Texas' beloved bluebonnets are putting on their annual spring show across the state, and - as predicted - they're looking superb. As calendars flip from March to April, freeway embankments, landscapes, and fields all across Dallas-Fort Worth are awash in blue.

That means it's time for nature treks, photo shoots, and picnics among the blooms (without stepping on them, of course).

Following are areas in DFW and around Texas where people have reported 2024 bluebonnets and other wildflowers, or where they're looking reliable for pretty photos further into April. Just like the flowers, this list will continue to grow, so bookmark it and check back often.

Ennis

The Ennis Bluebonnet Trails, North Texas’ No. 1 spot for bluebonnet spotting, opens April 1 and runs through April 30. The trails wind visitors through 40 miles of picturesque wildflowers in a spectacular setting that includes rolling hills and pastures with grazing horses, longhorns, even swans on a pond. Not all flowers bloom at the same time; be sure to stop at the Welcome Center for a map and expert guidance.

The flowers are expected to peak around April 18-21, coinciding with the Ennis Bluebonnet Trails Festival. There typically are gorgeous fields along Sugar Ridge Road on the North Loop Trail. Those interested in making the trek about 40 miles south of Dallas can check out maps and updates on the website and social media channels. Download the Ennis Y’all mobile app to get all the information on your smartphone. Be warned: Ennis will be a hot spot for eclipse tourists on April 8, so traffic will be especially heavy that day.

Dallas-Fort Worth parks, roadsides, and fields

Many Dallas parks have Natural Areas, where colorful flowers dot pathways and fill "no mow" fields in spring. According to the Dallas Park & Recreation website, parks with wildflower areas to watch for include: Flagpole Hill, Harry Moss Park, Bachman, Grauwyler, Kessler Parkway, Gateway, and more.

The Laura W. Bush Native Texas Park, a 15-acre urban park on the grounds of George W. Bush Presidential Center at SMU, features a one-mile network of trails that walks visitors through native Texas environments, including spring wildflowers. Besides bluebonnets, the mix typically includes Winecup, Pink Evening Primrose, Plains Coreopsis, Engelman Daisy, Foxglove, Prairie Spiderwort, White Prairie Clover, Prairie Verbana, Texas Yellowstar, and more. Guided tours are available, and you can download a guide to the flowers here.

Bluebonnet Trail Greenbelt in Plano was filling up with bluebonnets by the last week of March, with many more to come. Bluebonnet Trail runs from Central Expressway to Midway Road, following an Oncor power line easement and along Spring Creek Parkway and Chase Oaks Boulevard; it intersects with the Chisholm Trail in the middle of Plano and connects with the Preston Ridge Trail at Carpenter Park. View maps of the trails here and here. While in Plano, also check out the Arbor Hills Nature Preserve (6701 W. Parker Rd.) and Russell Creek Park (3500 McDermott Rd.), known to have some beautiful wildflowers, too.

Richardson parks are also reliably good spots, as the city's Parks & Recreation Department annually plants more than 45 acres of wildflower seeds in municipal parks, street medians, and around the City Hall campus. Residents get in on the planting fun, too, through an initiative called "Operation Bloom Town." The colorful spring blooms - not just bluebonnets but a "Richardson mix" of flowers - then build up excitement for the Wildflower! Arts & Music Festival, May 17-19 at Galatyn Park.

Frisco parks

• Freedom Meadow at the Warren Sports Complex (7599 Eldorado Pkwy.) is one of the most popular bluebonnet photo hot spots in DFW each year. The flowers, on five acres near the 9/11 Memorial, are getting revved up now for April visitors.
• Zion Cemetery in Frisco/Little Elm (FM 423 just north of Eldorado Parkway) is also a draw, but it comes with a caveat: It now has "no trespassing" signs. You may have to get creative taking photos from a distance, rather than walking through them.
• The city of Frisco also recommends the following parks with natural areas where wildflowers thrive: Frisco Commons Park Meadow (8000 McKinney Rd.), Monarch View Park (1900 Koehn Dr.), Pearson Acres Park (7550 Teel Pkwy.), and Wildflower Loop along Big Bluestem Trail at Grand Park (5001 Cotton Gin Rd.)

DFW Airport area-freeways
Stopping beside a highway or posing for photos on the side of the road is never advised, but the lush fields along the freeway embankments near DFW Airport are always a thrill for visitors arriving in the Metroplex or local drivers happy to call Texas home. By the last week of March, bluebonnets were filling both sides of SH 183/121, SH 161, I-635 near the airport, and along S.H. 114 from Grapevine toward Irving.

Irving/Las Colinas has so many picturesque fields, parks, and patches of bluebonnets, Visit Irving has produced a whole guide. Some recommendations from the city and from spotters in the area:

• Cottonwood Creek Park, 4051 N. Story Rd., is blooming now with more to come.
• Campion Trail, a master-planned, 22-mile greenbelt along the Elm Fork and West Fork of the Trinity River, is known to have some blooms at both the north and south ends of the trails, near the freeway. (A map is here.)
• Dallas College North Lake Campus' main entrance off MacArthur Boulevard is reliably pretty, plus it's quiet and safe as it's not near a highway. (Address is 5001 N MacArthur Blvd. Here's a map.)
• Highway 114 westbound before Cisterian Road (near the University of Dallas Dart station). Also find them between Cisterian Road and Riverside.
• Highway 183 and Beltline Rd. near South Irving has a perennially popular field.
• Las Colinas Boulevard, from Hwy 161 to Northwest Highway.

