Brilliant Bluebonnets Blooming at White Rock Lake

The spectacular display of Bluebonnets at White Rock Lake continues. The images below were taken late yesterday afternoon. The field of Bluebonnets is located directly across from the fishing pier between the yacht club and the Mockingbird pedestrian bridge.

The Bluebonnet field near Mockingbird pedestrian bridge

Bees play a critical role in the pollination of flowers and other plants. The image below shows a honey bee hard at work on a Bluebonnet, and also a dragonfly.

Stunning Bluebonnet with a honey bee and dragonfly 

Bluebonnets with cumulous nimbus clouds

Have you ever wondered how bees transport pollen back to their hives? They have pollen sacks on their back legs. As they collect the pollen, it is placed in the pollen sacks. And this is how the bees get the pollen back to their hives.

In the image below you can see the orange-colored bulging pollen sacks on the bees back legs.

A stunning image of a honey bee on this Bluebonnet wildflower

Native Americans wove fascinating folk tales around Bluebonnets

In the entire field of Bluebonnets, there was only ONE other wildflower – a single boom - and this was it!

A single bloom in the entire field that was not a Bluebonnet

The Bluebonnet image below shows a honey bee in flight. It is an excellent example of the pollen sacks on the back legs of bees. This bee was obviously working hard. His orange-colored pollen sack if stuffed with goodness.

Notice the orange pollen sacks on the back legs of the bee.

Another view of the Bluebonnet field at White Rock Lake, situated in east Dallas, Texas. Wildflowers are in full bloom at the lake right now.

The Bluebonnet is to Texas what the Shamrock is to Ireland

Below is a single flower of the spectacular Bluebonnet. Don't miss the display. It's stunning!

The Bluebonnet is the official state flower of Texas

You can view more awesome bluebonnet images here:

Spectacular Bluebonnets at White Rock Lake

White Rock Lake is located in east Dallas, Texas.

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Show the Dandelions Some Respect

Saturday, March 17, 2012

The next time you walk around White Rock Lake, look down. You'll be amazed at how much beauty escapes us as we go about our business.

Have you ever stopped to admire the beauty and perfection of the white spherical seed head of the dandelion (it means lion’s tooth in Old French, in case you were wondering)? Most children love to blow away the seeds from the head, and make a wish. They are sometimes referred to as “wish flowers” in parts of the country.

This image was captured near Sunset Bay.

The spherical seed head of a dandelion. 

Obviously, the seed head did not start that way. It started out as a beautiful, bright yellow flower. Actually, each flower head is composed of thousands of small ray flowers.

The dandelion image below was captured about two feet away from the seed head referred to above. In the image, you can see a bee. A dandelion is the bee’s best friend. Most of the plants important to bees are wildflowers, and of these, the most valuable early spring wildflower is the dandelion. Bees love the dandelion because the pollen is nutritious and they have a lot of nectar. It gives the bees a huge boost and adds to the health and well-being of the hive at a critical time of the year.

 The dandelion flower head is composed of thousands of
small yellow ray flowers. 

Did you know that the dandelion flowers, the leaves, and the tap root are all edible? It is one of the safest and most popular herbal remedies, and is good for a number of different maladies, illnesses and diseases, including hepatitis and diabetes. 

The milky, white sap that comes from the leaf removes warts and moles, is good for pimples and sores, and soothes blisters and bee stings.

So next time you see a dandelion as you walk around White Rock Lake, show it some respect. You never know when you may need one!

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