The State of Texas should...

[Debbi]

come out with a PSA regarding bluebonnet etiquette. I could not believe the number of people driving/parking in the bonnets, as well as walking, sitting and laying in them. I really don't think they realize or think about the fact that when they do that, no one else that year can enjoy those particular flowers.

There were spots on the country/ranch roads where the bonnets were growing right up to the road without a shoulder. I did a lot of hiking back to get my shots, or chose to not get them at all if there just wasn't a safe way to get back without walking thru the flowers. I could never imagine driving in them!

[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

One Dallas Suburb MOWED a field along the highway- they are putting in trees for beautification with federal $$$! The lady from the city that they had on said that they were going to do this back in January so that the "bluebonnets wouldn't be effected", this proves that she has no clue about the life cycle of bluebonnets. Then she said that after they put in trees in-were talking about around 100 all spaced about 15 ft apart (they had a couple already planted)- they would reseed the bluebonnets! I guess she doesn't know that BB's don't grow in shade! So they were tearing out and mowing down the plants to put in these trees that will require watering, they are on a sloped area, for at least the first 2 or three years for several months of the summer since they are about 5 or 10 gallon sized trees. Bet a lot of them will die and then the BB's will come back.

Yeah there are a lot of people out there that do not respect nature in any way! Then there are a lot of fools working for Cities that have no clue!

[Debbi]

I heard that story but it is Dallas! After the years of hearing stories about the city council and school board, it doesn't surprise me but it is sad.

[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

The one on the news was a suburb and not Dallas, can't remember which one, but I think it was along I-20.

[Howard Barlow]

Originally Posted by Debbi

come out with a PSA regarding bluebonnet etiquette. I could not believe the number of people driving/parking in the bonnets, as well as walking, sitting and laying in them. I really don't think they realize or think about the fact that when they do that, no one else that year can enjoy those particular flowers.

Now, Debbie, you know the public... "I got mine, get yours, if you can." I was in Brenham Easter weekend. Easter Sunday, people were climbing fences everywhere. It doesn't matter about NO TRESSPASSING signs. They wanted their bluebonnet pictures, privacy and other people's property notwithstanding.

[dixonduke]

That is my biggest peeve, people who climb/cross fences and country driveways/lanes to get photos. If it is not your property STAY OUT, that simple. Call it good manners, respect for others, what ever you want.

[sporkthedork]

I think I remember hearing a PSA on the radio from Cecilia Nasti (Texas Parks and Wildife) about wildflower etiquette last year. Usually they are archived on the web but I can't seem to find this PSA in particular. Maybe there is a list of them on the TPWD's website?

edit: Okay, she produces "Passport To Texas" ... more here.

[Debbi]

I totally agree, Howard and Duke. It was so sad that the Willow City Loop is covered in No Trespassing signs. There are even signs in the middle of the creeks stating that "Priviate Property on Both Sides".

That's interesting Casey. I think there needs to be something more visible to the "unknowing" public.

[Imagebuffet]

Originally Posted by DEMDeepEllumMusic

One Dallas Suburb MOWED a field along the highway- they are putting in trees for beautification with federal $$$! The lady from the city that they had on said that they were going to do this back in January so that the "bluebonnets wouldn't be effected", this proves that she has no clue about the life cycle of bluebonnets. Then she said that after they put in trees in-were talking about around 100 all spaced about 15 ft apart (they had a couple already planted)- they would reseed the bluebonnets! I guess she doesn't know that BB's don't grow in shade! So they were tearing out and mowing down the plants to put in these trees that will require watering, they are on a sloped area, for at least the first 2 or three years for several months of the summer since they are about 5 or 10 gallon sized trees. Bet a lot of them will die and then the BB's will come back.

Yeah there are a lot of people out there that do not respect nature in any way! Then there are a lot of fools working for Cities that have no clue!

I've caught bits and pieces of Richardson's Tree the Town program, and some of the criticism of it. And, if I understood one article correctly, the genesis of the idea was hatched at the UTD campus, by a student think-tank. However, I also read another account that attributes the idea to a single man, and the idea was poorly implemented. The City officials all want to glom onto the idea, because everyone wants to be eco-friendly, and trees supposedly are as eco-friendly as one can get.

[sldi]

I drive all over the state and you can't help but notice in so many areas where people have just made there own entrance and exit ramps to the highway. All over the place when ever traffic gets tied up they just bail out thru what ever means they can find, do you really expect they would even care about a blue flower along the roadway. Like other posters have said its a "I got mine", world. sad sad sad

[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

Originally Posted by Imagebuffet

I've caught bits and pieces of Richardson's Tree the Town program, and some of the criticism of it. And, if I understood one article correctly, the genesis of the idea was hatched at the UTD campus, by a student think-tank. However, I also read another account that attributes the idea to a single man, and the idea was poorly implemented. The City officials all want to glom onto the idea, because everyone wants to be eco-friendly, and trees supposedly are as eco-friendly as one can get.

It wasn't Richardson which actually has a wildflower program where they seed large areas of parkways and other city owned right of way (found out that it actually saves money since they don't mow the areas for a couple months and people don't complain too much since there are flowers there. The tree idea is actually something that is good because it reduces the heat island effect. Dallas is rather poor in this area since they will plant trees at the beginning of a project but then do no maintenance to replace dead/damaged trees (one example is Abrams Parkway in the Lakewood Shopping center area-fully 50%+ of the trees that they planted around 10 years ago are now just empty concrete and steel rings-the main ones were a white spring flowering type and it was so pretty in the early spring but cars or desease has killed them and none were replanted-same happened in Deep Ellum-I would say over 1/2 the tree planted there have not been replaced-they spend all the budget money on the front end and then don't keep any back to do replacements and then can't get further funding to redo it all again), even the parks dept is bad on this!

[ldelacruz]

Isn't it still illegal to pick or harm bluebonnets?

[Debbi]

Originally Posted by ldelacruz

Isn't it still illegal to pick or harm bluebonnets?

No, it's not. A lot of people think it is though, but it doesn't stop them.

[ldelacruz]

Shows how much I payed attention in school because I thought since it was the state flower that it was illegal.

[Imagebuffet]

Originally Posted by ldelacruz

Shows how much I payed attention in school because I thought since it was the state flower that it was illegal.

No, it is illegal to harm *any* flower or plant on state lands, whether bluebonnets or daisies. The designation as state flower does not have any affect on what people can do with them.