Every spring, Texas wildflowers blanket our state. Fields, meadows, and highway medians sport a rainbow of colors. My favorite wildflower is the Texas bluebonnet. (See photo.)
About 40 years ago, wildflowers began to disappear. One of America's first ladies helped to bring wildflowers back. She started a project in Texas to plant wildflower seeds along the highways. Her name was Lady Bird Johnson.
People asked Mrs. Johnson why she wanted to bring more wildflowers to Texas.
She said, "Some may wonder why I chose wildflowers when there are hunger and unemployment and the big bomb in the world. Well, I, for one, think we will survive, and I hope that along the way we can keep alive our experience with the flowering earth. For the bounty of nature is also one of the deep needs of man."
Wildflowers aren't just beautiful. They also help our environment. They help to conserve water and protect the soil. They offer birds, butterflies, and wildlife habitat and food. If you would like to learn more about wildflowers and Lady Bird Johnson, go to http://www.wildflower.org/
Now many other states have begun their own wildflower projects.
I'm wild about wildflowers! Are you?
Go here for wildflower coloring pages: http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/kids/coloring/colorwildflowers.shtml
You can find another great wildflower coloring page at http://www.nps.gov/plants/color/txhill/index.htm
Here's a fun activity! Make your own wildflower bookmark. For instructions, go to http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/kids/activities/bookmark.shtml
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