Grapevine always has reliable spots around Grapevine Lake. The roadways around the city (such as 1171 and High Road) are beginning to pop; they've been spotted up and down S.H. 114 between Grapevine and Northlake and between Grapevine and Irving. A favorite field for photos is next to the Toyota of Grapevine dealership, at 701 E State Hwy 114. Spotters say to head toward the Comfort Inn for the best patches; they're starting to flourish as of late March.

Cedar Hill State Park, a favorite place for mountain bikers, typically has bluebonnets popping along the trails. Visitors are sure to see some on a guided hike, and the ranger-led sunrise hikes are especially rewarding. In Cedar Hill, look for lots of bluebonnets near the interchange of I-20 and I-30, as well as at I-20 and FM 1382.

Fort Worth Botanic Garden/BRIT has thousands of spring flowers blooming, but you'll see some bluebonnets, too. "As the weather warms, beloved Texas bluebonnets will cover the South Vista," says the website. Other colorful spring blooms that typically dot their landscape in March and April: Pansies, Dianthus, Snapdragons, Alyssum, Narcissus (daffodils), Summer snowflake, Mexican plum, Redbud trees, Lady Banks’ Rose, daisies, Hardy gladiolus, Coral honeysuckle, and more. BRIT has an informative article on "the botany of bluebonnets" here.

Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge typically has bluebonnets popping at the end of March, along with picturesque redbuds, and more natural wonders. The best way to find them is to take a naturalist-led tour.

Airfield Falls Trailhead and Conservation Park, home to Tarrant County’s largest natural waterfall, is also a great place to see native flowers, wildlife, and monarch butterflies. Find it at 200 Pumphrey Dr., in Westworth Village, and spend an afternoon meandering the pathways and relaxing in nature.

Benbrook has several reliable spots each year, including patches at Longhorn Park overlooking Benbrook Lake & Dam; at Dutch Branch Park and Athletic Complex; around the Benbrook Community Center/YMCA athletic fields; and near the Fort Worth Youth Soccer Association fields.

In Mansfield, the flowers at Elmer W. Oliver Nature Park perk up for a nice showing each spring. Stroll among them on either side of the walking trails.

Clark Gardens in Weatherford will have bluebonnets "by the thousands," as well as other abundant wildflowers out in full force in April, they say. Check out what's blooming, garden hours, admission, and more important information on their website.

Hill Country-Central Texas
Just a few hours out of DFW, wildflowers are peaking by early April, but there are still gorgeous fields. Here are some top places to go in the Central Texas/Hill Country region. (Note that the Hill Country is also in the April 8 eclipse's path of totality, so avoiding travel that day is advised.)

Marble Falls
Bluebonnets are painting the landscape all over this popular Hill Country town (and home to the famous Blue Bonnet Cafe). Look for bluebonnets, Indian paintbrushes, yuccas, and many other wildflowers flourishing all over the area. Turkey Bend Recreation Area is always a specific hot spot. An old house off SH 281 called, simply, "The Bluebonnet House," is the setting for many picturesque photo shoots; read about it here. Check out the guide to this year’s best flower fields here. They even have scenic wildflower drive recommendations, here.

Burnet
Known as the "Bluebonnet Capital of Texas," this town off S.H. 281 is known for its abundant spring blooms. The stretch of Highway 29 from Burnet to Llano has been described as "amazing" in late March. Take Ranch Road 2341 from S.H. 29 to Canyon of the Eagles Nature Park, where some of its many miles of trails wind among wildflowers. Another good spot is Inks Lake State Park (specifically the Pecan Flats area), which typically has gorgeous bluebonnets and fragrant mountain laurel. The beloved Burnet Bluebonnet Festival, April 12-14, includes live music, a carnival, food, races, birding and, of course, flowers.

Mason County
This county west of Burnet and Llano, on 29, is in the heart of bluebonnet country, and recent reports say it's awash in color. Great for meandering on backroads (but stay off personal property, of course).

Fredericksburg
Fredericksburg is synonymous with bluebonnets in Texas. A March 20 report on the Visit Fredericksburg website says, "The 2024 wildflower season is underway and is predicted to continue through mid-May. Experts are saying that with recent and predicted rains, the season will be exceptional through April. If no additional rain is received, the season will remain strong." While you'll see the blooms all over the region, a good first stop is always Wildseed Farms, the largest working wildflower farm in the country, which will be in full bloom in April. Other recommended spots include Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park, Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park and LBJ State Park and Historic Site (Stonewall), and the Luckenbach area. The Fredericksburg Bluebonnet Festival will take place Saturday, April 20.

While you're in the area, don't miss the ...

