Texas is known for its wildflowers and the most abundant wildflowers are found in the Texas hill country which is located in central Texas around the Austin, Fredricksburg area. The blooming begins in south Texas and moves north, reaching peak in central Texas around the last two weeks of April through the first two weeks of May. But spring can arrive early as it did this year because of La Nina. The quality and abundance of wildflowers depend upon cold winter temperatures and rainfall, both in the fall when the seeds of the bluebonnets germinate and in the spring when they bloom. This year has not been optimum conditions for the wildflowers; but conditions were optimum in 1997 and the wildflowers were so abundant that they spilled over into the west Texas area. The following images were made in west Texas in the spring of 1997.

My own personal favorite lens for wildflowers is the 24mm wide angle lens, but a 300mm comes in handy to shoot some wildflowers and avoid trespassing on privately owned property. I would encourage anyone wishing to photograph Texas wildflowers to bring an array of focal lengths. You will use them all.

Bluebonnets are the state flower and are among the first wildflowers to bloom. It's not uncommon to see fields of bluebonnets.