The first day of spring arrives Sunday, March 20, just in time to welcome visitors to see nature’s most vibrant blooms across the Upper East Side of Texas. Parks and trails offer stunning views of perennial flowering shrubs and trees while wildflowers pop up along highways and byways.
Cass County’s towns of Linden, Avinger, and Hughes Springs celebrate wildflower blooms annually in a festival known as the Wildflower Trails of Texas. This year’s celebration occurs April 22-24 and features a Wildflower 5K, a parade, live music, a car show, quilt show, artists, vendors, and more. For information visit the festival’s website at www.wildflowertrailsoftexas.org or on Facebook.
East Texas Arboretum in Athens features 100 acres with a two-mile trail surrounded by blooms of hundreds of plant species. The arboretum is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. For information visit www.easttexasarboretum.org.
Longview Arboretum & Nature Center highlights the beauty of its natural setting with walking trails that meander along gently sloping hillsides, ponds, flowing waterways, bridges, and gazebos.
The 26-acre park lies in the heart of Longview and is still under development but offers a vibrant space to enjoy nature. The arboretum is open Wednesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday from 12 to 5 p.m. Visit www.longviewarboretum.org for information.
Mineola Nature Preserve on the Sabine River offers stunning views of wildflowers and miles of trails for hiking, bicycling, horseback riding, and paddling. The park includes an amphitheater and pavilions by reservation. The preserve is open daily from 7:30 a.m. to sunset. Visit www.mineolanaturepreserve.com for information.
Nacogdoches is known as the Garden Capital of Texas and spring is the ideal time to visit. The Ruby M. Mize Azalea Garden located on the campus of Stephen F. Austin State University is the largest azalea garden in Texas. The garden features a one-mile walking trail with thousands of colorful azaleas and hundreds of camellias and Japanese maples.
Other flower trails that wind through historic Nacogdoches include the Southern Indica Trail, the Evergreen Azalea Trail, and the Fashion Azalea Trail. Visit www.visitnac.org for information.
Palestine’s Dogwood Arts & Music Festival celebrates the blooms in the city’s Davey Dogwood Park in late March and early April. Visitors can drive through the park’s trails, which offer miles of stunning views of dogwood trees. For more information visit www.visitpalestine.com.
Three Rusk County Wildflower Trails start in Henderson and wind outward along county roads. Trail No. 1 is the East Texas Oilfield History Tour that travels through New London, Overton, and Kilgore. Driving Trail No. 2 directs travelers through Tatum and the Martin Creek Lake State Park before returning to Henderson. The third trail provides views of the southeast part of Rusk County and travels through Mt. Enterprise and near the historic Mount Verdi Plantation. For information visit www.visithendersontx.com.
Tyler’s Azalea National Historic District is home to the city’s popular Azalea Trails. See stunning displays of color in front of Tyler’s stately historic homes of the brick streets district. Featured blooms also include tulips, wisteria, and dogwoods. Visit www.visittyler.com for information.
The Tyler Municipal Rose Garden at 420 Rose Park Drive features 14 acres of 500 varieties of roses and is a must see for visitors to the Rose Capital. Admission is free and the park is open from dawn until dark.
Just about anywhere one wanders in the region this time of year guarantees spectacular views. To find more ideas for spring flower sightings, check the County Line archives.
