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Florida nature photographer stumbles across cannibal alligator

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A nature photographer had a shock earlier this month when she set out to photograph a beautiful sunset, and instead stumbled across a large alligator in the process of devouring a smaller one. The encounter happened on March 6 at Orlando Wetlands Park, which is a popular destination for hiking, birding, and photography.

According to the Miami Herald, D’Angelo was waiting for the perfect moment to capture a landscape shot when she heard a huge splash behind her.

“Turning around I saw an alligator with something dark in his mouth,” she said. “I’ve got pictures of alligators eating ducks, so that was my first thought. Being a wildlife photographer for seven years brought the camera to my eye. I just started shooting.”

D’Angelo shared her work on a Facebook group dedicated to the park, asking whether the smaller creature may be a tegu lizard, but other members confirmed that it was indeed a smaller gator.

“He was snapping his prey’s neck with the first slam. The others were to crush bones and pulverize it. All like snap, snap, crack!” said D’Angelo.

Although shocking to witness first-hand, alligator cannibalism is quite common. In August 2018, another wildlife photographer came across a similar scene in a marsh near coastal Texas. As Live Science reported at the time, Brad Streets initially spotted what appeared to be entrails floating in the water near a large gator. Upon closer inspection, he realized there was a smaller animal within its jaws.

“The larger males, they’re opportunistic. They see a smaller alligator – it’s a nice snack for them,” research biologist James Nifong said. “It usually happens with larger adult males that have established a certain territory. During mating season, when subordinate males come along, they fight – and the winner eats the loser.”

Alligator safety

Alligator attacks on humans are very rare, and you can avoid a close encounter by taking some simple precautions. Watch out for clues like large indentations in the mud where the animals have been resting beside lakes and rivers. You may also spot smears of mud where an alligator has slid into the water.

You may also hear an alligator before you see it, particularly during mating season in the late spring when the males are especially vocal.

If you are in the Florida Everglades or other alligator territory, only hike during daylight hours and swim in designated areas. Keep dogs away from the shores, as a gator might see your pet as a potential snack.

If an alligator does take an interest and begin to charge, your best course of action is to run away. The animals can move at a brisk 11mph, but not for long, and tend to zig-zag rather than running straight. For more advice, see our guide what to do if you see an alligator in Florida.

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Jackery Solar Generator 1500 Pro an ideal Off-Grid Photography and Video solution

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As a photographer or videographer, you know that the world of photography and videography is constantly evolving. With the recent launch of the Jackery Solar Generator 1500 Pro in the UK, off-grid power solutions have taken a giant leap forward. This highly efficient, sustainable power pack is set to revolutionize the way you work in remote locations, providing clean, reliable energy for all your equipment needs.

The Jackery Solar Generator 1500 Pro combines the Power station Explorer 1500 Pro, which boasts a 1512 kWh capacity, with the foldable SolarSaga 200W solar panel. This powerful duo ensures that you can rely on a steady supply of clean energy while working in the great outdoors.

You often find yourself in remote locations, far from traditional power sources, to capture that perfect shot or scene. In these situations, having a reliable and eco-friendly power solution becomes crucial. The Jackery Solar Generator 1500 Pro offers just that, providing a portable energy source for your cameras, lights, laptops, and other essential equipment.

One of the standout features of the 1500 Pro is its ultra-charging system, which enables fast charging in just two hours with 230 volts from a socket. Alternatively, you can harness the power of the sun by connecting six Jackery SolarSaga 200W solar modules for equally quick charging. Once fully charged, the lithium-ion battery provides a continuous output power of 1,800 watts, ensuring that you have ample power for your shoots.

The SolarSaga 200W solar module is weatherproof (IP 67) and offers a high efficiency of 25%, generating up to 50% more electricity than conventional models, even in poor light conditions. This is particularly beneficial for you as a photographer or filmmaker working in unpredictable weather or challenging light situations. The integrated MPPT solar controller (Maximum Power Point Tracking) further enhances the solar yield, making the most of available sunlight.

