I really want to get bluebonnet pics this year, my oldest is almost 4 and have yet to get any of him with the bluebonnets. Does anyone know of a good place I could take my two boys? I'm a single mom so I'm not comfortable taking them to the side of some highway by myself.
Do not risk life and limb stopping on the freeway!! I second the response about the huge patch in Grapevine by the car dealerships. I was going to say it's behind/beside the Toyota dealership, but they're all together. You'll likely see others taking photos. It's OFF the highway and you can park in the dealership parking lot and have lots of room in a safer setting. Have fun!
Someone recommended to me that we go drive out 199 west toward Jacksboro and Fort Richardson - lots of bluebonnets not far from the road, and not much traffic. He also warned that we should check our kids for chiggers afterwards since they're quite common among the flowers. To get great pictures, have your kids turn so that their shoulders are 45 degrees to the camera and then look at you, and if you have more than one turn them so they face each other - so it looks like they're in a V. To get them in focus, but the background blurry, set your camera on portrait mode. To get it all in focus, use auto or landscape mode. Also, morning light (before 10 am) is awesome for people pictures, and late afternoon (after about 4 pm) light can be good too. Mid-day sun is not so great - people squint and the sun casts shadows straight down on their faces which can be unflattering on even the most adorable child. Good luck!
If you are willing to make the trip to Grapevine, there is a great spot. If you take 114E, go past the main street exit. Take the next exit (the name escapes me at the moment) and make a u - turn. On the right you'll see three or four car dealerships. Park at the Ford dealership. From the highway it looks like a vacant lot, but once you get closer you'll find a huge field in a safe location. There were ant hills, so watch where you step and check carefully before you set your babies down.
Exit Texas Trail off 114 in Grapevine, heading West. Turn into the Ford Dealership (the last entrance they have) Drive down and park on the left. You will see a huge field in front of you that is full of bluebonnets. If you actually pass the Ford Dealership that is ok, you can just turn right onto the next street and park on the street.
Go to Brenham Texas. They are breathtaking!
You better come quick, but my neighbor's yard is full of them. I am sure if I asked him he would allow it--we've done it plenty of times before, but I don't think they will last much longer. We live in River Oaks (NW FTW), so let me know if you are interested.
http://www.mamasource.com/request/4827754458555351041
Here are some places that were suggested to me.
The best patches are going to be along a highway somewhere. There's no escaping that. If you drive down 287S between Mansfield and Midlothian there is a little dirt road area where you can pull safely over a good distance from the highway.
I live in near Whiskey Flats/Wheatland right outside of Benbrook & it's "country" enough so you could park by one of the fields in our neighborhood. Take 20 & exit 377 to heads towards Granbury. Go all the way down 377, pass FM 1187. There is an antique mall on the corner of 377 & Pyramid Acres. There are several small patches that would be sufficient enough for a nice photo. I have been looking at these myself to take pictures of my own kids. We are about 20 minutes from Fort Worth but yet you don't have to drive to Egypt (or Ennis).
Contact me if you need further directions. You could mapquest Pyramid Acres too...
Ennis is by far the best place in this area to take bluebonnet pictures. Yes, it is a drive to Ennis, it is well worth it. Ennis has a bluebonnet festival each year and claims to have the most bluebonnets in this area due to getting more rain there.
Go to Ennis Texas website or google Ennis TX bluebonnets. There is actually a bluebonnet trail brochure if you go the weekend of the bluebonnet festival. Forgot which weekend it is. I believe the best time to see bluebonnets is April. We've been there and it is wonderful, no highway type places, it is all in the country by peoples homes, in fields, out in the country, very safe, very little traffic (except the bluebonnet festival weekend!) Lots of people there for the bluebonnet festival, we saw tour buses of elderly people taking pictures in the bluebonnets. However there is so many bluebonnets and so much room to take pictures, they aren't in the way.
There is a cute little spot in Keller on Bear Creek Parkway in between Keller-Smithfield and Davis Blvd. It has bluebonnets and indian paint brushes mixed in.
