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One Step at a Time #4

One Step at a Time #4

Welcome to One Step at a Time #4. Last week, I got to spend some time in Dallas, Texas. The three pics featuring green were captured along the trails at Cedar Hills State Park.

A pathway winding through a lush green forest with trees arching over the trail.

The night before I made it to Cedar Hill State Park, some spring thunderstorms went through the Dallas/FortWorth area. Because of the rain, this Penn Farm Trail was only one of two open on this morning. I enjoyed this trail so much that I can’t wait to get back to try the others as well.

A vibrant field of bluebonnet flowers blooming among green foliage.

The surprising thing to me about this state park is that it is on the edge of Dallas and yet it feels like you are in the middle of nowhere in the hills. It was quiet, peaceful, and a temperature of perfectly comfortable 70°F. A huge bonus was coming across a field of bluebonnets, the state flower of Texas.

A winding dirt path surrounded by lush green trees and vegetation, creating a serene natural setting.

Now it is your turn to share your images. To participate in the One Step At a Time Challenge, place a pingback or link on the comments below.

Wonderful participants from last week were:
Linda with – Ribbits and Rabbits
Donna with Leave Nothing But Footprints
Egidio with Layered Natured Photography
Sue is joining in for the first time
with Foggy Uncertainty of Life

All photos are my own. ©Pepper Tron/Heavens Sunshine
No usage allowed in any form without my written consent.

A gallery of other Texas images were featured on “Along the Texas Trails.”

48 responses to “One Step at a Time #4”

  1. Betty Avatar
    Betty

    You are touching the heart of me with the nature shots, Pepper! I am in my element when I am out in nature! This one is stunning!

    Reply
    1. Pepper Avatar
      Pepper

      Yay! Your comment made my day. Thank you very much. 😊

      Reply
      1. Betty Avatar
        Betty

        So glad my comment made your day! You are very welcome!

        Reply
  2. The Broken Window – Heavens Sunshine

    […] Trails and bluebonnets at Cedar Hill State Park were featured on “One Step at a Time #4.” […]

    Reply
  3. Steve Schwartzman Avatar
    Steve Schwartzman

    Do you know whether those bluebonnets were natural, as opposed to having been planted?

    Reply
    1. Pepper Avatar
      Pepper

      A great question that I do not have the answer to. It was first time on this trail. There was nothing about the bluebonnets that would make me think they were planted. If I get back there, I will stop and ask that question at the nature center. Thanks for stopping by, Steve.

      Reply
  4. Terri Webster Schrandt Avatar
    Terri Webster Schrandt

    Thank you for hosting this lovely challenge, Pepper! I thought I linked a Flower Hour post to this but doesn’t look like it. So here is my new post for Sunday Stills, I’m back with fresh, new posts. We found treasures while walking on the various beaches on the west coast while on our trip!

    https://secondwindleisure.com/2026/04/12/sunday-stills-monthly-color-challenge-aprils-sparkling-diamonds-and-quartz/

    Reply
    1. Pepper Avatar
      Pepper

      So glad you are back! Hope you had a wonderful trip. 😊

      Reply
      1. Terri Webster Schrandt Avatar
        Terri Webster Schrandt

        We did, and I missed posting for Sunday Stills. I’m glad your one step prompt is becoming popular! I’m enjoying it, too!

        Reply
        1. Pepper Avatar
          Pepper

          Thanks, Terri I appreciate your encouragement. 😉

          Reply
  5. WanderingCanadians Avatar
    WanderingCanadians

    Looks lovely – the canopy of green and all those pretty bluebonnets

    Reply
    1. Pepper Avatar
      Pepper

      It is the best time of year in Texas.  

      Reply
  6. Hammad Rais Avatar
    Hammad Rais

    The greens of Cedar Hill State Park are quite unique

    Reply
    1. Pepper Avatar
      Pepper

      Thanks, Hammad. It was my first experience at Cedar Hills and I thought it wa quite unique too. 😊

      Reply
  7. Egídio Avatar
    Egídio

    I forgot to include my post. Here’s the link:

    https://throughbrazilianeyes.com/a-cup-of-morning/

    Reply
    1. Pepper Avatar
      Pepper

      Egidio, I love this series of images. A wonderful find while hiking. 😊

      Reply
      1. Egídio Avatar
        Egídio

        Thanks, Pepper. The hiking was stop and go, but it was great seeing these flowers.

        Reply
  8. Gisela Benseler Avatar
    Gisela Benseler

    It looks very beautiful!🪻🪻🪻

    Reply
    1. Pepper Avatar
      Pepper

      Thanks, Gisela. It was my first time at this place and I truly enjoyed it. 😊

      Reply
      1. Gisela Benseler Avatar
        Gisela Benseler

        🪻

        Reply
  9. niasunset Avatar
    niasunset

    What a beautiful photographs, Thank you, I am lost in this world, Love, nia

    Reply
    1. Pepper Avatar
      Pepper

      Thanks, Nia. It is a great place to get lost in, for sure. 😉

      Reply
  10. Terri Webster Schrandt Avatar
    Terri Webster Schrandt

    Oh my heart, all those bluebonnets! Beautiful, Pepper. Glad the Texas weather is mild! I’ll be joining you Tuesday morning!

