Texas Wildflowers?

Question

It is illegal to pick wild Bluebonnets in Texas. The reason is because they believe the Bluebonnets should be left for everyone to enjoy. My initial thought is that picking a few won't hinder anyone's enjoyment of them, but being the state flower, I can see how such a law came to be.

What do you think about this?

Just as a note, I think the Indian Paintbrushes are prettier.

http://www.lone-star.net/wildflowers/

Answer 1

I agree with not picking them. So many people have this idea of "I could just pick a few and it wouldn't hurt". So then, 30,000 people in one town with this idea pick their "few" bluebonnets, which means 90,000 bluebonnets were picked. Depending on where they are, there may not even be 90,000 bluebonnets!  And think of cities where MORE people live. We need to blooms to spread the seeds so we can keep enjoying them.   Oh, and I really like Indian Paintbrushes as well! Notice that there aren't as many of those that aren't protected!

Answer 2

First of all, there is not one state flower of Texas, there are six.They are all of the genus Lupinus and they are all called Bluebonnets. The six are Lupinus havardii (Big Bend bluebonnet), Lupinus perennis (sundial lupine), Lupinus plattensis (Nebraska lupine), Lupinus subcarnosus (Texas bluebonnet), Lupinus texensis (Texas bluebonnet), and Lupinus concinnus (bajada lupine).

Former First Lady "Ladybird" Johnson and Actress Helen Hayes founded an organization in 1982 to protect and preserve North America's native plants and natural landscapes, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, in Austin. Their mission Center is to increase the sustainable use and conservation of native wildflowers, plants and landscapes. If you want more information on where the "don't pick" policy came from, ask them.

Answer 3

OK WELL TO START THIS OUT RIGHT, IS NO LONGER ILLEGAL TO PICK OUR STATE FLOWER. AS LONG AS YOU ARE NOT STOPPING TRAFFIC OR CAUSING CHAOS, YOU CAN PICK AS MANY AS YOU WANT. YOU ALSO CAN NOT GO ON PRIVATE PROPERTY TO DO SO. HAVEN'T YOU BEEN TO A NURSERY? THEY EVEN SELL THEM NOW. AS FAR AS IT USE TO BEING ILLEGAL, I DID HOWEVER AGREE WITH THAT BECAUSE PLANTS ARE LIVING TOO. THERE'S NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OUR STATE FLOWER OR STATE BIRD.