Pages

▼

Thursday, September 12, 2019

The NJ Highway Beautification Project

If you drive along the Garden State Parkway,
you can't help but notice the beautiful beds of wildflowers along the roadway.
The patches of wildflowers along the roadside and medians, 
were planted primarily to beautify the area and cut down on mowing expenses.
Gardens popping with orange, yellow and shades of purple...
small patches of color that could prove crucial to the survival of birds, butterflies, 
honeybees and other struggling species.

We stopped so I could take pictures, the flowers were really pretty!






The Cosmos were gorgeous!



I did a little research on my friend google and there was quite a bit of information there.
The program started in the 1980's.
About $ 13,000.00 is spent on seeds each year.
The wildflower seeds are officially licensed by the NJ Turnpike Authority.
The seed mix is available to purchase on line in order to recreate what you see on the highway.

 Not every person who drives along the Garden State Parkway will notice the flowers,
but I saw every single patch...and there were a lot!

 September 8, 2019

at

21 comments:

  1. David M. Gascoigne,September 12, 2019 at 5:45 AM

    I am wondering whether this very commendable initiative had its origins in the splendid ideas of Lady Bird Johnson and her plans to make Texas highway medians a sea of wildflowers. I have seen the results in Texas and they are stunning,

    ReplyDelete
  2. AndySeptember 12, 2019 at 6:18 AM

    Excellent project. It makes me wish it was happening here.

    ReplyDelete
  3. eileeninmdSeptember 12, 2019 at 6:54 AM

    Hello, I love all the beautiful flowers. It is so nice to see many highways are beautified now. Wishing you a happy day!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Author R. Mac WheelerSeptember 12, 2019 at 7:42 AM

    They did a good job

    ReplyDelete
  5. NataliaSeptember 12, 2019 at 7:57 AM

    Those flowers are so pretty!☺

    ReplyDelete
  6. Changes in the windSeptember 12, 2019 at 9:12 AM

    No that is a project that I can agree with...

    ReplyDelete
  7. Marie SmithSeptember 12, 2019 at 9:34 AM

    A great idea! Such roadside beauty!

    ReplyDelete
  8. italiafinlandiaSeptember 12, 2019 at 10:23 AM

    I like Cosmos flowers too!

    ReplyDelete
  9. ConniecrafterSeptember 12, 2019 at 10:27 AM

    Oh that is great that they are doing something good instead of just letting it go wild with weeds like we have seen in other parts of the country, and to help us keep our insects that we need is also a great thing, they are beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  10. LindaSeptember 12, 2019 at 11:36 AM

    We are going to plant wildflower seeds at the ranch this year! Now that we have bees we need to feed them the good stuff! Right now we bucket feed them sugar water because there’s nothing blooming.....

    ReplyDelete
  11. Latane BartonSeptember 12, 2019 at 12:25 PM

    I love seeing flowers along the roadsides. I wish more places would do that.

    ReplyDelete
  12. DeniseinVASeptember 12, 2019 at 1:43 PM

    Didn't Ladybird Johnson start putting flowers on highways? I'm glad you were able to stop Debbie. Your photos of the flowers are gorgeous! Seeing flowers on a long journey is always a welcome sight.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. DebbieSeptember 13, 2019 at 12:01 PM

      yes!!! it was ladybird who started this. we saw all the flowers when we were in austin, texas!!!

      Delete
  13. Ruth HiebertSeptember 12, 2019 at 3:50 PM

    I absolutely love that idea. Not only are the flowers beautiful, but they provide food for insect and birds.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Spare Parts and PicsSeptember 12, 2019 at 5:48 PM

    Beautiful photography. The Garden State is really living up to it's name!!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Sue (this n that)September 12, 2019 at 6:24 PM

    Beautiful and practical at the same time. Love all your photos!

    ReplyDelete
  16. The Furry GnomeSeptember 12, 2019 at 8:04 PM

    What a wonderful program!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Екатерина БалагуроваSeptember 13, 2019 at 4:29 AM

    I'm fond of these flowers! In Russian we call them "kosmeja" because of cosmos and stars =)

    ReplyDelete
  18. KimSeptember 13, 2019 at 4:32 AM

    Oh, just look at all those gorgeous flowers. How happy the Cosmos are. A big round of applause to the powers that be who plant all these fabulous flowers.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Brian KingSeptember 13, 2019 at 6:48 AM

    Wow, those are gorgeous! They've done a great job!

    ReplyDelete
  20. LeAnnSeptember 18, 2019 at 1:39 AM

    The Cosmo's are beautiful! I love that they are beautifying this area. It must be a lovely ride through it.
    Sending loving thoughts and hugs!

    ReplyDelete