Wildflowers!
The wildflowers along the highways in Texas are absolutely beautiful! Each spring thousands, maybe millions, of wildflowers bloom along the highways providing beautiful scenery for drivers. Bluebonnets, Indian paintbrushes, and beautiful small pink flowers - I have no idea what they are called are gorgeous.
The Texas Department of Transportation maintains these wildflowers. They are not only beautiful but provide great environmental benefits. Some facts about the wildflower program from the TDOT website:
There are over 5,000 species of wildflowers in the state of Texas.
TxDOT nurtures them through their carefully planned mowing policies.
All species of the Bluebonnet are considered the State Flower. There are also white bonnets and pink bonnets. These will not necessarily bloom the next year true to color if they are mixed among bluebonnets. This is due to their being pollinated by bees and if the bee goes from a bluebonnet to a white bonnet and pollinates the white bonnet, then it could come back as a bluebonnet.
More than 20% of wildflowers are in the Sunflower family.
Indian Paintbrush comes in colors ranging from orange to yellow to purple.
Goldenrod is often confused with ragweed which causes hayfever. However, the goldenrod is not a wind pollinated plant. It is pollinated by bees.
Yucca plants are often found in West Texas and items such as soap and baskets can be made from them.
Prickly poppies have branched, prickly stems and are an abundant supplier of pollen for insects. They come in white, red and pink colors.
Horsemint is in the Mint Family and tea can be made from its leaves. It also attracts bees, butterflies and hummingbirds who are seeking nectar. It blooms from May to September.
Sideoats Grama is the State Grass of Texas. It is a warm season grass growing from July to September.
Little Bluestem has an extensive root system.
Buffalograss is excellent for erosion control and can survive short mowings.
Sand Lovegrass is sometimes called "Ice Cream Grass" because livestock love to eat it and the tops of it look like ice cream.
The department mows and cares for 800,000 acres of right of way.
So take a trip in Texas and see some beautiful flowers!!
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