The Great Bluebonnet Project

[jinman]

Here's a quick photo update of my bluebonnets. They are growing by leaps and bounds because of the rain we've had lately followed by sunny days and cool nights. The plants are carpeting the ground and building their root systems in preparation for their growth explosion in March/April of next year. All the pictures are of my transplant areas except the last photo. In the last photo, half of the picture to the left is the undisturbed area where I scooped up plants and seeds for my transplant. On the right of the photo is the area after I dragged seeds using my chainlink fence gate drag. As you can see, you would hardly ever know there was any disturbance of the area where I took seeds. It will take two years at most for this to recover completely and probably be better than it was before.

 

[Bird]

There's no doubt you'll be making lots of pretty pictures next Spring.

 

[bindian]

Way to go Jim!. I feel your excitement.
hugs, Brandi

 

[jinman]

Thanks Brandi and Bird. Yesterday afternoon, I accepted an offer to sell the property where the bluebonnets came from. It seems my project happened just in time for me to get my bluebonnets going in a different spot before I lose that ability because the property is sold. I really hate to sell "Bluebonnet Hill," as we call it, but it doesn't make sense to keep this land and pay taxes on it without any use. If it joined my other 22 acres, I'd keep it. It will make a really pretty place for this young couple to build a house and raise their family. They will surely love the wildflowers as much as I do. The pictures of the original spot may be few in the upcoming months. I think the new owners intend to fence and post the property. I'll ask them if I can come and take some pictures for comparison just to finish out the records of this project.

Bluebonnet Hill is the place I took my wife to show her my flowers and then asked her out on our first date. It will always have a special place in our hearts because of that, and because my wife sneaked out a few months before our wedding with a photographer and took pictures in her wedding dress in the middle of the bluebonnets. After we were married, she surprised me with those photos. Having bluebonnets replanted from that spot to our new house is pretty darn special.

 

[Bird]

Well, I know you wanted to sell that land, so I'm glad you got a buyer. At least the land isn't going anywhere so you'll still be able to see it. Hope you got yourself some good neighbors.

 

[ronjhall]

Things change everyday. We sure enjoy the pictures we have of us and others on that hill with the Bluebonnets in bloom.

 

[Bird]

We all knew that Jim (jinman) could expect a bumper crop of bluebonnets this Spring, but how about a bumper crop for the state.

 

[jinman]

Bird, the 'great bluebonnet god' must have influenced me to transplant my bluebonnets on the hillside last year. I can't imagine a better time to plant them. They are doing great despite being covered in snow at least three times this year. March and April should provide me with a huge reward for my work on this project. I can't wait.

Thanks for the link. That's good to know that the rest of the state is going to have a great year too. I've got my fingers crossed.

 

[Bird]

I just noticed the first patch of bluebonnets I've seen this year. One of the older homes in the area, less than a quarter mile from us, always has bluebonnets on the hill in front of the house, and he really has a nice patch this year.

 

[Bird]

When I posted that earlier, I didn't have a camera with me, but had to get back out, so I made a few pictures. This is close to our house, but then I also saw a nice patch of bluebonnets along the east side of I-35E just north of Main Street in Lewisville this afternoon.