Saturday, May 28, 2011

In Praise of Vanity

Vanity license plates, that is.  North Carolina uses the proceeds from the extra fee charged for those special plates to sow flowers on the roadsides. 
My grocery shopping trip into Weaverville yesterday was enriched -- coming and going.
Thanks are due to the late Ladybird Johnson, who encouraged our government in these senseless acts of beauty.

I am unable to embed a slide show. Drat! To see more poppy portraits, go HERE.https://picasaweb.google.com/vickilanemysteries/Poppies#

24 comments:

Martin said...

Like most great ideas, simple and effective. What a wonderful show!

Merisi said...

A joy to the eyes and soul, thank you Ladybird!

The meadow in the Roman countryside are also awash in wild red poppies in early May, as are fields around here.


I loved your story about what the Cherokees left behind in your fields! My siblings still today look for Roman artifacts in the fields around the farms we grew up. Romans settled there two thousand years ago and the fields to these day reveal pottery shards and the like, every fall when they get plowed. About a decade ago, archeologists started digged and discovered a large manor building of what probably was a rich Roman landowner's home. I was lucky enough to visit just then. After taking all the information they could glean from their excavation, the whole area was again covered with soil, to preserve the riches underneath for posterity.

Brian Miller said...

nice. i am all for senseless acts of beauty...smiles.

Unknown said...

How beautiful Vicki. Monet's Red Poppies at Argenteil surprise me just the same. We grow wild flowers along motorways et al .. but they do not settle in permanently and have to be planted every year I think.

Pat in east TN said...

I have always enjoyed the fields of poppies on your side of the mountain. I only wish I could grow them like that.

Elora said...

And you know, Vicki...I've heard people complain because the flowers planted by the highway department on medan strips and elsewhere along the highway, aren't "native" species.

Elora

Ellis Vidler said...

Your pictures alone are worth a visit, but the words are nice too. :-) These are gorgeous. We have visitors coming from England next week. I think, after seeing this, we'll take a leisurely drive to Asheville. Thanks, Vicki!

June said...

What a good choice! Poppies!
The flower that never stops spreading.
Very economical and beautiful!

Vicki Lane said...

Well, phooey -- where did my slide show go? Let me see if I can make it work.

NCmountainwoman said...

I drove down the mountain on I 40 last week. The roadside flowers were just gorgeous. Took my mind off the idiots talking on cell phones and drinking Starbucks while drifting in the road.

Christine said...

All that senseless beauty is just plain wonderful! Makes my day!

100 Thoughts of Love said...

i saw those same poppies (only the red ones though just last week...we were so impressed , we stopped and took photos as well....very beautiful, Just what i expect from NC!!!!)

BB said...

I always wondered who was responsible for the beautiful flowers along the roads. Thanks.

Folkways Note Book said...

Vicki -- I am certainly impressed with the beauty of your roadsides. -- barbara

jennyfreckles said...

Glorious - what a wonderful idea...though I might get so distracted from driving that I'd end up in a ditch!

Anonymous said...

I'm happy that Ladybird initiated the ban on most billboards on interstates also . When we think back to the 60s, there were a number of new laws put in effect to help and beautify the environment that are still in effect today.
Deana the Queena

Eliane Zimmermann said...

what a great and useful idea! the bees must love it too! i just saw the first poppies a few days ago - remedy for the soul.

Kat said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Kat said...

Gorgeous! I do appreciate seeing the beautiful flowers along the roads. Thanks for sharing.

Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen said...

Funny, I always think of Lady Bird when I admire the lovely wild flowers on the roadways. I got a very close glimpse of her once in a Texas department store when she had come to the cosmetic counter early in the morning shopping with her raincoat over her house dress accompanied by a secret service man. I wanted to thank her, but didn't have the courage. I would love to go to the wild flower museum.
Sam

dannie said...

Even my husband who usually isn't into flowers commented how pretty the poppies are today. We hope to grow some next year.

dannie said...

Even my husband who usually isn't into flowers commented how pretty the poppies are today. We hope to grow some next year.

Kath said...

Just gorgeous.

Tipper said...

I had no clue that's where the money went-hmph I learned something!