Here is a link to an easy way to create a wildflower field:
The thread "Creating a Wildflower Field -- Tell us how you sowed yours" in Wildflowers forum

I can't believe I didn't reply to this when I first saw it--I think I did in the Wildflowers forum.

Excellent post and I'm really impressed with the way in which you used the mounds of dirt from the....what was it, moles? And the progression of pictures is absolutely beautiful.

I don't understand why the grassy areas alongside highways aren't planted with wildflowers. Out this way, we have grass and it has to be cut and maintained throughout every season but winter. It does no good for anyone or anything. Wouldn't it be great if they would plant wildflowers instead?

I think you replied there Joanna.

Here, they do seed the easements with wildflowers. When we lived in South FL the easements had no wildflowers but on our drive up here I think it began around the Daytona area & the easements & medians had wildflowers growing in them. This county has seeded all the county easements it seems like and all the state highways are seeded as well.
I took some photos up here.

That is absolutely beautiful and exactly how it should be. They reseed themselves or just come back. Low maintenance, support pollinators, and sustainable. and

And saves money too!! Less mowing needed AND an added benefit of very little trash being thrown out of car windows when the wildflowers are blooming. It's a win, win, win!

I do love your developing wildflower field. It is ingenious and very beautiful.

Texas hasn't mastered the wildflower roadsides yet. Ladybird Johnson started it with plantings and seed sowing but the state is obliged to mow before the blooms can reseed. Mowing year after year has decimated the wildflowers.

There are a few folks that have petitioned the state to set up designated 'no mow' areas where they will plant wildflowers but not as pretty as the en masse wildflowers in your photos.

@pod, is the mowing done to prevent fires, or???? I'm so pro-reseeding that I can't imagine any reason to mow!

I honestly don't know what their logic is. It is mowed once in late spring/early summer and once again in late fall.

Ann I have my seeds ordered

DH says one reason they mow is to keep the wildlife that might be hidden in it away from the roadways for less accidents. As a semi driver he appreciates mowing the roadsides for that reason. I personally like the wildflowers

Thank you very much Kristi! What a shame that What Ladybird began is being destroyed by mismanagement. It makes my heart sick! Maybe people can "educate" those in charge???? Here, the county has rules about the mowing. You can read about it here:
http://www.columbiacountyfla.c...
Even though that states this:
"There are five mowing cycles in a year (each lasting forty-eight days) beginning April 1st and ending November 30th."
They MUST consider the caveat of this:
"Contractors are prohibited from mowing phlox (wild flowers) during their blooming season."
Since the phlox are blooming during April, then they MUST not mow until they are finished blooming. Phlox go to seed so quickly that there are plenty of seeds re-sown from the first blooms that opened. Also the tickseed & others have self sown by that time as well. I have seen where the contractors mow around the wildflowers. The county is very strict about enforcing this.
The weird part is that there are some places where the actual county mowers do the mowing -- it is notcontracted out. In this case, the county is exempt from following the "wildflower no mow" rule. I don't know why! For instance, the easement on my road out front..... the first 2 years we lived in this house, the easement mowing was done by contractors & they mowed around the wildflowers but thereafter, the county parks mowers have been doing the mowing & they mow everything in their path. It makes me so mad to see them plow right through gorgeous phlox! I figure one day, as with everything, change will come & they'll turn it back over to contractors & they will leave the flowers alone again.

Ginny!!!!!!
As to the wildlife getting out in the road...... armadillos aren't native here anyway.

It might have something to do with people thinking that plants that don't have flowers are weeds, or are ugly. They don't understand that they're very busy getting ready for the next season!

A lot of "weeds" are great medicinal plants. It isa shame to mow them.

There is a wildflower seed company that makes native seed mixes for specific areas. I am sorry I do not remember the name.

Eden has the native seeds for your region.

Lots of flower seed companies have regional mixes. I like getting the seeds separate though b/c I pick the ones that actually do best on my property.

Hi all.. bought a box of wildflower and hummingbird mix from local dollar tree. I saw some you tube videos where these cheaper packet do grow so I figured what the heck. It will be interesting to see what if anything grows. Just waiting for some warmth!

Looking forward to seeing the results!

Legalily said:Looking forward to seeing the results!

Me too!