Safety is a top priority for the Jackery Solar Generator 1500 Pro, with features such as shockproof and fire-resistant construction according to UL 94V-0. It can operate in temperatures ranging from -20°C to 40°C, ensuring that you can work in various environments without worrying about power supply issues. The intelligent battery management system (BMS) offers 12 protective functions, covering scenarios such as overcurrent, short circuit, deep discharge, overload, overvoltage, and overheating.

Weighing in at just 17 kilograms and sporting a compact design (38.4 x 26.9 x 30.75 cm), the Jackery 1500 Pro is easy to transport, making it an ideal choice for you as a photographer or filmmaker on the go. With seven ports offering 1800 watts nominal or 3600 watts peak power, the 1500 Pro can accommodate a wide range of devices, from smartphones to professional lighting equipment.

Available for £1,499.00 for the Explorer 1500 Pro and £2,099.00 for the 1500 Pro + Solar generator, this innovative power solution comes with a five-year guarantee, ensuring that you can focus on your craft without worrying about power supply issues.

In summary, the Jackery Solar Generator 1500 Pro is set to become an indispensable tool for you as a photographer or filmmaker seeking a reliable, eco-friendly power solution for off-grid shoots. Its impressive charging capabilities, combined with its portability and durability, make it an ideal choice for professionals like you who require clean, efficient energy on location.

I’m checking out the Jackery Solar Generator 1500 Pro at the moment and will bring you the full review soon. For now you can check out more on the Jackery Solar Generator 1500 Pro at the Jackery website

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Rare leucistic penguin spotted in Antarctica. See the photo.

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Antarctica’s Cape Crozier is not somewhere tourists or even scientists usually go. To protect one of Earth’s largest Adélie penguin colonies, the area requires special permission to visit.

Some estimates have put as many as 600,000 of these 10-pound, flightless birds gathering on this desolate coast, with Mount Terror looming in the sky above.

And yet, earlier this winter, on a National Geographic tourist expedition, photographer Jeff Mauritzen captured images of one penguin unlike any other—a pale animal that appeared as if some of its black feathers had been stripped of their color.

“Yes, it’s an isabelline, or leucistic, penguin,” confirms P. Dee Boersma, a penguin expert at the University of Washington in Seattle, by email.

“The penguin looks washed out or like it was bleached. It is a genetic mutation,” says Boersma, a National Geographic Explorer.

Unlike albinism, which occurs when a person or animal’s body produces no melanin, or pigment, leucism happens when those pigments are prevented from being distributed to all the body parts. Leucistic and isabelline are sometimes used interchangeably to describe the pale brown or blonde coloration of penguins with this condition.

Surprisingly, this is not Mauritzen’s first rodeo when it comes to leucistic penguins.

“I’ve seen millions of penguins,” says Mauritzen, who leads National Geographic photography tours. “But I’ve seen two of these now.” (See pictures of other unusually colored animals.)

In 2019, Mauritzen photographed a leucistic king penguin on South Georgia Island, which is 1,200 miles from the tip of South America.

The most oddly colored species

Leucistic penguins are rare, but not unheard of. In fact, penguins with this condition have been identified in a number of species, including chinstrap, rockhopper, and macaroni penguins. (Read: “Rare pale-colored penguin and seals spotted on remote island.”)

What’s more, a 2000 study revealed that some penguin species are more likely to display leucism than others.

“Adélie penguins were among the most common,” says Boersma, who has also witnessed leucism in this species.

In all, gentoo penguins were most likely to be leucistic, with an occurrence rate of one in 20,000. Adélies were next, with one in 114,000 animals showing leucistic traits, while chinstraps came in third at one out of every 146,000 birds.

So far as scientists can tell, penguins with leucism live normal lives, and are neither shunned by their peers nor targeted by predators at higher rates. (Read: “Yellow penguin spotted in Antarctica—here’s why it’s so rare.”)

“Nature is just continuously surprising us,” says Mauritzen.

“For somebody like myself, who’s been to many, many places and had many amazing wildlife encounters, seeing something like that still is just so exciting and astonishing.”