    Reply
    1. Pepper Avatar
      Pepper

      Glad you enjoyed the bluebonnets. They were blooming everywhere, including on the sides of the highways! My hubby was very happy that I finally found this open field of bluebonnets that were in a safe place to photograph. 😁

      Reply
      1. Terri Webster Schrandt Avatar
        Terri Webster Schrandt

        The Texas version of the California Poppies, and how they grow everywhere too.

        Reply
        1. Pepper Avatar
          Pepper

          California Poppies must be beautiful too! 😉

          Reply
          1. Terri Webster Schrandt Avatar
            Terri Webster Schrandt

            They are, Pepper, especially because they mostly grow wild all over the place!

            Reply
  11. Egídio Avatar
    Egídio

    I haven’t been to that park, Pepper. Your photos inspire me to drive there. I loved the tree canopy shot and those Blluebonnets.

    Reply
    1. Pepper Avatar
      Pepper

      Egidio, I encourage you to go whenever you are in the DFW area. It was my first time there and it was so much more than I expected. I didn’t even get a chance to try the trails that were at the top of my list to hike because they happened to be closed that day. I still had a great time and took a whole lot of pics. 😁

      Reply
      1. Egídio Avatar
        Egídio

        Thanks for the recommendation. I’ll add it to my wish list. We have so many interesting parks around the Austin area that I seldom look elsewhere. That park is only 2.5 hours from home.

        Reply
        1. Pepper Avatar
          Pepper

          The Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center at Cedar Hill is right next door and also worth looking into especially if you enjoy bird watching.

          Reply
          1. Egídio Avatar
            Egídio

            I noticed that when I looked up the park.

            Reply
  12. Linda Schaub Avatar
    Linda Schaub

    What a pretty walk you took Pepper. I love all the green and the Bluebonnets are beautiful as well.

    I will link to my Easter walk post, although admittedly, it is not your usual hike, so feel free to edit this comment and remove it if you wish.
    https://lindaschaubblog.net/2026/04/05/to-all-you-hunny-bunnies-out-there/

    Reply
    1. Pepper Avatar
      Pepper

      Why in the world would I edit or remove it, Linda? I think it is an adorable post. For the challenge, a walk that involves a step or two is fine. The photos and drawings were your own creations. Even the AI shadow was your own creativity coming through AI. It’s all fine. 👏

      Reply
      1. Linda Schaub Avatar
        Linda Schaub

        Thank you Pepper – it was fun to create, but since the bunny was the only real part of the post, that is why I said it was up to you whether to include it with the “real” walks. The bunny was from a walk last Summer and I put it away for this year.

        Reply
        1. Pepper Avatar
          Pepper

          For me, the most fun part about hiking is being aware of the beauty all around. Bunnies, squirrels, and all kinds of other cuties are included. I’ve seen lots of bunnies on my hikes but I am never quick enough to get a shot.

          Reply
          1. Linda Schaub Avatar
            Linda Schaub

            I was lucky with this bunny as I have the same problem with them bolting away before you get the shot. At Council Point Park there used to be a lot of clover patches and the bunnies would be eating it, but now they don’t congregate there as much due to the hawks. I think they’ve gone to the neighborhood now. Too bad as I used to get some nice shots of them chowing down.

            Reply
            1. Pepper Avatar
              Pepper

              Smart bunnies to be on the lookout for those hawks.

              Reply
              1. Linda Schaub Avatar
                Linda Schaub

                Yes, I have no fondness for hawks after the Cooper’s Hawk grabbed all the squirrels I fed at my house back in 2020.

                Reply
                1. Pepper Avatar
                  Pepper

                  That makes me sad. 😔

                  Reply
                  1. Linda Schaub Avatar
                    Linda Schaub

                    Yes, first my squirrels at the house, then at Council Point Park. I won’t feed them here at the house again. I also had a pair of Blue Jays and a pair of Cardinals that I fed peanuts at the same time. I stopped it for all of them.

                    Reply
  13. Bay Photos By Donna Avatar
    Bay Photos By Donna

    I just love walking along a path with arched branches, it feels enchanting! Wonderful park to explore, what a great fine with those bluebonnets too!

    Here’s my contribution for this week:
    https://bayphotosbydonna.com/2026/04/06/leave-nothing-but-footprints-4-rock-creek-vista-point-trail/

    Reply
    1. Pepper Avatar
      Pepper

      Thanks, Donna. I am loving your series. Thank you so much for sharing it for the challenge. 😊

      Reply
      1. Bay Photos By Donna Avatar
        Bay Photos By Donna

        You’re welcome, Pepper!

        Reply
  14. Eliza Waters Avatar
    Eliza Waters

    So lovely and green, love the bluebonnets, too. A great time to be there for the spring flower show. 🙂

    Reply
    1. Pepper Avatar
      Pepper

      We usually are in the DFW area a couple of weeks earlier in the year. This time around we completely missed the blooming daffodils and tulips. They were done but the highlight were the bluebonnets. They were everywhere. 😁

      Reply
  15. Pamela Zmija Photography Avatar
    Pamela Zmija Photography

    Beautiful images! Love nature’s canopy! So similar to a Lens-Artists Challenge recently. ❤️

    Reply
    1. Pepper Avatar
      Pepper

      Thanks, Pamela. So glad you enjoyed the images. 😊

      Reply

Thoughtful words accomplish much.

error: All photos are copyrighted by Pepper Tron (aka Irene Tron & Heavens Sunshine). All rights reserved. Unauthorized use is prohibited.