This is the rarest and most beautiful flower in all of Texas. In the words of historian Jack McGuire, “the bluebonnet is to Texas what the shamrock is to Ireland, the cherry blossom to Japan, the lily to France, the rose to England, and the tulip to Holland.” No flower is more precious, or more dear to the hearts of Texans, than the bluebonnet.
Bluebonnets are wild, and cannot be tamed. You will not find them in florist shops. You cannot buy them in grocery stores. These delicate flowers can be found only in fields and flowerbeds, and only during the spring. (It is possible to grow them in your garden, but they are notoriously fickle.)
The season for bluebonnets begins in late March. That is when the early-bird bluebonnets start to bloom. The season peaks in mid-April, but by early May, almost all of the flowers are gone. There is only a brief period during which one can view bluebonnets, and that period has just begun.
Searching for bluebonnets is not easy. They could be anywhere; but whether you run across them is a matter of pure chance. Fortunately, flower watchers are good at getting the word out. Here in Texas, we have many websites dedicated to bluebonnet sightings, which alert people to the whereabouts of these beautiful, yet mysterious flowers.
As the State Flower of Texas, the bluebonnet is emblematic of springtime here in the Lone Star State. The best place to view them is the Texas Hill Country, where you may feast your eyes on majestic scenes of rolling hills painted by these wonderful flowers. The Texas plains are also a great place to find them. There, it is not uncommon to find entire fields of velvet blue, a sight which is sure take your breath away. Even in the cities, it is possible to find wild bluebonnets growing in parks, or on street corners. You just never know where they might pop up.
Wake up and smell the wildflowers, Texas. Bluebonnet season is officially here.