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It’s a great time for CT residents to view the night sky

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If you are interested in astronomy, there will be some excellent opportunities for viewing and photographing the night sky in the coming months. Spring (March – May) is known as “galaxy season” to amateur astronomers, with a greater number of galaxies visible in the night sky than any other time of year.

Many amateur astronomers take advantage of this time to observe and photograph these amazing objects.

Galaxies are huge swirling masses of stars, cosmic gas and dust held together by gravity. With the recent deployment of the James Webb telescope, we are learning much more about their age and origins. There are estimated to be billions of galaxies in the universe, each containing billions of stars. They are present in a variety of shapes and sizes, and typically span light years across. The galaxies we can observe are millions of light years away, and it is really amazing that we can see them at all at that distance, even with a telescope.

The Andromeda Galaxy is the closest galaxy to our Milky Way, at a distance of 2.5 million light years away.

Most of us have seen the amazing photographs of galaxies taken with the James Webb telescope, either in the news, on-line or in astronomy magazines. However, you may not know that a photograph taken from your own back yard with only amateur equipment can also reveal some excellent detail of deep sky objects, including the glowing stars present within the massive spiral arms of galaxies, and the regions of new star formation or “nebulosity” interwoven between them.

Unlike other forms of photography, astrophotography involves taking a series of long exposures or videos, and then processing them digitally afterward with a technique known as image “stacking.” This results in a much brighter composite final image with greater detail than would otherwise be possible. After capturing and saving the desired images on a laptop computer, image stacking can be done with a variety of different astronomy-specific software applications, and additional software can be used to give the photos their final touches.

When taking photos of galaxies or any other deep sky objects, selection of the right equipment is key. As far as the telescope itself is concerned, telescopes with shorter focal lengths and a wider field of view (such as a small refractor or reflector telescope) are best for beginners to learn on. As you gain expertise, telescopes with bigger apertures, longer focal lengths and a narrower field of view can also be used.

Cameras used for astrophotography have extremely sensitive optical sensors, specialized to gather dim light from distant objects, and are usually electronically cooled to reduce optical noise. A standard 35mm camera can also be used instead of an astronomy camera, but modifications may need to be made to achieve good results. The camera is typically connected to the back of a telescope and to a laptop computer, where images can be downloaded and viewed on the computer screen while capturing them. In addition, one of the most important pieces of equipment needed for astrophotography is a sturdy equatorial telescope mount, which automatically tracks the movement of the stars to allow in-focus images without star trails.

What is the best way to learn astrophotography? The most important thing you can do is to join a local amateur astronomy club, where you can go to observing events (aka “star parties”) and meet other like-minded amateur astronomers. Most clubs have members with a wide range of expertise and interests, and you can learn a lot in a very short time. I belong to the Thames Amateur Astronomical Society in southeast Connecticut, but there are also others in the state including the Astronomical Society of Greater Hartford and the Astronomical Society of New Haven. No matter where you are located, there is likely to be an amateur astronomy club in your area.

When learning this hobby there is also a lot of information available from various on-line forums such as the “Cloudy Nights” forum, where you can find others with the same equipment you have and post your questions. Other on-line resources that I have found useful for learning this hobby include web sites or you-tube channels for Heavenly Backyard Astronomy, Astroforum, Star Stuff, Martin’s Astrophotography, AstroBackyard and Late Night Astronomy. Last, I have found Astronomy Magazine to be a great source of information as it provides equipment reviews, good articles, and tips on what to look for in the night sky each month.

Whether you are an experienced or beginning amateur astronomer, I encourage you to try your hand at astrophotography, and galaxy season is a great time for that. Starting out in this hobby can be expensive, and can have a large learning curve, especially for those with little or no background in photography or astronomy. However, if you if you have the time and patience to learn, it can be a very rewarding and enjoyable hobby.

John Natale is an amateur astronomer and resident of East Haddam. For additional information on amateur astronomy or astrophotography, he can be contacted at [email protected].

