Friday, April 24, 2009

2009 04 18 Douglas Dickinson's Bluebonnets, Ennis, Texas

Although our weather wasn't ideal (a bit overcast with the threat of rain) I absolutely enjoyed a lovely girls-day-out with my friend Annette Coppedge and her sister Janetta. Annette and Joe have been friends since high school and it was nice to join she and her sister on one of their infamous road trips.

By mid-morning we made our way to Ennis (Texas) to take in the annual Ennis Bluebonnet Festival. We enjoyed browsing the gift shops and handicraft market in the town center. Of course there was a lovely lunch at the local tea room. Tummies full - it was time to see some bluebonnets! Map in hand, Annette was our navigator and Janetta our chauffeur. In no time we were out in the county making our way around curves, up and down hills, past neighborhoods and fields. We passed grand ranches and McMansions, farm houses and barns, and cows and horses. All along the way the horizon and meadows paraded a thousand shades of green. Off in the distance tinges of blue, yellow, and orange. Fields full of wildflowers - or as some say - pretty weeds. All the beautiful colors that spring brings around the country. And my goodness, did we ever see bluebonnets!

Early into our drive through the country we made a stop at Douglas Dickinson's ranch for a photo-op and impromptu lesson on bluebonnets. Doug greets almost everyone personally from his golfcart and tells all he's learned about bluebonnets. Doug explained that when he moved to this Ennis property over 30 years ago there were no bluebonnets. Only after mowing and plowing his fields did dormant seeds pollenated in prior years begin to bloom. We enjoyed meeting Doug and the opportunity to enjoy his bluebonnets.