BY LORI MURRAY , Texas Superstar Specialist
When my family moved to Texas from Michigan in the middle of my sophomore year of high school, it seemed like I had entered a different world. Indeed I had, but with the resilience of youth I recovered and grew to love the many facets of the state. I knew of course, that the state flower was the bluebonnet, but I had never seen one until Easter Break of my freshman year of college when I rode home along Interstate 35.
It seemed there were never-ending oceans of glorious blue that stretched forever throughout the rolling hills between Austin and Dallas. I was, very simply, awestruck. Never had I seen Mother Nature more at her best. That drive is still a vivid memory and I look forward to Bluebonnet season each year, hoping to be able to see another show of beauty.
The pictures that accompany this article were taken last year, in 2017, by our good friend Ken Barber who chauffeured his mom and two of her friends through the Texas Hill Country around Burnet, but there are a myriad of bluebonnet trails in our state. This is just a sampling of them.
One article boasts, “If your sole purpose is to see bluebonnets, the Texas Hill Country is the place to be.“ It recommends driving Highway 281 in Marble Falls, and highway 29 from Burnet to Mason with a side trip on Highway 71 north off Llano.
Another recommended driving 35 south of Dallas to the city of Ennis. Interestingly, the state legislature has designated Ennis with its 40 mile loop as the Official Bluebonnet City while also recognizing Burnet as the Bluebonnet capital of Texas. (Looks like they had just as much trouble choosing a city as they did choosing a state flower back-in-the-day!) All agree that April is the month to drive a bluebonnet loop, but caution that weather extremes can impact the bloom.
If you decide to drive a bluebonnet trail, most cities have a visit “website” that will help you find the best blooms in your area, or you can just google bluebonnet trail for a remarkable array of information.
There’s a Bluebonnet Festival the second weekend of April in one city, and some cities’ garden clubs maintain a blog of information gathered from driving the area. Best of all, Marble Falls has the Bluebonnet Café, a legendary eatery famous for its pies!