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20 Heartwarming Moments Of Puppies Experiencing The World For The First Time

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Puppies are undoubtedly one of the cutest and most adorable creatures on the planet. Their innocent and curious nature makes them a joy to watch, especially when they are experiencing the world for the first time. From taking their first steps to exploring new surroundings, every moment of a puppy’s life is full of wonder and excitement.

In this article, we have compiled a list of 20 heartwarming moments of puppies experiencing the world for the first time that will make your day. So, grab a cup of coffee, sit back, and get ready to be filled with warmth and happiness.

Image Credit: Giphy

#19 First love, grossing everyone else out with your love

Puppies Doing Things For The First Time

Image Credit: Giphy

#20 That moment when you realize that weird dude is your reflection

Puppies Doing Things For The First Time

Image Credit: Giphy

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Better Nutrition? Fremont Photo Of The Day

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This 10-month-old baby is apparently hungry!

© Viji Chary
This 10-month-old baby is apparently hungry!

FREMONT, CA — Viji Chary loves this photo of her daughter chewing on a magazine titled Better Nutrition! Her daughter was 10 months old at the time.

Thank you for sharing your photo, Viji!

If you have an awesome photo of nature, breath-taking scenery, kids caught being kids, a pet doing something funny, or something unusual you happen to catch with your camera, we’d love to feature it on Patch.

We’re looking for high-resolution images that reflect the beauty and fun that is Northern California, and that show off your unique talents.

Email it to [email protected].

Also See:

The article Better Nutrition? Fremont Photo Of The Day appeared first on Fremont Patch.

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Look up! See Venus shine next to the young moon tonight

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Venus will shine close to the moon on March 23.

© Starry Night Education
Venus will shine close to the moon on March 23.

Should your local weather forecast suggest that Thursday evening (March 23) will be fair and clear it will be well worth making a mental note to be outside about an hour after the sun goes down. If you head outside at that early evening hour and if you have a clear and unobstructed view toward the west, you will be treated to a lovely pairing off of the two brightest objects in the night sky.

You’ll immediately notice the crescent moon; appearing as a slender sliver, its disk will be illuminated just 6% by sunlight. And hovering well above and slightly to the left of the lunar crescent will be the planet, Venus, shining like a brilliant silvery-white celestial lantern of magnitude -4.0.

The two objects will be separated by roughly 6.5 degrees, which is roughly equal to two-thirds of the apparent width of your fist held at arm’s length. This won’t be an exceptionally close approach between these two objects but their great brilliance makes them an eye-catching sight in the early morning sky.

Related: Night sky, March 2023: What you can see tonight [maps]

Gemini, Cancer, Orion and much more in March 2023 skywatching

UP NEXT

The following evening (Friday, March 24), it will appear that they will have switched positions. On that night, a slightly wider (12%) lunar crescent will be hovering well above and slightly to the left of Venus.

Of course, what we’ll see is an illusion of perspective. The moon is 233,400 miles (375,700 km) from Earth, while Venus is 492 times more distant at 115 million miles (185 million km) away. Venus is becoming increasingly prominent as it slowly gets higher in our western evening sky with each passing night. Right now, it’s setting around 10:15 p.m. local daylight time. But two months from now, Venus will be noticeably higher in the west-northwest sky about an hour after sunset, and not setting until close to midnight.

Venus shines like a beacon through the fading dusk; the first planet to look for when the sun goes down. At sunset, face west and look about one-third up from the horizon to the point directly overhead — about 32 degrees above the western horizon — to find Venus. Your clenched fist held at arm’s length is roughly 10 degrees wide. So — the equivalent of roughly three clenched fists up from the horizon — will take you to Venus.

Remember that the moon will appear almost directly below it on March 23 and almost directly above it on March 24. Later in twilight Venus becomes plainly visible. In a telescope, Venus’ disk is dazzling, yet unimpressive. It’s still relatively small and 80 percent illuminated — a gibbous (less full) phase.

And lastly, if clouds obscure your view of Venus and the Moon on either Thursday or Friday evening, don’t fret. Your next opportunity to see them together again will come on Sunday, April 23.

