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Mar 13, 2010 9:14 AM CST
Moderator
Name: Sandi
Austin, Tx (Zone 8b)
Texas Gardening
Forum moderator Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Ideas: Master Level Plant Identifier Master Gardener: Texas
Region: Texas Tropicals Plumerias Ferns Greenhouse Garden Art
A few years ago, members of the Violet Crown Garden Club in Austin gathered for a demonstration of making seed balls. As the demonstrators showed how to mix the seeds into a clay based mud concoction, one of the older ladies told a story of how another garden club had used the seed balls to beautify the highways. She said that a group of four rather elderly ladies had loaded the car with dried seed balls they'd made and drove down the highway early one morning tossing the balls out the windows on one side, and then up the other side. Deciding that maybe they didn't get enough in the median, they turned around, got in the left lane moving ever so slowly, and the driver and back seat passenger tossed more balls out their windows. This happened to draw the interest of a highway patrolman who, with flashing lights, pulled them over to ask them why they were littering. After they eagerly explained they were actually tossing wildflower seeds to beautify the highway next spring, he shook his head and let them go with a stern warning "not to drive 10 mph down the highway in the left lane" no matter how pretty they wanted to make the median. I can just imagine how popular they were at the next club meeting!
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Mar 13, 2010 10:32 PM CST
Name: Linda Williams
Medina Co., TX (Zone 8a)
Organic Gardener Bookworm Enjoys or suffers hot summers Charter ATP Member Salvias Herbs
Bluebonnets Native Plants and Wildflowers Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Forum moderator Purslane Hummingbirder
Ha! I bet the next spring the law had to contend with motorists slowing down to get a good look at those flowers!
I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority. E. B.White
Integrity can never be taken. It can only be given, and I wasn't going to give it up to these people. Gary Mowad
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Mar 14, 2010 9:52 AM CST
Name: Lee
Latexo, Texas (Zone 8a)
A few years ago,....down our stretch of FM1097......theMontgomery County Main't. mowed both sides before all the wild flowers finished bloomin' and replenishing the seeds for the next year's flowers ........well there was such an uproar from the locals along the stretch....the County came out and reseeded the entire stretch with native flower seeds of all kinds,...including various rain liles , milkweeds, butterfly weed.(but no bluebonnets)
looks good now!
oh,...and they do wait to mow after seeding is completed....now!
God Bless America!
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Mar 14, 2010 11:55 AM CST
Moderator
Name: Sandi
Austin, Tx (Zone 8b)
Texas Gardening
Forum moderator Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Ideas: Master Level Plant Identifier Master Gardener: Texas
Region: Texas Tropicals Plumerias Ferns Greenhouse Garden Art
Linda...can you imagine those little ladies going home and telling their husbands they were pulled over by the cops!

Lee....Same thing here when the mowers go out...the locals start writing letters to the editor. Of course, there's always the few that complain that the wildflowers look ratty and should be mowed down sooner. Can't please everyone! I just love 'em and look forward to spring.
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Apr 14, 2010 6:20 PM CST
Name: Janet Colvin
Z8~Beaumont~Southeast Texas
Proud member of Cubits.org
Charter ATP Member
Hi Sandi,

I thought I'd share a thread in one of my own cubits with photos of the wildflowers that we took as we traveled from Beaumont to San Antonio for the Easter Weekend. Enjoy!!

http://cubits.org/UniQueTreasu...

Janet
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Apr 14, 2010 7:11 PM CST
Moderator
Name: Sandi
Austin, Tx (Zone 8b)
Texas Gardening
Forum moderator Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Ideas: Master Level Plant Identifier Master Gardener: Texas
Region: Texas Tropicals Plumerias Ferns Greenhouse Garden Art
Thanks Janet! Your photos are gorgeous. We were in Houston this past weekend for the swap. The bluebonnets were spectacular both ways. Unfortunately, going to Houston we were hurrying...and coming home, DH was napping, so I missed a great opportunity (no he wasn't driving while he was napping). I did take some pics right in front of the entrance to our subdivision. Just haven't had a chance to upload them. Bluebonnets as far as you could see....

When we lived in San Antonio, years ago, I'd throw the dog and the kiddo in the car and drive the back roads, taking photos of all the old barns and fields of flowers. I'd use them for paintings. I bet most of those barns are long gone now...
Thanks again for sharing...and stop by someday when you're going to SA.
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Apr 14, 2010 7:15 PM CST
Name: Janet Colvin
Z8~Beaumont~Southeast Texas
Proud member of Cubits.org
Charter ATP Member
Thanks Sandi! I just may show up on your doorstep some day. We don't go to SA very often, but usually a time or two a year. Sometimes it depends on whether we have to evacuate. If we do, we can count on staying at Mom's house for several weeks. So that would be a great time to come visiting. Connie is usually with me on the evacuations. I pray we don't have that to go through this year. It's strange that we'd go for 25 years without a worry about hurricanes and then Bam Bam Bam.... Sure makes life uncertain!
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Apr 14, 2010 7:16 PM CST
Name: Janet Colvin
Z8~Beaumont~Southeast Texas
Proud member of Cubits.org
Charter ATP Member
Well I hit the finished button before I was ready to. I was going to add that it really makes us pay more attention to the beauty of our highways when God paints his rainbows for us.
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Apr 14, 2010 7:34 PM CST
Moderator
Name: Sandi
Austin, Tx (Zone 8b)
Texas Gardening
Forum moderator Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Ideas: Master Level Plant Identifier Master Gardener: Texas
Region: Texas Tropicals Plumerias Ferns Greenhouse Garden Art
You and Connie are welcome anytime. Just hope it's not due to a hurricane. I'm expecting Smockette this weekend for a couple of days.

