Sunny skies, humidity-free days, and patio weather can only mean one thing in Houston: bluebonnet season has arrived! And, only in H-town can you spot people parked in weird spots (usually on Allen Parkway!) with a phone in hand, trying to capture that perfect photo for bluebonnet season. So, why do we go crazy for bluebonnets every spring?
Why We Love Bluebonnets in Texas
Texans have adored bluebonnets for decades even before it became the official state flower in 1901. One legend of the bluebonnet dates back to the 1700s, and involves a Christian missionary who wore a blue cloak over her nun’s habit. She mysteriously appeared to the Jumano tribe in Texas and shared her faith. When she appeared to them for the last time, the fields suddenly filled with flowers the same color as her blue cloak. Fast forward to 2025, there’s something about bluebonnets that Houstonians still can’t get enough of. Is it their striking blue petals? Is it the rare experience of finding them before they shrivel up with the summer heat? Is it the satisfaction of capturing the perfect photo with your loved ones?
For me, bluebonnets always symbolize the hope of spring. A new beginning. The winter doldrums have faded, and now there’s the promise of a new season. Last spring, I visited a friend in San Antonio. She had just bought a new house with a pool, so we were going to hang out in the backyard. Her husband made us cocktails and left us to spend hours in the backyard catching up. But, when I stepped in the backyard for the first time, I was shocked that it was full of bluebonnets! I joked with her that she should turn her yard into a bluebonnet photo op, and she would make bank. She laughed, and we spent the rest of the afternoon in our own personal bluebonnet oasis.
I think one reason why Houstonians love bluebonnet season is that we know it flies by fast, so we have to enjoy it while we can. The flowers start blooming in late March and are only around until mid or late April, depending on the weather. So, if you’re driving behind a Houstonian who haphazardly pulls over to snap a photo in the bluebonnets, let them. If you pass by someone else happily frolicking in the bluebonnets at Buffalo Bayou, leave them be. If you see a family posing for a photo, offer to take their picture. We know that this season is fleeting. Just like our humidity-free weather 😅
