Ennis, Texas, Bluebonnets

are not the only source of pride in Ennis, which celebrates its Czech heritage each Memorial Day with the National Polka Festival.

But it is the state flower of Texas for which Ennis is best known. The sweet-smelling blooms were beloved by the American Indians long before the Czech settlers arrived. A Comanche legend about the origin of the bluebonnets tells of the tribe´s struggle with starvation, cold, and disease. The Great Spirit told the chieftains that their most valued and cherished possessions should be burned and scattered to the four winds as an offering.

A little American Indian princess overheard the council and sacrificed her beautiful doll with a headdress from a blue jay. The next morning, where the ashes had fallen, there was a beautiful spread of blue flowers the same shade as the blue jay´s feather. Regardless of how the flowers came to Texas, the bonnet-shaped blooms are a state treasure, especially in Ennis.

is just one of the towns that have been captured on paper by the Village Prints artists. Village Prints has completed drawings of more than 330 towns in AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, MO, NC, SC, TN, and TX and have produced limited edition prints of these towns. The originals are pencil drawings, featuring composites of outstanding landmarks and historical buildings such as those in Ennis Texas. Limited edition prints on parchtone paper are then produced from the drawings.

These art prints, which portray the historical and architectural heritage of Ennis Texas, quickly become collectors' items. Each print is signed and numbered. The prints make excellent gifts for all occasions and are especially appropriate for professional offices. Some professional people have collected all of the prints of their particular regions.