SUNDAY MEMORIES
Judy Wills
Some of my family is from Texas – actually my brother and I were born in Dallas, but moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico when we were small children. But my mother’s mother (Granny) and her oldest daughter, Jessie, lived in San Antonio for many years.
Consequently, I had known about the Texas Bluebonnets for longer than I really knew what they were.
Even though Fred and I lived in Fort Worth for many years, it wasn’t until we moved to San Antonio that I really knew about the Texas Bluebonnets. And they are AMAZING! They have been adopted as the state flower of Texas.
On the internet I found this: As historian Jack Maguire so aptly wrote, “It’s not only the state flower but also a kind of floral trademark almost as well known to outsiders as cowboy boots and the Stetson hat.” He goes on to affirm that “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.” Well said.
When Springtime comes to Texas – from the Dallas/Fort Worth area down to the Corpus Christi area – the Bluebonnets are in full bloom, from late March to mid-April. They are the most dainty, beautiful flower, and we’ve see just fields and fields of them – like a blanket of blue in some cases. I’ve been sent many pictures of them via e-mail through the years, and have enjoyed seeing them all.
There is even one of Bluebonnets in the snow! Must have been a late storm – although Dallas/Fort Worth can have abundant snow in early Spring.
When we moved from San Antonio to Florida, I took some Bluebonnet seeds with me and planted them, hoping for some lovely spring flowers to remind me of Texas. No such luck! As I’ve just gleaned from google, they must be planted in the fall and have to have the wind, rain, and cold weather to make them leap forth in the Spring. And the panhandle of Florida just doesn’t have that kind of winter weather. Shucks! Oh well, I then planted strawberry plants and they did very well.
But the Texas Bluebonnet is a source of great pride for Texas – as if they needed something else! And they are just a beautiful side of Texas that most don’t know about. I think a lot of people think of Texas as dusty, flat, and unimaginative. But it is full of great differences, including some of the most beautiful flowers in God’s creation.
I’m just so glad I was able to see them, and enjoy their beauty.
For the beauty of the earth
For the glory of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies.
Old Things R New 
Judy, the pictures are so gorgeous! I wonder if they wil grown in the North Caroline mountains?
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Alta,
According to the sites I found on Google, they are exclusive to Texas. However, there are sites that sell the seeds, so you might give it a try. They really are beautiful flowers. They actually remind me of hyacinths – color and shape of flower. Neat that they are both Spring flowers.
Also……….it occurred to me (only today!! Nothin’ slow about ME!! ha), that you asked me to do something last Thursday, and I can’t for the life of me remember what it was!! Write a blog for something/someone?? Fred can’t remember either, so you’ll have to refresh our memory! Sorry about that!
Thanks, Judy
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I will send you an email. What happens when they stop blooming? Do they make way for grass?
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Good question………..I don’t remember just what happens after they bloom. With the picture of the cattle laying down in it, makes me think they eat it, just like grass. Possibly?
Judy
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Awesomely beautiful! The Lord has given us so much beauty in our environment to enjoy. Thanks for sharing, Judy.
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