If you’re looking for a telescope or binoculars to observe the night sky, our guides for the best binoculars deals and the best telescope deals now can help. Our best cameras for astrophotography and best lenses for astrophotography can also help you prepare to capture the next skywatching sight on your own.

Fancy taking a more in-depth moonlit tour of our rocky companion? Our ultimate guide to observing the moon will help you plan your next skywatching venture whether it be exploring the lunar seas, mountainous terrain, or the many craters that blanket the landscape. You can also see where astronauts, rovers and landers have ventured with our Apollo landing sites observing guide.

Editor’s Note: If you snap a photo of the moon and Venus and would like to share it with Space.com’s readers, send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to [email protected].

Joe Rao serves as an instructor and guest lecturer at New York’s Hayden Planetarium. He writes about astronomy for Natural History magazine, the Farmers’ Almanac and other publications. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.

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Future Apple Watch could get cameras for photography & Face ID

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Apple’s proposal would be less bulky than the existing third-party Wristcam

AppleInsider may earn an affiliate commission on purchases made through links on our site.

Apple has big plans for cameras in future Apple Watches, if they can be fitted without making the watch awkward to wear — and if the cameras can be of high enough quality.

The popularity of the Apple Watch Ultra has shown that people are willing to wear bulkier devices if there is a clear benefit to them. In the case of the Apple Watch Ultra, that benefit includes a greatly extended battery life, for instance.

Future Apple Watches may also become at least a little larger, as Apple is again looking at ways to incorporate a camera. Previously, Apple has had a patent granted to include a camera in the Apple Watch’s Digital Crown, but that’s got to have very limited use.

Now in a newly-revealed patent application, Apple is proposing that a Watch could fit a camera into a slight protrusion toward the top of its chassis, above the display. “Wearable Electronic Device Having A Digital Camera Assembly,” would be similar to the existing Wristcam in where the camera is positioned, but that product is a whole Watch band.

Apple isn’t keen on taking up a whole band, or anything that makes the Apple Watch cumbersome.

“While certain electrical components, such as a camera, may perform desirable

functions,” says the patent application, “the integration of such components may result in a bulky device which may hinder user performance, may be uncomfortable to wear, or may be unsuited for performing certain functions (e.g., a camera disposed within a wearable electronic device may be awkward to position when capturing optical input).”

Apple is also dismissive of compromises to fit the camera into a Watch band. “Additionally, low-quality components may not meet a user’s quality expectations,” it says, “(e.g., a low-quality camera may produce low-quality images).”

It’s not just that Apple wants you to look nice on photographs. Apple specifically wants a video camera with up to 4K and 60 frames per second, or a still camera up to 12MP.

Either a spacecraft, or an Apple Watch side view with a camera protrusion to the right

That’s because this is for more than photography wildlife, more than for capturing the crowd at Little League. This camera is actually meant for more than any regular photography or video.

“The digital camera assembly may be used for a variety of purposes,” continues Apple, “including, as non-limiting examples, facial identification, fingerprint sensing, scanning a Quick Response (QR) code, video conferencing, biometric monitoring (e.g., heart rate monitoring), photography, video or image capture, or any combination thereof.”

So with a camera on your Apple Watch, you could unlock all of your Apple devices through Face ID.

The Watch could also use its camera to “capture movement of a user’s body or other objects during certain activities.” Using visual inertial odometry (VIO), “the camera can be used to obtain a high degree of motion sensing accuracy, which may be used to monitor, detect, and/or predict a user’s motion or gesture based on certain characteristics.”

That’s a lot to demand of a camera, and Apple is not expecting to be able to fit one under the screen of an Apple Watch. Instead, it will be on what Apple calls a protusion, and much of the patent application is about how to do that without making the Watch distracting to wear.

“[A] digital camera assembly may be integrated into the wearable electronic device in a way so as to minimize an effect of the digital camera assembly on other electronic components and/or a form factor of the wearable electronic device,” says Apple.

“For example, in implementations where a digital camera assembly is positioned within an internal cavity (e.g., camera cavity) of a protrusion,” it continues, “the digital camera assembly may extend from the housing, over a band slot, and away from a display, a battery, a circuit assembly, or sensors of the wearable electronic device.”

