Additional posting #3

Our Texas Bluebonnets

It's that time of year again, and I've been hearing talk on the local news and just in general about the legality of picking Bluebonnets. The myth is it is illegal to pick'em. The truth is no, it's not illegal. I was researching this online, through my RSS feed and otherwise, and came across an "official" article on it, which I've added below. So, for those of you that enjoy getting out to see the Bluebonnet fields and for those of you new to this area, enjoy this season! After their absence last spring due to the drought, they are a welcome sight, once again!

© 2000-2010 Texas Department of Public Safety.
Each Texas springtime brings flowers to fields and roadsides and a question to the minds of nature lovers - is it really illegal to pick bluebonnets?
The answer is no - there is no law against picking our State Flower. However, there are laws against criminal trespass so make sure you're not on private property when you stop to take your annual kids-in-the-bluebonnets photo.
There are laws against damaging or destroying rights-of-way and government property -so pick a few flowers, but don't dig up clumps of them and don't drive your vehicle into the midst of them. Remember, Mother Nature and in many cases, your fellow Texans, scattered wildflower seeds along medians and roadways so that everyone could enjoy spring flowers.
For the safety of yourself and others, as well as to limit your ticketability:

There are laws against impeding traffic - so be careful about slowing down to enjoy the view. Pick areas with light traffic conditions for stopping.

Signal before leaving or entering the roadway.

Park off the roadway (off of improved shoulders), parallel to the road in the direction of traffic, on the same side of the roadway that the flowers are on. Don't walk or run across lanes of traffic to get to the flowers.

Obey signs that prohibit parking on a particular stretch of roadway.

And remember that in addition to a ticket, snakes and fire ants also could put more blue in your day than you bargained for.

http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/director_staff/public_information/pr032602.htm