Virginia Bluebells at Bull Run Regional Park

This past Sunday, I finally made it to Bull Run Regional Park in Centreville, Virgnia to see and photograph the Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica). I first heard about the bluebells a couple of years ago, and until this year, just hadn’t made it out there. I just wish I’d gone sooner – the bluebells at Bull Run are incredible.

Last year, I photographed some bluebells at Great Falls National Park. The ones I photographed were isolated flowers. At Bull Run, I saw a forest full of flowers. They literally carpeted the woods.

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I loved seeing the bluebells against the dark wood of a fallen log.

Here, the bright sun helped a bluebell cast a shadow against a tree stump.

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And finally, a couple of close up photos of some bluebells.

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When I was at Bull Run Regional Park on Sunday, there were signs pointing to parking for the bluebells and to the Bluebell trail. In case the signs aren’t still up, I parked in the parking lot by shelter 12, and photographed along the Bluebell and Bull Run-Occoquan Trail, which follow along Bull Run and Cub Run. There is a map of the park, with the parking lot and trails online.

If you get a chance, be sure to head out to Bull Run Regional Park and see the bluebells.

6 Comments

Andy on April 15, 2009 at 6:22 am

The top two photos of the flowers in mass are amazing. Definitely something to put on my “to do” list.

LisaNewton on April 15, 2009 at 10:14 pm

I love the fields of bluebells. Here in CA, we are having fields of wildflowers, too. Even though it’s unknown to many people, LA does has a spring.

Dorothy Gumpert on March 15, 2011 at 4:43 pm

My daugher, Debbie Gumpert Foster worked diligently in preserving the bluebells at Bull Run Park. She has since passed away, but a bench at the Park has been dedicated in memory of her. Please inform me when the bluebells will be out this yr (2011). Many of my friends are anxious to see the picturesque sight of the bluebells but I am not certain of the dates to tell them. Please advise. Thank you. Dorothy Gumpert

Sara on April 10, 2011 at 3:10 pm

Mrs. Gumpert,
Friends at a party last night (4/9/11) said the bluebells are out. I don’t know if they’re at peak or not but, apparently, they’re out. I found your post when searching for information on which trail to use to get to them.
Sara

hankinslawrenceimages on April 10, 2011 at 3:24 pm

We were photographing there this morning – April 10. Bluebells are blooming – but not yet at peak. My guess is peak bloom will be in another day or two

Patty

ralph d jeffords on April 21, 2011 at 12:31 am

It should be mentioned that the bluebells are at their peak along the shores of Cub Run in the Cub Run Stream Valley Park just north of Highway 29 in Centreville. I having been regularly walking from Chalet Woods park along the small tributary at the west end of the asphalt trail to Cub Run, then following a deer trail through a massive expanse of bluebells from 50 to 80 feet wide along the north side of Cu b Run for a quarter of a mile before reaching the new bridge that has been constructed over Cub Run. I did not realize until a couple of days ago exactly what these amazing blue flowers were. I plan on taking my camera tomorrow to get some shots–especially the panorama of bluebells everywhere!

Andy on April 15, 2009 at 6:22 am

The top two photos of the flowers in mass are amazing. Definitely something to put on my “to do” list.
LisaNewton on April 15, 2009 at 10:14 pm

I love the fields of bluebells. Here in CA, we are having fields of wildflowers, too. Even though it’s unknown to many people, LA does has a spring.
Dorothy Gumpert on March 15, 2011 at 4:43 pm

My daugher, Debbie Gumpert Foster worked diligently in preserving the bluebells at Bull Run Park. She has since passed away, but a bench at the Park has been dedicated in memory of her. Please inform me when the bluebells will be out this yr (2011). Many of my friends are anxious to see the picturesque sight of the bluebells but I am not certain of the dates to tell them. Please advise. Thank you. Dorothy Gumpert
Sara on April 10, 2011 at 3:10 pm

Mrs. Gumpert,
Friends at a party last night (4/9/11) said the bluebells are out. I don’t know if they’re at peak or not but, apparently, they’re out. I found your post when searching for information on which trail to use to get to them.
Sara
hankinslawrenceimages on April 10, 2011 at 3:24 pm

We were photographing there this morning – April 10. Bluebells are blooming – but not yet at peak. My guess is peak bloom will be in another day or two

Patty
ralph d jeffords on April 21, 2011 at 12:31 am

It should be mentioned that the bluebells are at their peak along the shores of Cub Run in the Cub Run Stream Valley Park just north of Highway 29 in Centreville. I having been regularly walking from Chalet Woods park along the small tributary at the west end of the asphalt trail to Cub Run, then following a deer trail through a massive expanse of bluebells from 50 to 80 feet wide along the north side of Cu b Run for a quarter of a mile before reaching the new bridge that has been constructed over Cub Run. I did not realize until a couple of days ago exactly what these amazing blue flowers were. I plan on taking my camera tomorrow to get some shots–especially the panorama of bluebells everywhere!