印克斯湖国家公园中的德克萨斯矢车菊，德克萨斯州 Bluebonnets growing alongside an old road in the Texas Hill Country (© Inge Johnsson/Alamy)

印克斯湖国家公园中的德克萨斯矢车菊，德克萨斯州 Bluebonnets growing alongside an old road in the Texas Hill Country (© Inge Johnsson/Alamy)

Where the wildflowers grow

In honor of National Wildflower Week, we're looking at a field of blooming bluebonnets, the state flower of Texas. If you notice bluebonnets and other blooms while traveling down Texas highways, thank the state's Department of Transportation, which sows tens of thousands of pounds of wildflower seeds along roadways each year.

But wildflowers aren't just pretty to look at. Most of these native plants grow on their own—without the need for cultivation—helping preserve water, protect against erosion, and provide habitat for birds, butterflies, and other critters. Plus, they have a restorative quality for the mind, just as wildflower-lover Lady Bird Johnson once said: 'Where flowers bloom, so does hope.'