BLUEBONNETS

As many of you may be aware, LadyBird Johnson of Texas decided to have wild flowers planted across the state. It turned out to be a good thing. Better than I imagined when she proposed the plan.

Though I was born and grew up in Florida, I lived in Texas for many years. Part of the time, in West Texas where mile after mile of land is still free of buildings and roads.

During the month of March, those miles of land are covered in wild flowers. One of those is the beautiful bluebonnet. Acres of the pretty flower grow so close togehter that it makes the landscape look like a blue ocean in the middle of green. It's unbelievable to see.

In among the bluebonnet are other wild flowers. One of my favorities is the Indian paintbrush. And there are thousands of them along with a riot of color in other varieties.

One year, our front yard was covered in bluebonnets. You couldn't walk across the ground without stepping on the plant, so we didn't walk in the yard much. Then one afternoon, we were standing in the middle of the sea of blue and heard this strange clicking sound.

We had no idea what was making the noise. I can only say it was a loud snap as though someone was snapping their fingers over and over. The sound came from all around.

And then it hit me. Literally. The bluebonnets were opening their seed packets and huriling the seeds through the air and they were hitting me. Looking down at the ground, I found where many had landed. I picked some up and found that they were in different closrs, shades of pink and blue. And they resembled tiny chicklets.

I was amazed at the design of this flower, its seeds and the disbursement for next year's growth.

It has been several years since I have been home again. I'm glad to be home, but I miss the wild flowers and especially the bluebonnet and Indian paintbrush.

If you get an opportunity to visit Texas and you can choose your time to go, go in March and enjoy the scenery. Many do. You can see them along the Interstate roaming in the blue seas. One time I even saw a wedding party there taking pictures.

When you visit, enjoy them for me too, please.