S. Forest Service.
Growing conditions in Texas,
long hot summers and sparse rainfall,
produce short flowers.
In Texas, the field of dreams still lives.
Today homeowners buy acreage
so their "front yards" are filled with wild bluebonnets.
Many are generous and allow others to visit
their fields to take photos each spring.
Ennis, Texas is the Bluebonnet Capital in Texas,
and has a bluebonnet festival each April.
Ennis is located about 40 minutes south of Dallas, and
the Chamber of Commerce offers free maps
with several routes marked for viewing wild bluebonnets.
A highlight of my life each year is seeing
Texas bluebonnets,
a field of dreams.
❦
The Ennis Bluebonnet Trails are April 1-30, 2016, and
The Ennis Bluebonnet Trails Festival is April 15-17, 2016.
Information is available at
❦
~~~~~~~~~~
The
Bluebonnet Blog Hop
is celebrating S P R I N G.
Please join me at these inspiring sites where I am sharing the bluebonnet field of dreams and all of the other Spring inspirations...
SUNDAY
Dishing It and Digging It @ Rustic and Refined
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
Incredibly beautiful. Thank you for sharing your 'paintings' with all of us.
ReplyDeletexo,
Lin
Weren't they just beautiful this year? Thank you Ladybird Johnson. :)
ReplyDeleteJudith, this is so beautiful and so perfect for the Bluebonnet Blog Hop. I'm happy to count you among my Texas sisters.
DeleteSuch amazing pictures, Judith! I will never forget the first spring that Larry took me to see the Texas wild flowers. That was one more reason to fall in love with a Texan. Texas is second in the US in number of varieties of wild flowers. My home state, California, is number 1. That truly surprises me because during my 30 years growing up there I never saw anything as breathtaking as your photos. Thanks for such visual enchantment.
ReplyDeleteThose blue bonnets are just gorgeous! wow - what a sight that must be in real life! thanks so much for linking up to Fishtail Cottage's Garden party this week! xoox, tracie
ReplyDeleteSo pretty! I have very fond memories of the time we lived in Oklahoma and took a holiday through Texas. When we came over a rise and I saw Blue Bonnets and Indian Paintbrush I just shrieked 'stop the car!' and then took pictures that never did the field justice. It was quite a sight.
ReplyDeleteThey looks so beautiful One day, this Canadian girl will get to see them!
ReplyDeleteI am in love with your blue bonnets - those fields are gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful! Some day, I want to drive through parts of Texas when the bluebonnets are blooming! Until then, your photographs will have to do. Thank you for sharing the beauty of the fields of bluebonnets! Have a wonderful weekend!
ReplyDeleteThat's beautiful country you have there! I lived in TX many years and love the Spring flowers...especially along the highways. Enjoy your weekend! Watercolor everything! heehee! HUGS!
ReplyDeleteWhat a sight to see fields and hillsides covered with Texas bluebonnets. You captured it all beautifully Judith.
ReplyDeleteOh I was born and raised in Texas, so this is a sight for sore eyes. Gorgeous. Thanks tons for linking to Inspire Me.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing these beautiful bluebonnets!! I miss them so much and finally got to see some in person last month! :D
ReplyDeleteJust gorgeous! A great reason to visit your great state of Texas!
ReplyDeleteJudith, we are so lucky here in Texas! Your bluebonnet photos are gorgeous. Happy Spring and Happy Easter!
ReplyDeleteHi Judith, This is the beauty of Texas and I love seeing your photos of fields of bluebonnets. Great inspiration for me for painting. I love seeing the Indian paintbrush up close too. The color contrast is stunning. Happy Springtime!!
ReplyDeleteJudith,
ReplyDeleteThis is an exquisite post on the prairie life, and the life of the Bluebonnet. Very eloquently written and spectacular photos too.
This post made me feel a little weepy-with joy from the beauty of our proud State.
Jemma
Lovely post! I haven't been to the Ennis festival yet. I will be putting it on the calendar. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteSuch gloriousness! A field covered in bluebonnets is truly a glimpse of heaven.
ReplyDeleteOh the bluebonnets are just beautiful. We went to Ennis last year and are planning on going again. I can't wait!
ReplyDeleteWhat fun it would be to go to the Ennis Festival. I so enjoyed hopping through your bluebonnet pictures, and seeing the beauty.
ReplyDeleteOk, now I seriously want to visit Ennis! I've lived in Texas all my life and didn't know that area had so many beautiful fields of bluebonnets. We've always hit the Hill Country and gone toward Llano. How I love Spring in Texas!
ReplyDeleteHi Judith,
ReplyDeleteWe always look forward to the Ennis Bluebonnet Trails and Festival every year. Your photo's are just breath taking! It is so much fun sharing the Bluebonnet Hop with you!
Happy Spring!
Miz Helen
Such stunning photos of our Texas bluebonnets! Visiting from Lone Star Sisters!
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful photos! I remember the blooms of 2014. There's nothing like spring in Texas and fields of bluebonnets!
ReplyDeleteSo happy to visit your blog ~ I'm a new follower.
xo
Pat
Judith, I hope I get to see Texas one day. Your images of the blue bonnets are breathtaking!
ReplyDeletew/L
Those fields are absolutely gorgeous, Judith! What a wonderful way to welcome Spring :)
ReplyDeletexo,
rue
Isn't that just beautiful. It must be quite a sight to see all that beautiful blue everywhere.
ReplyDeleteHi Judith, your bluebonnet field photos are beautiful! Thanks for sharing and wishing you a Happy Spring, when it gets here! :)
ReplyDeleteJudith, they are gorgeous!! Thank you for sharing. You are one of the features at the Anything Blue Friday party at The Dedicated House. Here is the link to this week's party. http://www.thededicatedhouse.com/2016/03/anything-blue-friday-week-105.html Hope to see you again at the little, blue soiree! Have a lovely weekend. Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse
ReplyDeleteJust beautiful! .....like a blue carpet!
ReplyDelete