Spring is truly in the air with warmer temperatures becoming the norm and families enjoying all things outdoors. It’s also Texas Bluebonnet season, which, for many Frisco families, is the time of year to dress up the kids and head out to take pictures in the wildflower fields!
Although I’m not a native Texan I’ve adopted this special tradition for my family and gathered for you a list of places to find the beloved Texas State flower. While you can find bluebonnets nearby, I would be remiss not to first mention the must-see blooms of Ennis, Texas.
The Official Bluebonnet City of Texas
If you’ve ever been searched for bluebonnet fields, you’ve surely heard of Ennis, Texas. Its beauty has earned the title “Official Texas Bluebonnet Trail” by the Texas Legislature and the city is the “Official Bluebonnet City of Texas”.
With my daughters in white dresses and my camera in-hand we loaded up the car for a quick trip to Ennis, just a thirty-minute drive south of downtown Dallas.
Much like Frisco, Ennis began as a railroad town, and grew into a bustling, vibrant community. Downtown Ennis has developed a Master Plan to revitalize the area and provide enhanced shopping, dining and entertainment venues for its residents and visitors. (Sounds just like our Frisco Rail District!)
Many of these visitor’s flock to the area during spring, which boasts a 40 mile stretch of bluebonnet-covered land providing precious photo opportunities.
If you want to make the most of your time in this wonderful historic town, visit during the Ennis Bluebonnet Festival in April each year. The entire family can enjoy a fun-filled weekend with live music, arts and crafts, a farmer’s market, and of course…bluebonnets!
What to Do While You’re in Ennis
In advance of your visit, you can download specific details and a map of the trails but I recommend that you stop by the Ennis Convention and Visitors Bureau for updated trails and directions.
A representative of the Ennis Garden Club drives the area each week beginning April 1st to report on the latest status and progress of the blooms. This way visitors can be well informed where the best flowers are at the time of their visit.
Typically, the blooms peak the third week in April and the latest reports for 2018 say they’re right on track.
The Trails are well marked, and hopefully, you’ll enjoy your break from the suburbs and feel one with nature! Take your time enjoying the country drive and you can capture some terrific sights and stop for beautiful photos.
A Few Pro Tips
- It’s easy to pull the car over and let the kids run free in the fields but be mindful of critters in the grass and try not to trample the delicate wildflowers too much.
- Along the way, look for the various landmarks and backdrops like the Texas Flag Gate, traditional barns, pretty farmhouses, longhorns, and some horses to complete a perfect photo, most of which are identified on the map.
- Bring a picnic as there are plenty of benches to spend time and take in the beauty. The bluebonnets are the dominant flower, but you’ll come across the Red Indian paintbrush, yellow daisies, and other blooms.
- If you prefer to let someone else do the driving and be guided by the experts, there are also great guided tours available during the month of April from Boppalong Tours.
- Just this year a new free App was launched called ‘Ennis Y’all’ so that visitors can find quick information and a full directory of where to stay, dine, and play, plus up-to-date trail blooming progress and a map.
It’s a quick day trip is from Frisco, or you can make it an overnight and select from one of their many hotels and charming bed and breakfasts in and around the town center.
Finding Bluebonnets Closer to Home
If you want to find bluebonnets closer to home, here’s a list of the best places for photos in Frisco and surrounding cities.
Frisco
Zion Cemetery: Just off FM423 and north of Panther Creek Pkwy you’ll find a good scattering of bluebonnets starting to emerge just north of the entrance.
Warren Park (at Freedom Meadow): Eldorado Pkwy is currently a blanket of blooming bluebonnets right now and ready for a photo session. The Frisco Garden Club has established a wonderful tradition of scattering seeds just south and west of the memorial each year on the anniversary of the September 11th attacks. The Frisco Fire Department then kindly oblige by watering the whole area resulting in an abundant supply of bluebonnets the following spring.
The pond in The Trails of Frisco Subdivision: Enter from The Trails Pkwy off Main Street. You can park on Carson Lane (cul de sac). Buds are starting to appear but are not fully grown yet.
Plano
NE intersection of Custer and Spring Creek, behind the 7-11.
JC Penny Headquarters and Frito Lay Headquarters at Legacy Drive
Arbor Hills Nature Reserve at Plano Pkwy
The City of Plano also has its own Bluebonnet Trail Map, noting these significant areas of bloom: Midway Road to Baywater Drive, Preston Road to Old Orchard Drive, and Old Orchard Drive to K Avenue.
Allen
The intersection of Bethany/Alma (on the Median – be careful!)
Connemara Meadow, Suite 106-812, West McDermott Drive
Trail at Woods; 24 Rollins Drive near Hedgcoxe and Alma
McKinney
If you’re planning a visit to the Heard Museum, you’ll find bluebonnets and other wildflowers are scattered in clusters across its 289 acres.
Dallas: The George Bush Presidential Library and Museum
DFW Area: Cedar Hill State Park and Ray Roberts Lake State Park
Richardson: Breckinridge Park, Vista Hills Road 3555 Park Vista Road. Spring Creek Nature area (Renner Rd extending from Central Expy to Foxboro Park at Plano Rd and Braeburn Drive)
Garland: Hayes park at Rose Hill, 4646 South Country Club Road.
Flower Mound: From High Road, park the car and walk down Lake Trail and find a small field near Grapevine Lake. 110 Fairway Drive, Grapevine.
Lewisville/The Colony: East of George Bush Highway at the intersection of Shiloh Road and Research Drive there are fields of bluebonnets amidst the retail business lots.
Irving: Along Las Colinas Boulevard south of the President George Bush Turnpike
Carrolton: A.W. Perry Homestead Museum, McInnish Sports Complex (abundant fields and good parking), and Gravely Park.
For more highly detailed and up-to-date sightings all across Texas, from Waco to Austin, and into the Hill Country, check out our favorite source: Texas Bluebonnet Sightings.
You may also like to refer to this list of the Best Bluebonnets in Collin County.
Some Tips Before You Start a Bluebonnet Adventure
Don’t be tempted: Picking and taking photos of wildflowers is not illegal, but highly discouraged. If all the visitors to these sites took home a hearty bunch, we would be left with nothing, year after year.
Light Feet: Watch where you walk and be mindful of ant mounds, bees, and small critters in the fields. Also, tread lightly where possible as the wildflowers cannot withstand heavy trampling year after year and continue to go to seed.
No Trespassing: Be aware of your surroundings and thoroughly check to see if you’re on private property or there are ‘No Trespassing’ signs posted before you start marching your family through the area.
Be Tidy: Leave the area as you found it and be sure to pick up and collect all photo props, pet waste, and picnic trash before you go.
Enjoy!: Most of all have fun, make memories, and enjoy the unique beauty of the Texas wildflowers!
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