With Spring right around the corner, I’m ready to enjoy the outdoors and the beauty it provides. While I’m not one for fresh-cut flowers sent to me as a gift, I do love to experience their beauty in nature. In thinking of all the wonderful places to view flowers in the Lone Star State, and there are many, I’m sharing some of my very favorite Texas spots.

Number 10 – Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin

When planning a trip to experience flowers in Texas, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center should always be included on the list. After all, the former first lady was instrumental in the beautification of our state and many others while President Lyndon B. Johnson was in office. One of my favorite places along the many trails is the waterfall you can walk behind and view from the outside, enjoying the sights and sounds of cascading water.

Number 9 – Sweet Berry Farm in Marble Falls

While the farms are beautiful in spring, I have to say my favorite time of year to visit is in the fall when the pumpkins are in, and they celebrate The Harvest of Fall Fun. Corn mazes, hayrides, a Texas-shaped maze, and more great family fun are available for you to enjoy. The farms offer pick-your-own zinnias. You can choose to purchase them or enjoy the scenery.

Number 8 – Wildseed Farms near Fredericksburg

For those of you who want wildflowers in your backyard, Wildseed Farms is the place to go. As the nation’s largest working wildflower farm, they have a variety of seeds from which to choose, and if you arrive in Spring, you might get a glimpse of the Texas state flower, the bluebonnet. 

Number 7 – Fort Worth Botanical Gardens in Fort Worth

I’m a little biased toward Fort Worth, having lived there longer than in any other city. I’ve spent many hours walking the acres and acres of gardens. From water features to rose gardens to tree-lined trails, it’s a nature-lover’s paradise.

Number 6 – Round Top to La Grange on Hwy. 237

I took one of my most iconic Texas photos on Highway 237 in the spring a few years ago, as we were driving from Round Top to La Grange. As we topped a small hill, we saw cars pulled to the side of the road only to discover the most beautiful field of Texas bluebonnets, the state flower, and a large herd of Texas longhorns grazing in the field. This guy lay down in the flowers when I grabbed my camera, and I couldn’t resist the shot. It hangs in my living room and will for a very long time.

Number 5 – Willow City Loop in Willow City

Though located in an extremely rural part of Texas and on a two-lane road, this Hill Country paradise is the place to see Texas Wildflowers. You might even spot a cowboy boot or two on a fence post along the drive among the bluebonnets, if you look really closely.

Number 4 – International Waterlily Collection in San Angelo

Most people don’t think of West Texas as a place for water-related activities, but San Angelo is an oasis in this part of the state. As a former resident of San Angelo, I saw the lilies pretty often on my way to work or during my lunch break. While the park is small, it provides a nice break from your day. Even though early mornings are one of my favorite times to visit, the late afternoon is full of activity, with dragonflies flitting about and occasionally landing on a lily. It’s a photographer’s dream location!

Number 3 – Texas Tulips in Pilot Point

Number 2 – Tyler Municipal Rose Garden in Tyler

During my first and second years at Tyler Junior College, I remember fondly stopping by flower stands selling roses for $1 dozen. You paid by the honor system if no one was there to take your money. I would occasionally visit the gardens and literally stop and smell the roses. You have two opportunities to see these magnificent 14-acre gardens come to life – in Spring and Fall. Now that I live near Tyler, I appreciate it even more.

Number 1 – Bluebonnet Trails in Ennis

As a Native Texan, I was used to seeing bluebonnets along the highways and interstates throughout my life. After all, the wife of former President Lyndon B. Johnson, Lady Bird, was instrumental in getting the Highway Beautification Act passed during his administration, and our roads suddenly became attractions in their own right. Since then, the countless people who have stopped along the road for a photo op with their children sitting on the state flower must be in the millions. We won’t talk about the number of flowers crushed by these tiny bodies year after year, especially since most Texans are guilty of it and have the photos to prove it.

While I love our bluebonnets along the major roads, I have never seen anything like the fields of flowers I had the good fortune to view in 2012 in Ennis along the bluebonnet trails. That year was like none they had seen before. Not to worry, the fields still are grand, aromatic, and bring a sense of pride to every Texan as you view the state flower in all its glory.

Until next time…from Texas…safe travels!