My garden still needs some work....pots everywhere. It usually takes me the month of April to get it back in shape. I just wish our oak trees could coordinate the tassel drops. Seems I spend hours outside moving pots every day!

Looking forward to Jeri's Mid-South RU next month. We're going to Forest Hill a day early for nursery hopping. There's 92 nurseries along the highway! Some of them sell wholesale. I missed going a couple of years ago. And last year's swap was canceled due to flu scare. You two should try to go. Lots of fun!
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Apr 14, 2010 7:54 PM CST
Name: Janet Colvin
Z8~Beaumont~Southeast Texas
Proud member of Cubits.org
Charter ATP Member
Oh Sandi! I'd love to do that. I already have a trip to Virginia planned for the summer. I don't dare buy anything that I won't be here to water. My yard will be on Self Sufficient mode this summer. I haven't whacked down the bananas or cannas yet. They are still hideous. I've just been waiting on tomorrow to get here so I have no more excuses. (Did I mention I do taxes?) HAHAHAHA
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Apr 14, 2010 8:50 PM CST
Moderator
Name: Sandi
Austin, Tx (Zone 8b)
Texas Gardening
Forum moderator Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Ideas: Master Level Plant Identifier Master Gardener: Texas
Region: Texas Tropicals Plumerias Ferns Greenhouse Garden Art
Wow! What don't you do? DH just finished writing a check to the IRS....and I think I could hear him whimpering...

Well, I'll be sure to take photos of the nurseries and stock at Forest Hill... Hoping to get to Biloxi after RU. I have family there, and it'll be great to get some good fresh seafood... just a quick visit, because, like yours, my plants will be wanting attention.
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Apr 14, 2010 10:27 PM CST
Moderator
Name: Sandi
Austin, Tx (Zone 8b)
Texas Gardening
Forum moderator Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Ideas: Master Level Plant Identifier Master Gardener: Texas
Region: Texas Tropicals Plumerias Ferns Greenhouse Garden Art
Here's the hill at the entrance to our subdivision. I waited so long to take pics, that the bluebonnets had trails thru them and "butt marks" from all the people sitting in them. They are just as full on the other side of the highway.


Thumb of 2010-04-15/Bubbles/21c7b3
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Apr 14, 2010 10:29 PM CST
Moderator
Name: Sandi
Austin, Tx (Zone 8b)
Texas Gardening
Forum moderator Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Ideas: Master Level Plant Identifier Master Gardener: Texas
Region: Texas Tropicals Plumerias Ferns Greenhouse Garden Art
You can see all the marks from folks sitting for a pose!

Thumb of 2010-04-15/Bubbles/f7c5cc
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Apr 14, 2010 10:31 PM CST
Moderator
Name: Sandi
Austin, Tx (Zone 8b)
Texas Gardening
Forum moderator Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Ideas: Master Level Plant Identifier Master Gardener: Texas
Region: Texas Tropicals Plumerias Ferns Greenhouse Garden Art
I was afraid he would roll down the hill...instead he laid in stinging nettles...so we cut the photo shoot short!

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Apr 14, 2010 10:34 PM CST
Moderator
Name: Sandi
Austin, Tx (Zone 8b)
Texas Gardening
Forum moderator Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Ideas: Master Level Plant Identifier Master Gardener: Texas
Region: Texas Tropicals Plumerias Ferns Greenhouse Garden Art
One more tonight...

Thumb of 2010-04-15/Bubbles/735ad4
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Apr 15, 2010 5:17 AM CST
Name: Janet Colvin
Z8~Beaumont~Southeast Texas
Proud member of Cubits.org
Charter ATP Member
Looks like your grandson had a great time in the bluebonnets. Well, except for those stinging nettles.

We had to watch where we stopped too since we had my mother with us.
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Apr 15, 2010 8:56 AM CST
Name: Linda Williams
Medina Co., TX (Zone 8a)
Organic Gardener Bookworm Enjoys or suffers hot summers Charter ATP Member Salvias Herbs
Bluebonnets Native Plants and Wildflowers Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Forum moderator Purslane Hummingbirder
Not really as showy as those, but this is the front of my property...what a difference a year makes from last year!

Thumb of 2010-04-15/LindaTX8/a3bcfa
I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority. E. B.White
Integrity can never be taken. It can only be given, and I wasn't going to give it up to these people. Gary Mowad
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Apr 15, 2010 9:06 AM CST
Name: Janet Colvin
Z8~Beaumont~Southeast Texas
Proud member of Cubits.org
Charter ATP Member
I'd love to have a carpet of bluebonnets. I told Rick I wouldn't have to mow for quite some time! HAHAHA
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Apr 15, 2010 9:32 AM CST
Moderator
Name: Sandi
Austin, Tx (Zone 8b)
Texas Gardening
Forum moderator Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Ideas: Master Level Plant Identifier Master Gardener: Texas
Region: Texas Tropicals Plumerias Ferns Greenhouse Garden Art
Linda, those are beautiful. I wish I had that much land too.
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Apr 15, 2010 9:43 AM CST
Name: Janet Colvin
Z8~Beaumont~Southeast Texas
Proud member of Cubits.org
Charter ATP Member
Bubbles said:Linda, those are beautiful. I wish I had that much land too.

I agree

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