Category Archives: Nature Photography

The Los Angeles Police Protective League filed a lawsuit Friday on behalf of three officers against an anti-police website that they claim put a “bounty” on the officers’ heads after posting photos and other personal information on city cops released in a public records request, according to a report. 

The recent release of more than 9,300 LAPD officers’ information has caused a furor within the department after it was requested by police abolitionist group called Stop LAPD Spying Coalition. It also mistakenly included the names of undercover officers. 

“I deeply regret that this mistake happened,” Police Chief Michel Moore told FOX 11 last week. “I understand personally, given my own death threats and on matters of me as a public figure and my family has endured as a chief and even before that, how troubling this can be to a member of this organization, and even more so to those that are involved in sensitive and or confidential investigations.” 

He added, “We have people who have taken the list and are now criminally, we believe, making threats against the safety of officers, calling for a bounty and awarding a bounty for individuals who would go out and kill a cop.”

LAPD CHIEF ACCUSED OF FEEDING PERSONAL DATA TO ANTI-POLICE: ‘BOUNTY ON OUR OFFICERS’

Officers Adam Gross, Adrian Rodriguez and Douglas Panameno, none of whom are undercover, have named Steven Sutcliffe, owner of killercop.com, in the lawsuit, requesting that the photos be removed from the website, according to the Los Angeles Times. 

This is the first litigation connected to the release, the newspaper reported. 

Sutcliffe also has a Twitter handle @killercop1984, according to the lawsuit, on which he allegedly posted on March 20, “Remember, #Rewards are double all year for #detectives and #female cops,” alongside an image quoting the General Counsel at Los Angeles Police Protective League saying killercop.com was offering $1,000 and $2,000 to anyone who killed an officer, according to court documents, the Times reported. 

The same Twitter handle linked to a database of the officers’ headshots in another tweet writing, “Clean head-shots on these #LAPD officers. A to Z.” 

LAPD’S THIN BLUE LINE FLAG BAN SPURS OUTRAGE AMID RECRUITMENT STRUGGLES: ‘MORALE’S IN THE GUTTER’

“The posts, the nature of the posts, they’re not just intimidation,” Moore said, according to the New York Post. “They’re threatening, and they may constitute a crime. This is one of those things that I worried about and feared when we released these photographs ostensibly to be transparent, that others were going to use them to threaten our officers.”

LAPD Detective Jamie McBride called the release of the information “reckless” in an interview with FOX 11.

“I’ve been notified by a few officers already saying that they’re looking at other departments now before they get too much time invested here with the Los Angeles Police Department because they don’t feel that this department has their best interests at heart,” he said, adding that the Los Angeles Police Protective League has filed a complaint against Moore. 

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Moore told FOX 11, “We’ve invited the FBI, as well as the district attorney, and we’re going to pursue people who have taken information that was released, some of it in regards that it shouldn’t have been released. But they’re calling right now for these acts of violence are not against individuals that are in any sense of assignments. They’re just calling it out against any officer’s photograph at all.”

Sutcliffe told the Post his “free speech” was being infringed upon with the lawsuit. 

“It’s malicious. It’s retaliatory. It is vindictive and frivolous. Their motion is filled with lies,” he claimed. 

Sutcliffe and Moore for comment did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital. 

• Albert Einstein’s most iconic photo of him sticking out his tongue was almost lost to history.

• Editors hesitated to release it because they feared the expression downplayed his eminence.

• Author Mike Rucker explains how Einstein’s fun and curious nature played to his greatness.

The following is an excerpt from Mike Rucker’s new book, “The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life.”

Despite his complex mind, Einstein was known to be a lot of fun.

You inevitably know the cropped version of this iconic portrait, but you might not know the backstory.

The photo was taken by Arthur Sasse, on March 14, 1951, Einstein’s 72nd birthday. In the uncropped photo, we can see Einstein sitting in a car, between his wife, Elsa, and Dr. Frank Aydelotte, the head of the Institute for Advanced Study.