“Likewise, the protrusion may be shaped to avoid interfering with geometry of the band slot,” says the patent application, “so that a band/strap may still be permitted to couple with the housing of the wearable electronic device.”

The patent application is credited to five inventors, including Christopher M. Warner, whose previous work includes muscle-sensing Apple Watch bands.

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Artwork in the desert? Let’s discover “Land Art,” art that blends with nature

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By stylemania.it

of Style Mania
|

Artwork in the desert? Let’s discover “Land Art”, art that blends with nature

Land art is a contemporary art form that is characterized by the artist’s direct intervention on the natural terrain. The exhibition “Forever Is Now” organized annually at the Great Pyramids of Giza and the surrounding plateau in Egypt represents a unique example of how land art can enhance and interact with its surroundings. Through the use of natural materials and interaction with the environment, artists have created striking works that become an integral part of the natural landscape. In this article we will explore the exhibition “Forever Is Now” and its ability to combine art and nature into a unique and evocative experience.

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21 of the Best Bluebonnets Photo Locations around Plano

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It's Bluebonnet season. Time for photos with Bluebonnets near me. Here are some of the best Bluebonnet fields around Plano, DFW around North Texas.

© Provided by Plano Moms
It’s Bluebonnet season. Time for photos with Bluebonnets near me. Here are some of the best Bluebonnet fields around Plano, DFW around North Texas.

Where are the Best Bluebonnet fields near me? Moms are asking!

Spring is here and that means the beautiful bluebonnets are starting to pop up all over town. We often hear from local Moms that they’re looking for where to see bluebonnets nearby.

We all want that perfect photo of our kids in a bluebonnet flower field but sometimes they can be hard to find.

The Bluebonnet Flower is the State Flower of Texas and is actually purple in color. The bluebonnet has been the state’s flower since 1901.

They were given their name because the shape of the petals resembles the bonnets worn by the pioneer women.

How to dress for the best Bluebonnet Photos

Bold colors are beautiful choices for bluebonnet sessions – including shades of blue, as well as the more subdued vintage style of clothing, denim, simple sundresses, straw hats, etc.

Don’t wear white against a backdrop of bright blue flowers, as it can cast a blue shade onto your outfits. Also, do not overdress as if you’re heading to church. Casual and comfortable work really well.

Baby in the Bluebonnets in Plano TX

© Provided by Plano Moms
Baby in the Bluebonnets in Plano TX

These are the best bluebonnet photo opportunities across North Texas close to DFW

They have a very short life so once you start to see them, dress up the family and snap your photos, time is limited.

Our Top Tips to get the most out of your visit to find Bluebonnets

As with any bluebonnet area, please be careful as bees are usually very attracted to these flowers.

Also, snakes love to burrow in the flower patches so be VERY careful with your little ones! It’s best to pick a spot on the outside of the bluebonnets!

Many people say it is illegal to pick the bluebonnets.

It’s not but to let everyone enjoy them, leave them be and try not to stand on them to get that perfect photo.

These flowers are native to Texas and have a very light fragrance.

Teach your kids to leave the area as you found it, so others may enjoy it.

Here’s a Top Tip!

When my kids were younger I used to bring a stool or chair to sit on.

Have the kids wear their rain boots too so they wouldn’t be too muddy.

With boots on, we didn’t have to worry about them stepping on bees

Also, don’t forget a towel to dry their feet or even use to sit on!

Here are some of the best places to find Bluebonnets near by in Plano

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Bluebonnets at the NE intersection of Spring Creek Parkway and Custer Road: (Behind the 7-11)

Right on the Bluebonnet Trail.

The field behind the 7-11 has had some great patches of bluebonnets for the last several years now.

Know before you go

There are power lines in the background. It’s a safe place to park but the area might not be covered in bluebonnets, just some patches here and there.

Other Plano Spots for Bluebonnets:

Along the Bike Trail just east of Carpenter Recreation Center
The City of Plano has its own Bluebonnet Trail. If you are biking or walking the trail, keep your eyes peeled.

