Monday, March 31, 2014

The BEST Bluebonnet Spots

We get it - you love the flowers and want to take pictures! But what kind do you want? Some people want landscape pictures of a sea of blue. Some want the perfect bluebonnet up close. Others want to capture their cute kids and dogs in a big patch of peaked bluebonnets. Well, this year we have great bluebonnets, but there may be more paintbrush or other colors in the big fields.

Here's the skinny on where to go for what, as of April 8, 2014. And here's our Wildflower Watch map that can be found on our website that shows activity throughout the county. We're not at peak yet, but getting close. Our best guess is we'll have flowers through most of April at least. Keep an eye on our Wildflower Watch for more activity.

OH, one more thing... it seems everyone who's driving in from Houston stops along Hwy 290 at the Welcome sign just over the Brazos River to take pictures in the bluebonnets. Yes, these are great flowers and it's nice to get the sign in the picture, but we strongly recommend you use extreme caution. This highway is a very high traffic road with drivers moving at 80mph - it's dangerous! PLEASE pull off the road as far as possible, keep your hands on your children, and DO NOT park on the bridge!

Now, back to the fun...

KID FRIENDLY and UP CLOSE & PERSONAL:
In Brenham - 
  • Stringer Street next to The Banner Press
  • Becker Drive directly behind JC Penney is a patch of bluebonnets and paintbrush
  • Hwy 290 feeder behind Las Fuentes/Knight's Inn
  • Wood Ridge Blvd behind Wal-Mart and Home Depot
  • Brenham Business Park (see map) on S Blue Bell Rd behind Sealand Seafood & Steak and Brenham Saddle Shop.

In Independence:
  • Old Baylor Park - a beautiful mix of all kinds of flowers including some bluebonnets.
Washington-on-the-Brazos:
  • At the park there are multiple areas to get out and take pictures.
  • R-Place has a beautiful field behind the restaurant. If you're there on a weekend, say "thank you" and enjoy some delicious BBQ, a drink or ice cream!
Lake Somerville:

  • The Lake Somerville Trailway is a 13-mile (one way) hike, bike and equestrian trail that connects Birch Creek State Park (north) and Nails Creek State Park (south). This trail has lovely flowers of all kinds on it, as well as lots of birds and deer. Picture reports from the parks say flowers are around 500 yards from Newman’s Bottom parking lot which is west of Nails Creek on CR 140.
  • Birch Creek Day Use area has bluebonnets, and the lake, so you can capture a really nice shot, maybe even with a sunset!
LANDSCAPE PHOTOS: (Please respect private property and stay on public access roads)
  • FM 2780 has good bluebonnets north of Burton to Flagpond Rd. Some are fields off in the distance.
  • Christian Cemetery Rd is pretty with bluebonnets along the road.
  • FM 390 is plentiful with paintbrush.
  • Hoddeville School Rd, just a quarter mile or so off FM 390, has a gorgeous mix of flowers.
  • Kettler Rd and FM 390 has a large bluebonnet field, as does Kettler & FM 1935
  • Kettler Road in Old Washington area, near Tappe Rd.
  • FM 2621 has a lovely field of mixed flowers
  • Old Independence Rd has bluebonnets along it and is a much slower paced road that it's parallel partner FM 50.
  • Flewellen and FM 1155 features paintbrush in plenty.
  • Further up Flewellen you should find more bluebonnets, too.
  • FM 2447 after Lost Lane has a field of yellow
  • FM 389 and Brandt has plentiful paintbrush
  • FM 50 and Hwy 105 has a nice mixed field

These are the areas we are aware of. There are plenty more but we can't find them all so you'll just have to get out there and explore! We have detailed county road maps for sale in the Visitor Center for $1. Please stop by, pick up a map, visitor guide, bluebonnet seeds to plant at home, postcards in case you can't get that perfect shot, and information about our attractions, restaurants and more! We're open M-F 10-5, Sat 10-3 and Sun 1-4. Stop by and tell us of your findings!

Geocaching is also a fun activity to incorporate into wildflower watching. Don't know what that is? It's sort of like a treasure hunt incorporating the outdoors, technology, and fun! Oh, and it's practically FREE (the fuel in the car is the biggest expense)! Great for kids, adults, dogs, you name it! LEARN MORE

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Many thanks for the blog. My wife and I are traveling thru Brenham this Saturday to see the Bluebonnets.