Texas Landscape Architects have found a deterrent to soil erosion--Bluebonnets! For years, it has been the norm to use plantings to keep soil from eroding onto Texas roadways; those who were in the know decided that the very best way to make sure that the soil along those embankments, particularly those at highway intersections, didn't end up in the highway was to plant Bluebonnets. Citing the root system and the way that Texas' State Flower grows--in the areas of the state where they did extremely well, the highway department's Landscape Architects determined that Bluebonnets were the answer! So, where new highways were being carved out of the countryside, according to Craig Steffans, Landscape Architect for the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT), crews were directed to actually dig down and "carve out" the existing Bluebonnet plants--roll up the carpet and keep it moist while the highway was being laid down. That "carpet" would be replaced when the construction on the highway was complete at that site. "That saved Bluebonnets and, at the same time, gave us instant erosion control," Steffans said. This process has worked on numerous highways throughout Texas. Among the most noticeable are: Interstate 20 west of Fort Worth, Interstate 35 from Dallas south to San Antonio, Interstate 37 from San Antonio to Corpus Christi, and Interstate 45 south of Dallas. Though there are many, many roads in Texas where wildflowers of all kinds flourish--state highways and farm and ranch roads alike--the Bluebonnet is king!