Willow City Loop
One of the best bluebonnet drives in Texas is the 13-mile, two-lane Willow City Loop. A lot of people start in Fredericksburg, take State Highway 16 north about 13 miles and turn east on Ranch Road 1323 to Willow City. It's a pretty drive through wildflower wonderlands, traversing hills and creeks, offering gorgeous views of meadows and valleys. Late-March reports say the "last half" of the Willow City Loop is the prettiest. Warning: Roadside property along this route is private, so no wandering into the fields.

Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area, Spicewood
One of the hottest bluebonnet spots in Texas in spring 2024, Muleshoe Bend has the lush flower fields that look like purple-blue oceans. They are peaking in late March. The bluebonnet fields at this public park northwest of Austin are more abundant than they have been in the past, although some discriminating spotters say they're not quite as good as they were in 2023. There usually are large patches of flowers on the riverbank, and it's easy to drive around and park a car to set up and take time for photo shoots (rather than pulling over on the side of the road). Find it at 2820 County Road 414, Spicewood.

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Austin
No Central Texas bluebonnet pilgrimage is complete without a visit to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, roughly 12 miles southwest of downtown Austin. Open for entry daily, 9 am-4 pm (reservations are encouraged), the center has 284 acres of scenic gardens and trails, including native gardens, wild meadows, and experts who can tell you what you’re looking at. They also have a gift shop and gallery, a cafe, host special events, and offer various resources on plants and flowers around Texas. They offer a wildflower report and ideas for bluebonnet excursions here. Find it at 4801 La Crosse Ave., Austin.

Southeast Texas
Between Austin and Houston, wildflowers are already starting to go to seed in late March, so you'll have to get there fast to still catch some blue beauties. Here are some recommendations:

Brenham/Chappell Hill/Industry, Washington County
Brenham is a town that prides itself on its wildflowers (and on being the home of Blue Bell Ice Cream). A March 27 post on the Visit Brenham website warns, "Bluebonnets are at peak all throughout the county! We've had lots of rain lately so weeds are going to start shooting up faster than the flowers. If you haven't made your way to Brenham & Washington County, now's the time!" Using "Flower Watch," visitors can check in almost daily on the Visit Brenham website to see what is blooming; there's even a handy driving map.

Washington County as a whole thrives with bluebonnets. Prime viewing spots typically are along Highway 290 east and west as you drive into Brenham; FM 1155 to 2679 in Chappell Hill; and FM 2447 and Highway 290 at First Baptist Church of Chappell Hill (the church typically welcomes visitors, but requests that the parking lot remain open to members of its congregation).

Chappell Hill hosts the “Official State of Texas Bluebonnet Festival” on April 13-14 in downtown historic Chappell Hill. Although it might happen past prime wildflower time, it still is expected to attract thousands to the area.

Industry-Fayetteville
One of the most iconic photo spots in Texas has both bluebonnets and zebras - yes, zebras. About 80 miles east of Austin and 90 miles from Houston is a field where zebras roam, along with cows. Occasionally, they'll graze among the bluebonnets and up to the fence line, photographers say. The address is 5411 TX-159, Fayetteville (between Industry and Fayetteville).

2024 bluebonnet festivals

• Burnet Bluebonnet Festival: April 12-14, Burnet
• Ennis Bluebonnet Trails Festival: April 19-21, Ennis
• Chappell Hill Bluebonnet Festival: April 13-14, Chappell Hill
• Fredericksburg Bluebonnet Festival: April 20, Fredericksburg

Resources to keep up with wildflower season

• Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center regularly updates information about the season on their website and social media channels. Here is a handy chart of some common Texas native plants and when they bloom.
• Texas Bluebonnets and Wildflowers and Bluebonnets of Texas are Facebook groups in which members regularly post updates about what they're seeing around the state.
• Texas Wildflower Report is a Facebook page that posts helpful update and the author has even published an ebook called Hunting Texas Wildflowers 2024, available on Kindle for $9.99.
• Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's Flickr page and social media accounts usually get populated with wildflower sightings from state parks and wildlife management areas.
• The iNaturalist app will allow you to see what’s in bloom in different regions.
• Search Instagram using #txwildflowers2024 to find pretty photos and updates from all around the state.

Rules of the road

• Pulling over on the side of a highway for photos is never recommended. Find a nearby parking lot. For everyone's safety, do not pose for photos near a roadway, and never on a median.
• Remember that while it isn’t illegal to pick the blooms, it is bad form. Leave them for others to enjoy and so the flowers can go to seed and make more for next year.
• By the same token, minimize trampling of the plants, as crushing them repeatedly (by, say, sitting on them) can destroy the flowers. Try to walk in other people's footprints in a field.
• Be aware that fields can also contain fire ants and the occasional snake. Be careful if walking through grass where it’s not possible to see where you’re stepping.
• Also, remember the "groups" rule. If you approach a pretty patch and another family is taking photos, ride on by.
• Finally, be respectful of private property — no climbing fences, going through gates, or driving up driveways to get that photo. You might get a less-than-warm welcome.

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Got a great bluebonnet spot? Email stephanie@culturemap.com.