Where are the Bluebonnets east of Plano

Woodbridge: the front end of Wylie/Sachse subdivision has an area of the field right off of 78, perfect for pictures.

Bluebonnets in Frisco, Allen, and McKinney

Zion Cemetery in Frisco, near Little Elm

Just off 423, it’s a huge sloping hill with plenty of bluebonnets for a wide shot filled with flowers.

This greenbelt land now has a “no tresspassing sign” so please respect that, as it is private property. You can see the bluebonnets from inside the Zion Cemetery during opening times.

For this reason, this spot may not be the best one to go to for photos inside the fields themselves.

Warren Park’s Freedom Meadow

Address: 7599 Eldorado Pkwy. Frisco, Texas 75034

In 2017, this area was seeded with native bluebonnets plants with the help of the Frisco Garden Club.

The Frisco Fire Department keeps this area well-watered, which results in reliable bluebonnets every year. The native wildflowers are not only beautiful but serve as bee and butterfly habitats.

It is also a memorial paying tribute to the lives lost in the tragic events of September 11, 2001.

Allen – Bethany/Alma (in the median)

Know before you go

These can be great bluebonnets but they are in the median of a very busy road! Please be careful!

Heard Museum – McKinney

Address: 1 Nature Pl, McKinney, TX 75069

There is a charge to enter the Museum. Call them before you go to ensure they have Bluebonnets in bloom.

Clear Creek Natural Heritage Center in Denton

Address: 3310 Collins Rd, Denton, TX 76208

A great place not only for bluebonnets but other wildflower pictures and hiking to add to the fun.

Where to see Bluebonnets around Dallas, Richardson, and surrounding cities

McInnish Sports Complex at Sandy Lake Road in Carrollton

Wooden fences make for a great Texas background.

Fujitsu Field Richardson

Address: Corner of Shiloh and Research Road, Richardson, TX 75082

Lake Lavon Mallard Park

Address: 7780 TX-78, Lavon, TX 75166

Bluebonnets in Dallas

McKinnish Park and Sports Complex and the Mary Heads Carter Park both typically have nice patches of bluebonnets. These are both in/near pretty populated areas so once they start sprouting, people will find them and they won’t be as pretty.

Driving to nearby Flower Mound or to Fort Worth (Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge usually have nice blooms as does the Botanical Research Institute of Texas) will probably help you snag some better pictures.

Mary Heads Carter Park, Carrollton

Be quick to get to this one, as it’s in a very built-up area, and is well known so it could get spoiled with heavy foot traffic.

MMcInnish Park & Sports Complex, Carrollton

Head there to find thick bluebonnet fields among its 220 acres.

Trinity River Audubon Center in Dallas

Another great hiking location with trails to discover all sorts of animals, as well as picture ops.

George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum

15 acres of land right off SMU Boulevard in the Downtown Dallas area. A huge bluebonnet field and beautiful wildflowers too.

The Grapevine Texan Trail

Take the Southbound Texas State Highway 121 and the Texan Trail exit.

Bluebonnets have been sighted in years past in the fields north of the frontage road, on the right before Main Street.

Relatively safe and easy to access. This is a popular bluebonnet photo location in the metroplex.

Cedar Hill State Park in Cedar Hill

Although there is a small fee for entering this state park, it is well worth it to capture some lovely shots of our state flower.

Entrance Fees: Per person (children 12 and under are not charged) – $7 per day, for day use, $5 per day for overnight stays. The park gate opens at 6 a.m. and closes at 10 p.m.

Fort Worth Nature Center in Fort Worth, TX

$5 for adults and $2 for children for admission to the center. Bluebonnets are not as prolific at the nature center as they are in some other areas, but a visit to the nature center can make the photo session more fun.

There are plenty of bluebonnets within the park, but for a unique picture check out the fields near Penn Family Farm. Windmills and old barns make great backgrounds.

Decatur, Texas

If you want a day trip from Dallas, driving out to Decatur will take you along some nice country roads and you might find a more unspoiled patch. Decatur is about 60 miles northwest of Fort Worth on I-35 W.