The story goes that as they were leaving his birthday celebration for their home in Princeton, New Jersey, Einstein was repeatedly asked to smile at the cameras.

When Sasse asked for one last photo, he defiantly made a funny face. Einstein liked the resulting image so much, he immediately ordered multiple copies so he could sign and send them to friends as a joke.

Later on, he used this photo to make greeting cards. Einstein rarely let others get in the way of his fun.

He was quick to joke, rarely wore socks (he thought that the shoes should do the job), let his mustache and hair grow, and gave interviews on his porch in fluffy pink slippers.

His commitment to fun ran deep — and yet when Sasse sent his photo to editors for publication, they debated whether it was even appropriate to make it public, given Einstein’s eminence.

It only ever saw the light of day because Sasse related how much the great scientist himself loved the image.

According to Walter Isaacson’s biography, “Einstein: His Life and Universe,” the personality traits that contributed most to Einstein’s greatness were curiosity and nonconformism.

Scientific studies suggest that humor and intelligence are associated. People who show an aptitude for fun also seem to have superior cognitive abilities.

Story continues

Einstein was excellent proof of that. Legend has it that Einstein said his other great idea (after relativity) was adding an egg while cooking a bowl of soup, so that you can boil an egg without making an extra pot dirty.

Excerpted from “The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life.” ©2023 by Michael Rucker and reprinted with permission from Simon & Schuster Atria Publicity.

Read the original article on Business Insider

Mar. 24—Highlights

Ascent — A Boulder Soundwalk: Ars Nova Singers this week kicked off its immersive music installation in Scott Carpenter Park, with music created by renowned composer Divya Maus. Listeners can move with the music on a self-guided nature soundwalk that also has a wheel-friendly accessible version; runs all day, through Sept. 4; Scott Carpenter Park, 1505 30th St., Boulder; arsnovasingers.org.

Boulder High School student art exhibit: “It’s All In Your Head,” conceptual and personal exhibit features work from 16 Boulder High School students; up through May 13; Café Aion, 1235 Pennsylvania Ave., Boulder; boulderartassociation.org.

‘Celebrating Women’ opening reception: Featuring art from 28 local creatives, the exhibit showcases strength, tenderness, wisdom and compassion that women bring to the world. An opening reception will feature a dance performance by belly dance troupe Tribal Misfits at 12:30 p.m.; noon-3 p.m. Sunday; First United Methodist Church’s Sanctuary Art Gallery, 1421 Spruce St., Boulder; sanctuaryartgallery.art.

Nederdays: This weekend, Nederland is throwing a two-day family-friendly party with a barn dance featuring a professional caller announcing the moves, a 5K fun run, a downtown sled course, ice sculptures, scavenger hunts, a wood-splitting contest, 15 live bands and more; 5-10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-midnight Saturday; 45 West First St., Nederland; free; nederdays.com.

On-Tap Talks — Women in Beer: In conjunction with the museum’s “Beer Here” exhibit, Betsy Lay, co-owner of the social enterprise Lady Justice Brewing in Aurora, will host a talk about her philanthropic brewery movement; 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday; Museum of Boulder, 2205 Broadway, Boulder; museumofboulder.org.

On the Rise — Sacred Art of the Powwow: Longmont Museum will host an evening of Native American music with local powwow drum groups, traditional flute and storytelling with Red Feather Woman and members of the local Native artist community; 7 p.m. Thursday; Longmont Museum & Cultural Center, 400 Quail Road, Longmont; $12-$18; longmontcolorado.gov.

Boulder area

15th Street Gallery: Featuring work by Denver artist Tony Ortega; open by appointment only; 1708 15th St., Boulder; 15thstreetgalleryboulder.com

Ana’s Art Gallery: Art from local, African and Caribbean artists; noon-5 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday; 1100 Spruce St., Boulder; anasartgallery.com.

Art Parts: Non-profit creative reuse center with arts and craft supplies; 3080 Valmont St., Boulder; artpartsboulder.org.

