Although a project to plant wildflowers along stretch of Hwy 96 at State Highway 3 in League City was initiated in 2012, it never got a good start. Over several years birds ate wildflower seeds tossed into grass, seed balls didn’t germinate in the dense-packed soil, accidental mowings . . . yet year after year, a few flowers came up but were very sparse.
In 2020 LCGC joined with City of League City’s Vegetation Division. Two signs already announced: “League City Garden Club’s Wildflower Project.” Research began to find wildflowers to catch eyes of passersby spring through summer.
We turned to established experts:
- Katy Prairie Conservancy: (now Coastal Prairie Conservancy) how to plant in a prairie;
- Native Plant Society Of Texas: Prairie flower recommendations.
- TexasPrairie.org. who gave us a referral to …
- Wildlife Habitat Federation who referred us to …
- The City of Fulshear, TX, who had created a successful wildflower planting along the Texas Heritage Pkwy. thpid.org/
Armed with THP’s advice to scalp grasses in September and plant seed in October, we adapted plans to our coastal location. We would scalp in October, clear grasses and sow in November to give seed time for needed cold stratification. Seed purchased in bulk included Texas native and pollinator mixes with an abundance of Bluebonnets. (right)
To ensure color through May, “Texas Natives” included Bluebonnet, Plains Coreopsis, Black Eye Susan, Clasping Coneflower, Indian Blanket, Mexican Hat and Prairie Coneflower. A second mix insured a longer bloom period and more pollinator plants: Purple Prairie Clover, Lemon Mint, White Prairie Clover, Bundleflower, Golden-Wave, Partridge Pea, American Basketflower, Cutleaf Daisy and lots of Butterfly Weed.
The first planting, Winter 2021, bloomed in Spring, 2022. The second year we expanded to Hwy 3’s west side. So not to disturb prior year seeds, hand spreaders and a seed drill were used. Soil was tilled on the west side. In the future we will hand-plant and use seed drills so not to disrupt roots or seeds that have fallen from previous plants.
The city crew did the heavy equipment work, scraping the area of all grass and grass seed, tilling and running the seed drill. Fabulous garden club volunteers came out with handheld tools, push seeders, rakes, hoes and bags of seeds. Neighbors donate buckets and bags of native wildflower and milkweed seed.
We had to cross a major thoroughfare, kind of League City’s “Autobahn.” Once safely across, we began, greeted with whoops and hollers, honks and cheers! Quite a spectacle each November.
We could not be prouder of our patch of Heaven in Spring for our birds, bees, butterflies and all the little pollinators. Two very successful years of beauty — a very impressive show — have resulted in citizen donations in honor and memory of loved ones for Wildflower Project’s continuation. With our wonderful city employees, we volunteers are dedicated to making our city a premier destination.
