Photos by Kathy Huber, A dog named Maybe on the bayou at 11th and T.C. President Barack Obama's visit to the University of Texas in Austin could be overshadowed by the emergence of a scandal of potentially epic proportions. Rileigh in the bluebonnets in Plantersville. It's hard to believe, but Texas has been named the second 'most hated' state in the U.S. Texas is booming with 'Best Places to Retire,' according to U.S. News, Trump finds sympathetic ear, few questions with Fox's Bartiromo as his first post-election interviewer, Houston trades parade for food giveaway this Thanksgiving, These 5 Texas companies got slapped with the biggest safety fines, 9 legendary Houston businesses we’ll miss, Need gift ideas? She lives in Shepherd Park Plaza and has managed the garden for 20 years. Suspicion abounds about the origin of the plants, with some claiming sabotage. The Baby Blue Eyes were grown by Beth Galiano. Next year, we're going to pull any maroon bluebonnet as soon as we see it.". And if Parsons and the A&M crew succeed in developing an orange bluebonnet, Hogue said UT will plant it. (WildflowerHaven.com), Wildflowers Pink Evening Primrose "We're trying to make it as discrete as possible, and we're trying to capture the seeds. Someone who may or may not be an Aggie planted maroon bluebonnets near the UT Tower and State Capitol Building. It's led to much consternation from some students. Jester at 11th Street and White Oak Bayou. Sabotage suspected as maroon bluebonnets pop up near UT Tower So, not only does the public benefit in many ways, but so do the creatures that depend on the local waterways for survival. (Houston Chronicle), Nathan in the Bluebonnets by dav345 (DAV345), Bluebonnets field; grass; trees; roads (Texas Parks & Wildlife), FILE - In this April 2, 2004 file photo, Texas bluebonnets are shown blooming in a bed on the grounds of the Governor's Mansion in Austin, Texas. This diss track says Megan Thee Stallion isn't from Houston. (Texas A&M photo), Maroon bluebonnets seen on the UT campus, April 10, 2014. "Others say if they get too much they want them removed.". "Somebody scattered the seed probably," said Richter. Wildflowers also provide sustainable landscape and wildlife habitat. UT officials would prefer not to announce the exact date the offending plants will be taken up, said Markus Hogue, the university's program coordinator for irrigation and water conservation. It's hard to believe, but Texas has been named the second 'most hated' state in the U.S. Texas is booming with 'Best Places to Retire,' according to U.S. News, Trump finds sympathetic ear, few questions with Fox's Bartiromo as his first post-election interviewer, This Monopoly board shows how gentrified Third Ward is, We finally figured out what the parents in 'Home Alone' did for a living, These 5 Texas companies got slapped with the biggest safety fines, Need gift ideas? Appearance of A&M-colored flowers causing controversy on campus. The plant was originally found in the wild near San Antonio, Texas. Money for the parade was used to give out free Thanksgiving meals to Houstonians. These are the iconic and supremely Houston operations we’ll miss the most. We think it is both beautiful and humorous, so we would like to share it with others." ( Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle ) (Houston Chronicle), Streptanthus bracteatus Gray ( Melissa Phillip / Houston Chronicle ) (Houston Chronicle), A small bloom of bluebonnets are seen along the south meadow trail at the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center Tuesday, March 13, 2012, in Houston. This is just the first phase in a long-term plan to beautify UT… "We've been monitoring it to see how much water it was using," Hogue said. Some at UT now seeing red — or at least maroon Bluebonnets with a hue similar to one of Texas A&M’s colors have cropped up on the UT campus. This week’s Wayback Wednesday examines the state’s beloved bluebonnet, though not the "blue" so much as the other hues that have graced the petals of Texas' state flower. At UT, the opposite is happening. The suspicious bluebonnets started to fade at the University of Texas at Austin. Plan for the fall between September and November; Pick your location. credit: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center (see main text), Field of Bluebonnets on a cloudy spring day, The White Firewheel is a unique and rare flower only found in Hardin County. As an irrigation expert, Hogue had a few kind words to say about the alleged pranksters. Bear the Bernese mountain dog by Lisa Vavricka. Richter said he didn't know anything about that, but he said it is likely that someone did plant them deliberately. 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. The contraband flowers are in a bed that was switched five years ago to the "xeriscape" landscape design, requiring little or no irrigation. "Dr. Parsons mentioned that maroon is a recessive trait, but we're seeing more and more," Hogue said. The garden supplies organically grown vegetables, free of charge to church food pantries in the area. Heather has reported live from the White House and the Oscars, as well as produced cutting edge series from sub Saharan Africa. Carol got started in journalism while teaching English in Poland during martial law. Courtesy Rich Olivieri/WildflowerHaven.com (WildflowerHaven.com), Wildflowers Indian blanket Texas is home to some of the most beautiful flowers. "We anticipate soon," Hogue said Wednesday. 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. Another professor said he thought UT crews had planted the maroon flowers by mistake, but that's not possible, Hogue said. UT decides Longhorns have been pranked, will rip out maroon bluebonnets. "We're trying to get it native to where it survives on its own.". A native of Des Moines, Iowa, she holds a Master?s degree in journalism from Northwestern University and a Master?s in sociology from Michigan State University. 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. Eric Webb American-Statesman Staff. While it is suspected that Aggies had something to do with the occurrence, it remains only a rumor. It is a great favorite with Aggies, hence the nickname "Aggiebonnet". Hogue said he suspects it was the work of Texas A&M supporters. Why wade through a pile of emails when you can check out this Houston Holiday Shopping Guide... Houston boy gives 'blessing bags' to Houston's homeless people, Texas grandparents find unique way to be a part of Thanksgiving, Houston men tried to sell $317M worth of non-existent N95 masks, Explore the history of the JFK assassination from home, Americans continue with travel plans despite pleas to stay home, Trae tha Truth and his Relief Gang are at it again, Houston tattoo artist finds joy in doing free self-harm cover-ups, Supreme Court rejects Walmart's bid to sell liquor in Texas, Houston trades parade for food giveaway this Thanksgiving, Little Free Libraries in Houston flourish amid pandemic, 9 legendary Houston businesses we’ll miss. (Ken Helmreich), Riley on the White Oak Bayou. ( Michael Paulsen / Chronicle ) (Chronicle), A bee works on a spring wild flower at the Galveston City Cemetery Wednesday, April 15, 2009, in Galveston. At A&M, though, the controversy has led to much hilarity. 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