Bulls and Bluebonnets: In many areas around the hill country west of Austin and San Antonio, Texas various animals graze among the bluebonnets and other wildflowers in the fields. Seen are two bulls standing in a field of bluebonnets staring at the photographer trying to figure out what the guy is up to! Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com 

Boat In the Bonnets: A small boat rests on the shore of a pond near Kingsland, Texas among a blanket of bluebonnets. The granite rocks surrounding the pond add another level of interest to the scene. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com

By GARY WARREN
Photographer
Formerly of Los Alamos

When the wildflowers burst into color, the Texas Hill Country comes to life and leaves the winter blues in the rearview mirror. Thousands of species of wildflowers can be seen around the Lone Star State, but the state flower, the bluebonnet, is the star in the spring color show along the highways and country roads.

The spring blooms have been outstanding through Texas as well as many areas of Arizona and California and the southwest this year. The term “super bloom” has been used to describe the blooms and color this year and Texas was no exception. Several factors cause the super blooms but weather is the main factor. A super bloom requires ample rain at the right time as well as ample sunshine and dry soil at other times. This year has supplied all the qualities required for a super bloom season.

Where do all of those wildflowers come from that blanket the roadsides in Texas every Spring? The Texas Department of Transportation is responsible for the abundance of wildflowers as they hired a landscape architect in 1932 to maintain and preserve the native flowers and plants.

In addition to the flowers that already existed along the roadways, the highway department began sowing wildflower seeds along the highways, a  service that continues today. The wildflower program allows the blooms to stand until the season is complete and the flowers begin going to seed before they are mowed. Waiting on the flowers to seed before mowing allows the seeds to be scattered and dispersed for next year’s crop of flowers.

Every March and April attracts throngs of crowds to the highways and backroads of the Texas Hill County to view and photograph the blanket of colors that adorn the landscape. Almost any route taken in the hill country will result in beautiful flowers and landscapes.

We were thankful to spend almost three weeks wandering the backroads and dirt roads in this region of the state. We saw an abundance of wildflowers but the bluebonnets were exceptional this season.

Editor’s note: Longtime Los Alamos photographer Gary Warren and his wife Marilyn are traveling around the country, and he shares his photographs, which appear in the “Posts from the Road” series published in the Sunday edition of the Los Alamos Daily Post.

A Touch of Red: A few red Indian paintbrush flowers stand out among the sea of bluebonnets in this field near Marble Falls, Texas. The contrast in color makes both colors stand out in the scene. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com

Country Road: While wandering through the hill country, we managed to drive many backroads including some dirt roads. This country road was lined with wildflowers of several varieties including the Texas state flower, the bluebonnet. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com

Outside Looking In: This is a view of a field of bluebonnets and Indian paintbrush from the outside by the road looking in toward the blanket of color with large oak trees in the background. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com

Bluebonnet Field and Barn: A field of bluebonnets and a few cacti beautify the grounds around an old barn and farm equipment. The flowers alone are gorgeous but having other items of interest gives the photo more depth and helps tell the story. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com

Roadside Blooms: Bluebonnets and other wildflowers cover the roadside on a backroad near Marble Falls, Texas. Ample rain at the right time helped create the wildflower super bloom seen in the Texas Hill Country this Spring. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com