Art Source International: Antique maps, prints and vintage posters; 1237 Pearl St., Boulder; artsourceinternational.com.

Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art: “4,” features the works of Roaring Fork Valley artists Richard Carter, Jody Guralnick, Charmaine Locke and James Surls, up through May 29; “Rectangled,” Risa Friedman transformed BMoCA’s interior brick-lined lobby into an immersive puzzle, up through March 31 at the Present Box; Mia Mulvay’s “Albedo Effect” sculpture on display outside of the gallery until June 30, 2024; 1750 13th St., Boulder; bmoca.org.

BMoCA at Macky: “Beyond the Male Gaze,” Jerrie Hurd’s works seek beauty in the human figure while avoiding objectification, through May 26; Macky Auditorium, 1595 Pleasant St., #104, CU Boulder campus; bmoca.org.

Canyon Theater and Gallery: “A Tribute to Marshall: Painting My Way Through Healing,” works by Anne Gifford, on display through April 24 on the Arapahoe Ramp; “Our Wishes,” Alejandra Abad’s response to COVID-19 in a textile exhibit that reflects wishes of joy, coinciding with One Book One Boulder series for “Book of Joy,” up through July 31; Main Library, 1001 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder; boulderlibrary.org/exhibits.

Collective Community Arts Center: “Sync,” an exhibition of video art, prints and textile pieces, up through April 30; 201 N. Public Road, Lafayette; lafayetteco.gov.

Dairy Arts Center: “Black Futures in Art: We’re Not Just History,” curated by Adderly Grant-Lord, featuring artists’ perspective of being Black in Boulder County, up through April 7; “Fan Mail 2.0,” works by members of the artist collective Hyperlink, on display through April 1; “Joysome,” a collaboration with East Window, features 50 images selected from hundreds of responses to a call for work on the theme of joy. The selected images are printed on flags and exhibited throughout the Front Range, on display through March 31; 2590 Walnut St., Boulder; thedairy.org.

East Window: “Frame” a series of literary salons curated by Sarah Elizabeth Schantz and Toni Oswald, through December 2023; “Resilience and Resistance” and “Our Backs Hold Our Stories” features photographs from Indigenous queer photographer Kali Spitzer, up through June 28; Window exhibit features work by activist artist Sue Coe, up through June 28. 4550 Broadway, Suite C-3B2, Boulder; eastwindow.org.

Eldorado Springs Art Center: Art gallery and sculpture garden in the foothills; 8 Chesebro Way, Eldorado Springs; eldoradospringsartcenter.com.

The Gallery at Bus Stop: “Four Boulder Photographers, Four Diverse Visions,” presents unique perspectives on the environment featuring works by David Bahr, Dan Baumbach, Karen Dombroski-Sobel and David Silver, up through March 31; 4895 N. Broadway, Boulder; noboartdistrict.org.

HiFi Jones Studio & Gallery: Pop-culture art mashups made from reclaimed vinyl and books by Jonathan Hanst; 209 E. Simpson St., Lafayette; hifijones.com.

Louisville Art Association: 2023 Youth Spring Art Show features works from youth artists ages 4 through 18, up through Thursday; Louisville Center for the Arts, 801 Grant Ave., Louisville; louisvilleartassociation.org.

Messinger Gallery: Art on display by Julie Havel who expresses her passion and spirit through art; Messinger Gallery at the Boulder JCC, 6007 Oreg Ave., Boulder; boulderjcc.org.

Museum of Boulder: “Chautauqua: 125 Years at the Heart of Boulder,” celebrates the local historic landmark, through April 2; “Beer Here! Brewing the New West” features 160 artifacts from Colorado’s beer and brewing history as well as a mock saloon for museum happy hours, up through Sept. 3; 2205 Broadway, Boulder; museumofboulder.org.

