(Boyce and Liz Funderburk), Pink primrose along I-45 near the John M. O'Quinn Estuarial Corridor. We should see a decreased number.". It was taken along Highway 71 near Interstate 10. Jester (Chas Hollis/Reader submission), Texas wildflowers (Lisa Griffis/Reader submission), Huey Conn riding Tennessee walking horse “Lucas” in the bluebonnets on the Jacobs Cattle Ranch in Brenham. ( Brett Coomer / Chronicle ) (Houston Chronicle), Bluebonnets shown Friday, April 1, 2011, in Chappell Hill. At this point we must take note of the amazing strategies and wiles of these little pink bluebonnets. Nature was supposed to dispose of the maroon bluebonnet, but Longhorns are still waiting. With some blooms already popping up, a Texas botanist says that the state should have a good showing of wildflowers this spring because of the fall and winter rains. Hogue said his team had planted regular bluebonnet seeds all over the campus. The suspicious bluebonnets started to fade at the University of Texas at Austin. The suspicious bluebonnets started to fade at The University of Texas at Austin. (Mona Strickland). See why we love these blue bonnets so much at, In the Harris County Flood Control Basin off North Gessner. Imagine a field of bluebonnets and two inquisitive horticulturists, Greg Grant and Dr. Jerry Parsons. After a few generations of selecting out bluebonnets with increasing red or maroon color, they eventually came up with a deep maroon bluebonnet. Bluebonnets also come in white and pink but if they are put with blue ones all would naturally return to blue over time, according to Richter. The Baby Blue Eyes were grown by Beth Galiano. Suspicion abounds about the origin of the plants, with some claiming sabotage. So, not only does the public benefit in many ways, but so do the creatures that depend on the local waterways for survival. This brings us to the sordid tale of the Texas Maroon bluebonnet. Spring turkey hunters, who have seen back-to-back wildflower-poor years caused by persistent drought, are enjoying the explosion of vegetation triggered by this year's wet conditions. UT suspects sabotage after A&M-created maroon flowers pop up near tower, Hiro Horikoshi/The University of Texas at Austin. While this scenario is made up, the discovery of maroon bluebonnets growing around the University of Texas Austin’s tower was real. Officials fear their landscape has been infiltrated by longtime rival Aggies. A tale of creative rivalry- Aggie Maroon Bluebonnets growing on UT Austin campus ; Back To Top. While it is suspected that Aggies had something to do with the occurrence, it remains only a rumor. "That leads me to believe that somebody is putting out more seeds. Wildflowers also provide sustainable landscape and wildlife habitat. White Hall, Texas on Thursday, March 3. It is a great favorite with Aggies, hence the nickname "Aggiebonnet". Hogue said he suspects it was the work of Texas A&M supporters. The Maroon Bluebonnet took over twenty years to develop. "We've been monitoring it to see how much water it was using," Hogue said. Photo taken 3/19/09 before noon. "They took red ones and isolated them, and continued to select them until there was only maroon left," said Skip Richter from A&M's agrilife extension center in Harris County. Plan for the fall between September and November; Pick your location. Advertisement. Jerry had been working for years with bluebonnets, trying to isolate and select out strains of red, white, and blue flowers, in an effort to create the Texas flag out of bluebonnets. (E.L. Gill/Reader submission), Zooming in shows the detail on a verbena blossom along a trail in the Medical Center area of San Antonio. He is hoping to finish by May 1. Currently Reading. Credit: Courtesy Murry, Saturday S.A. Life 0321 Wildflowers horsemint An example of the bluebonnets A&M created. (Unknown). Maroon bluebonnets are taking over flowerbeds below the school's iconic tower. "Others say if they get too much they want them removed.". ( Michael Paulsen / Chronicle ) (Chronicle), A bee works on a spring wild flower at the Galveston City Cemetery Wednesday, April 15, 2009, in Galveston. At UT, the opposite is happening. Heather went on to appear on primetime TV in the UK, the US and across the Globe interviewing the likes of former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, writer Maya Angelou and actor George Clooney.