Grab Your Camera: Where to View Bluebonnets In and Around Houston
Bluebonnets at Buffalo Bayou Park (photo by Kelli Durham)
NATURE’S VISUAL SPLENDOR has pushed up from the soil and pretty petals are on display around Texas through April. You don’t have to travel far to catch the beauty while getting fresh air and celebrating spring. Pack up the car with perhaps a picnic and hit the road!
Buffalo Bayou Park
Take a walk on the wild side of this paved trail with gentle hills and views of the bayou. Bluebonnets can usually be seen in patched across its entire property, along the trails and past the first bridge.
Memorial Park
Things are getting quite colorful in this sprawling, beautified park. Spring wild flowers have been planted throughout; look for photo-worthy spots in the Eastern Glades near the parking lot.
Houston Botanic Garden
Located along Sims Bayou in the southeast part of the city, this oasis flaunts bluebonnets in mid-February and the property fills in with blooms through April or early May.
Terry Hershey Park
Houston's west side is home to an incredible collection of hike-and-bike trails, with patches of bluebonnets and other beautiful blooms all over. The best place to park is off Memorial Drive just past Eldridge.
White Oak Bayou
Hit the trails of this green space on the edge of the Heights for a variety of spring flowers. The best spot is just south of 11th and along TC Jester.
Willow Waterhole
Spot bluebonnets in this green space in Westbury. You’ll find parking off Dryad Drive — and seek out the water retention ponds where the flowers are planted.
Wine & Wildflower Journey
If you need an excuse more than fields blanketed in wildflowers, head west to the Hill Country for more scenic beauty and a little Texas vino. The annual Wine & Wildflower Journey lasts through April 28, and you can choose one day of winery visits or buy a multi-day pass if you want to meander.
Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center
Located in Austin, this delightful center offers an educational and immersive experience for bluebonnet enthusiasts. Explore the gardens showcasing native Texas plants including bluebonnets and learn about conservation efforts to preserve these natural treasures.
Burnet Bluebonnet Festival
Small town Burnet boasts fields of bluebonnets that attract visitors from all over. Its annual Bluebonnet Festival, April 12-14, celebrates these annual bloomers with live music, food vendors, and arts and crafts.