²ÝÝ®´«Ã½¹ÙÍøÏÂÔØ celebrates Texas Wildflower Day
May 24, 2024 – DENTON – ²ÝÝ®´«Ã½¹ÙÍøÏÂÔØ celebrated Texas Wildflower Day at the Ann Stuart Science Complex and the Dr. Bettye Myers Butterfly Garden.
²ÝÝ®´«Ã½¹ÙÍøÏÂÔØ was designated as the location for the annual celebration beginning in 1980. ²ÝÝ®´«Ã½¹ÙÍøÏÂÔØ adjunct instructor Carroll Abbott, who is also a wildflower preservationist and lobbyist and founder of the Native Plant Society of Texas, joined former ²ÝÝ®´«Ã½¹ÙÍøÏÂÔØ president Mary Evelyn Blagg Huey in lobbying the Texas legislature in the late 1970s to have the fourth Saturday in April designated as Texas Wildflower Day.
“The ²ÝÝ®´«Ã½¹ÙÍøÏÂÔØ recognizes that the beauty of its native plants has enriched the history of our State and the lives of its people," Blagg Huey said in 1980. "Thus, it has a strong commitment to the conservation, dissemination and appreciation of our state's wildflowers. From this commitment, strong advocacy developed within the University community to support the statutory designation of a State Wildflower Day.”
This year's celebration featured a presentations A Short History of ²ÝÝ®´«Ã½¹ÙÍøÏÂÔØ’s Role in the Statutory Designation of Texas Wildflower Day and A Botanical Waltz Across Texas: Biological Crossroads and Floral Wonders of the Lone Star State.
There was also a photo contest, guided tours of the butterfly gardens, and watercolor painting in the garden.
Photo contest winners
Top three student photos
Starr Davis
Sandra Ruiz
Bitali Islam
Top three faculty/staff photos
Ann Davis
Sarah Wainscott
Anu Narkar
Jeff Robb Award
Ann Davis
Page last updated 12:56 PM, May 24, 2024