Back in the spring, we posted some photos of the incredible wildflower blooms in California. As we traveled through North Carolina, Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Colorado this summer we saw a range of plants and trees — some intentionally planted, some not — that brought unexpected beauty to our (often long) drives. PS: because these photos were taken from a moving truck, they really don’t do these views justice!
From Pennsylvania through Arkansas, we saw crepe myrtle trees everywhere. Apparently these trees thrive in the Southern US, and their long lasting blooms brighten up yards, parks…and entire stretches of highways. They are gorgeous!
Driving through Tennessee, we also came upon large swaths of roadside wildflowers, clearly planted and maintained with care. In Oklahoma and Colorado, rudbeckia lines the highways and fields.
Michele has been particularly happy to see that plant, and the huge lantana shrubs found in many planned landscapes — those were both staples of our garden back in Newton!
One other plant we saw (unfortunately) throughout the south was kudzu. Have you ever driven along a highway and seen what looks like large topiaries? Chances are, that’s kudzu – “The Invasive Vine that Ate the South.” According to the Nature Conservancy, kudzu was “brought to U.S. in 1876 as ornamental, (and) spread from 1930s–1950s for erosion control”. The ranger in Natchez Trace State Park told us that after the local land was farmed out, and the soil began to erode, kudzu was brought in to manage the erosion. But all it did was cover the erosion..and with a growth rate of up to 12 inches a day it’s covering a lot more than that!
We have also seen a TON of less than beautiful items along the road — billboards for personal injury law firms! According to the American Tort Reform Association, law firms spent more than $1 billion on outdoor advertising from 2017 – 2021. The ATRA also reported that “on average, spending on local outdoor advertisements for legal services increased by more than 33% between 2017 and 2021.” No wonder we saw so many billboards. And by the way…they are all tacky!
