ALBINO BLUEBONNETS? BLUEBONNETS IN THE SNOW?: Right on both
counts. Albino Bluebonnets are about as rare as -- well -- albino
Bluebonnets. Another photo of Bluebonnets in the snow is probably non existant.
The Bluebonnet Trail
Story & Photos by IRA KENNEDY
If you're new to Texas there's even odds you don't know about the Bluebonnet
Trail yet. That's okay. There are a few slackers in New York City who haven't
set foot on the Staten Island Ferry.
New Yorkers can speak for themselves. But in Texas, along with death, taxes and the Alamo there are
two events you must experience -- or at least accept -- deer hunting and
the Bluebonnet Trail.
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 lease understand, there are no experts on
Bluebonnets. That's like claiming to know all there is about womenfolk, teenagers or the
stock market. They're forces of nature -- inclined to whim, chance and opportunity
-- and all men can do is wear camoflague and pretend to be
parcicipating.
Anyway, after decades as a feature writer for Hill
Country publications, I have churned out more than my share of articles on the subject, so
any comparison between myself and an "authority" may have some veracity.
( Veracity. Thats a fancy word intended to
imply that I'm a right smart feller, and if I can use it in a sentence I might just know a
thing or two. I ain't gonna disuade you from that notion; besides I'm
assuming you're a grown-up and if you rely on my opinion youre on your own. If for
any reason you feel deceived, all threats of litigation should not be sent to Texas
Monthly Magazine. They have at least one lawyer what thinks you might confuse
this lunacy with their high-toned literary endeavor. Personally, I give you a little
more credit.)
Oh, jeez, were was I? Oh yea, the Bluebonnet Trail...
For years it was my task as a journalist and a "film
location person" to predict if we were going to have a good season and, even
under the worst of conditions, where the most abundant Bluebonnet fields could be located.
One year I had the audacity to suggest that, given the drought, warm winter and
such, folks would have better luck seeing Bluebonnets in their photo album.
Next thing I knew phone calls started coming letting
me know that a suit of tar and feathers was one-size-fits-all. But since they weren't
inclined to waste any raw materials on a five-foot-six loud-mouth I might want to come in
for a fitting.
It was too late for a retracraction so I just moved
to the next county. Ever since I've been conservative in my preditions. That's
to say my comments were crafted to keep everyone happy while conceiling the truth one way
or the other.
All that said, I'm going out on a strong limb
and predict this year will be one of the best Bluebonnet seasons on record.
Last month I wrote about the prime conditions for The Event so I'll skip all
that and ramble on about other topics.
Generally, the prime months are March, April, and
May, with bluebonnets at their peak in April. Even after the Bluebonnets go to seed
and fade away there are still plenty of wildflowers remaining to justify another road
trip.
PAGE 1: THE TRAIL /
PAGE 2: BACKGROUND
PAGE 3: ROUTES /
PAGE 4: PRECAUTIONS / MAP
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