Naropa University Art Galleries: Nalanda Campus, 6287 Arapahoe Ave.: Cube Gallery has local and international artists; Nalanda Gallery hosts guest artists and student exhibitions, Lounge Gallery operated by students. Arapahoe Campus, 2130 Arapahoe Ave.: Lincoln Gallery features local and regional artists. Paramita Campus, 3285 30th St.: Paramita Gallery has works in all media by regional artists; bit.ly/naropaart

NoBo Art Center: “Speak No More,” an exhibit from HLNE that utilizes provocative imagery to spur conversation, up through March 31; 4929 Broadway, #E, Boulder; noboartdistrict.org/nobo-art-center.

Phil Lewis Art: From T-shirts to custom snowboards and prints to laser engraving, the visionary artists’ work is on display and for sale; 2034 Pearl St., Unit 102, Boulder; phillewisart.com.

POP! Gallery: Open Studios’ part artist-owned pop-up art and gift gallery features a unique mix of Boulder County artists’ works for sale; on 11th Street and Pearl Street, just south of Fjällräven; popgalleryboulder.com.

R Gallery: “Seven Deadly Sins” showcases local artists who explore lust, pride, envy, wrath, gluttony, sloth and greed through their work, up through April 23; 2027 Broadway, Boulder; rgallery.art.

Rembrandt Yard: Aboriginal, local and national art; 1301 Spruce St., Boulder; 303-301-2972; rembrandtyard.com.

Sanctuary Art Gallery: “Celebrating Women” exhibit explores women scientists to homemakers, dancers to activists and looks at topics from abuse and inequality to hope and healing, up through April 30; First United Methodist Church, 1421 Spruce St., Boulder; sanctuaryartgallery.art.

Shark’s Ink: “Untitled I,” hand-colored monotypes by once-Boulderite Barbara Takenaga, whose works incorporate psychedelic, cosmic and scientific elements; 550 Blue Mountain Road, Lyons; sharksink.com.

CU Art Museum: “Onward and Upward: Shark’s Ink,” a print and lithography collection, up through July; “Lasting Impressions,” the museum’s collection of American prints from the 1940s, up through June; 1085 18th St., Boulder; cuartmuseum.colorado.edu.

University of Colorado Museum of Natural History: “Unearthed: Ancient Life in Boulder Valley” and “Horses in the North American West” in the Anthropology Hall; “Antarctica: More than Meets the Eye,” “Hungry Birds” and “Ross Sea: The Last Ocean” in BioLounge”; CU Boulder Henderson Building, 15th and Broadway, Boulder; colorado.edu/cumuseum.

For tips about opportunities, grant information and art news, visit Boulder County Arts Alliance at bouldercountyarts.org.

Longmont area

Firehouse Art Center: “Tony Umile — A Retrospective,” experimental photography work from the late-Longmont photographer, up through April 9; Skyline High School VPA Academy Capstone exhibit features student work in the South Gallery, up through April 9; Joyanna Rose Gittings in Studio 64, whose contemporary watercolors spills over into ceramics, fiber, murals and classic automotive pinstriping, up through April 9; 667 Fourth Ave., Longmont; firehouseart.org.

The Great Frame Up: Longmont Artists’ Guild Members’ Show showcases artwork from local artists in a variety of mediums, including watercolors, pastels, oils, photography and mixed media, up through May 5; 430 Main St., Longmont; longmont.thegreatframeup.com.

Longmont Museum: “Duality: Contemporary Works by Indigenous Artists,” showcases modern art by Native artists, up through May 14; 400 Quail Road, Longmont; longmontmuseum.org.

Osmosis Gallery: “Winter Warmth,” features the work of local artist Mike Brouse; 290 Second Ave., Niwot; osmosisartgallery.com.

Walnut Gallery: Features work from more than 50 artists in a wide range of media; 364 Main St., Longmont; thewalnutgallery.com.

Northern Colorado

Art Center of Estes Park: “Capturing the Light,” showcases pastel and oil Paintings by Lydia Pottoff and photography by Curtis Ghent, up through April 24; 517 Big Thompson Ave., Estes Park; artcenterofestes.com.