This would be a fun day trip – about a 45 minute drive from Plano, TX.

Every year the Ellis Bluebonnet Festival from April 14-16, 2023 and have been known to have the BEST place to take pictures!

This is a HUGE arts & crafts festival with loads of family entertainment, activities, music, food, and more. And it’s all FREE admission!

This is the official Texas Bluebonnet Trail and is so very pretty. This year, they’re celebrating 70 Years of the Ennis Bluebonnet Trails. Their estimated peak is 2nd-3rd week in April.

Ennis was designated by the 1997 State Legislature as the home of the Official Texas Bluebonnet Trail and was designated the Official Bluebonnet City of Texas.

From April 1-30, Ennis showcases over 40 miles of mapped driving Bluebonnet Trails sponsored by the Ennis Garden Club.

Visitors will be able to pick up a map at the Ennis Welcome Center, download a map or download the free Ennis Y’all app and follow the interactive bluebonnet map, or watch a video at the Ennis Welcome Center regarding the trails in April.

Top Tip: You may find some local lakes that have Bluebonnets too, including Lake Lewisville, Grapevine, Joe Pool, Ray Roberts and Lake Ray Hubbard as well as sites closer to Central Texas, including San Antonio and further south in Big Bend, Texas.

Looking for a Photographer for your Bluebonnet Photos?

These are our favorite local Photographers, who have all been highly recommended by local Moms.

Our Directory also has 55 Local Photographers, some of which will be hosting Bluebonnet Mini’s!

What other places can we add to our list?

Alligator safety

The most oddly colored species

#1 First car trip. Pure ecstasy

Image Credit: Imgur

#2 First time hiking and he’s already over it

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#3 A puppy’s first shaming

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#4 I’m not ready for this responsibility

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#5 It took him less than one walk to learn he HATES WALKS

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#6 That moment when you realize that weird dude is your reflection

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#7 That moment when you realize that weird dude is your reflection

Image Credit: Giphy

#8 First game of tug. Not quite getting it yet

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#9 No, you go first

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#10 Sink or swim, dude

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#11 You know what they say — you have to crawl before you can walk

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#12 TBH, this is more gymnastics than we can do

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#13 First time squirrel hunting. Not quite there yet

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#14 “You’re doing it!” “Really? Because it feels like you’re doing most of the work.”

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#15 First day on the job as a sheep herder. CRUSHING IT.

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#16 First snow day. Also first love.

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#17 First bath. Strategy is to drink his way out

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#18 The first time you try to take the kids out with you for errands and realize nothing is worth it.

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#19 First love, grossing everyone else out with your love

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#20 That moment when you realize that weird dude is your reflection

Image Credit: Giphy

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Where are the Best Bluebonnet fields near me? Moms are asking!

How to dress for the best Bluebonnet Photos

These are the best bluebonnet photo opportunities across North Texas close to DFW

Our Top Tips to get the most out of your visit to find Bluebonnets

Here’s a Top Tip!

Here are some of the best places to find Bluebonnets near by in Plano

Bluebonnets at the NE intersection of Spring Creek Parkway and Custer Road: (Behind the 7-11)

Know before you go

Other Plano Spots for Bluebonnets:

Where are the Bluebonnets east of Plano

Bluebonnets in Frisco, Allen, and McKinney

Zion Cemetery in Frisco, near Little Elm

Warren Park’s Freedom Meadow

Allen – Bethany/Alma (in the median)

Know before you go

Heard Museum – McKinney

Clear Creek Natural Heritage Center in Denton

Where to see Bluebonnets around Dallas, Richardson, and surrounding cities

McInnish Sports Complex at Sandy Lake Road in Carrollton

Fujitsu Field Richardson

Lake Lavon Mallard Park

Bluebonnets in Dallas

Mary Heads Carter Park, Carrollton

MMcInnish Park & Sports Complex, Carrollton

Trinity River Audubon Center in Dallas

George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum

The Grapevine Texan Trail

Cedar Hill State Park in Cedar Hill

Fort Worth Nature Center in Fort Worth, TX

Decatur, Texas

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