NEW ORLEANS – The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD), Louisiana Project Wildflower, and the English Turn Civic Improvement Association announce the first wildflower planting for the New Orleans area. The planting will take place on Tuesday, October 19, on Highway 406 (General de Gaulle at Woodland Highway).

In an effort to bring the motoring public closer to some of Louisiana's great gifts, DOTD is sharing “Louisiana grown” wildflower seeds with cities and towns throughout the state. This effort will allow Louisiana residents and visitors alike to see first hand the beauty of Louisiana wildflowers, how they are managed, how we can conserve them by transferring seeds, and how, over time, management of Louisiana's roadsides will become more cost effective. As years progress and seeds are produced, more acreage will be covered with these beautiful wildflowers (coreopsis tinctoria and ruella). This Conservation and Restoration Project is a great opportunity to not only beautify, but to educate and learn about Louisiana's beautiful legacy.

We are inviting the public to look for native strands of wildflowers along Louisiana highways and to notify the DOTD about their location and variety of color. We will compile this information creating a map with location, variety of wildflower, and blooming season to assist the motoring public. The University of Louisiana at Lafayette will house the statewide seed bank to assist with collection, conservation, and production of native seeds.

Participating in the plantings each year are Garden Club members, area students, Woman's Club members, Civic Organizations, elected officials, Scouts, Louisiana Project Wildflower members, DOTD personnel, and interested citizens. As the years progress, we plan to see “a more beautiful Louisiana”. For more information, please contact Mary L. Courville at (337) 739-0909 or (337) 228-7810; or Frances Sewell at (504) 394-2037.