Artworks Center for Contemporary Art: Center for Fine Art Photography exhibit “Air of the Ancients” features works by Angela Faris Belt, Natascha Seideneck and Melanie Walker, up through April 1; “Visceral,” artist Shelby Shadwell’s drawings of gut piles from game animals, up through April 1; 310 N.Railroad Ave., Loveland; artworksloveland.org

Columbine Gallery: More than 800 National Sculpture Guild pieces adorn a garden with local paintings on display inside; 2683 N. Taft Ave., Loveland; columbinegallery.com.

Independence Gallery: Vibrant gallery featuring local artists and rotating exhibits; 233 E. 4th St., Loveland; independencegallery.com.

Lincoln Gallery: Art gallery featuring works from members of the Thompson Valley Art League; 429 Lincoln Ave., Loveland; lincolngallery.com

Lone Tree Antiques and Fine Art Gallery: Features fine art, Native American jewelry and artifacts, Pueblo pottery, beadwork and more; 115 1st St., Eaton; lonetreeantiques.com.

Loveland Museum: “Contained” explores water containers and their environmental impact, on display through June 25; “Johanna Mueller, Printmaker,” features the work of the Greeley-based artist, through April 30; Thompson School District Student Art Show displays art from students in kindergarten through 12th grade, on display through April 16; “NEW YORK/NEW YORK: The Avant-Garde from Mid-Century,” loans of paintings, sculpture and prints from museums, galleries and private collections, up through April 23; 503 N. Lincoln Ave., Loveland; lovelandmuseumgallery.org.

Did we miss your exhibit? Please email features@prairiemountainmedia.com with “art listings” in the subject line.

(c)2023 the Daily Camera (Boulder, Colo.) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

The championship will race for the first time in the country on Saturday on a similar layout which was previously used by IndyCar between 2010-2013.

A characteristic of the venue is the use of four notable straights around the 1.83-mile circuit, a feature that has not been common at other Formula E tracks due to the nature of the electric machines.

“The passing opportunities here should be a little bit better compared to other tracks, so I can’t imagine someone breaking away from the field. I think it will be a bit of a chess match,” said Jaguar driver Mitch Evans.

“We normally race on very tight, twisty tracks but this one, when you look at it on paper, it looks quite condensed [but] there’s a lot of long straights, which we have in Formula E, but not as much as we’re seeing here.

“The race here could be really exciting, it could go down to the last lap, last few corners, just because of the nature of the layout.”

Antonio Felix da Costa, winner last time out in Cape Town, reckons that drivers will try and avoid leading until as late as possible to save energy in the slipstream of their rivals.

“We’ll see how the race develops but obviously being behind someone you become much more efficient, so you have to be smart [in] the way you do it, like with the Attack Mode activations,” said the Porsche driver.

© Autosport.com
A view of the track, Sao Paulo

A view of the track, Sao Paulo

Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Images

“I’ve won a few races on pure strategy, Marrakesh [2019-20] I gave up the lead on purpose, the last race was similar, but the problem is I think at the time I was maybe one of the only ones aware of this, and I think now everyone is aware of this.”

Read Also:Frijns makes Formula E comeback with Abt after Sebring race returnFirst impressions of the radical Formula E shake-upNIO 333: Stronger Formula E results helping search for partners, investors

Brazilian driver Lucas Di Grassi believes the championship “could have an amazing race” at the circuit, which was resurfaced only weeks ago to remove notable bumps.

“If we manage to get everything right, we can beat the other guys,” said the Mahindra driver. “And, on this track, because of the characteristics I think the racing will be very tricky because of the slipstream, the strategy, the heat. We could have an amazing race here.”

© Getty
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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.

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.”

© 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 bea.karnes@patch.com.

Also See:

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

By stylemania.it

of Style Mania
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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.

© Getty Images

© 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.

© 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

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)

Right on the Bluebonnet Trail.

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

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.

© Provided by Plano Moms
Bluebonnets

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) 

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.

© Provided by Plano Moms
Spring Creek by 7-11

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? 

Related Links

Why not explore more of Plano? Find out about more about the City.