A field full of wild flowers in Heath, TX.

NEW PATH INITIATIVE – SOW HEATH

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SOW Heath with Texas native, drought tolerant wildflowers is underway

The first planting is scheduled for August 20 in three sites and will be done by volunteers and staff under the direction of 38-year Heath resident and wildflower expert, Jerry Shippe.

Mr. Shippe has owned The Plant Place in Dallas since 1973, which is now being operated by his son. He launched “Bluebonnets for Rockwall” in 1996, a volunteer, city and TxDOT collaboration that raised funds to plant over four acres of bluebonnets along I-30. His efforts received recognition by Lady Bird Johnson, wife of President Lyndon B. Johnson and founder of the National Wildflower Research Center in Austin. Now Mr. Shippe is going to help put Heath on the map for wildflowers, and citizens are encouraged to participate!

BENEFITS TO “SOW HEATH”

  • Economical beautification project
  • A “Texas Heritage” project that supports Heath’s semi-rural image
  • Year 1 of sowing reaps 2 additional years of expanded growth before established
    Year 1 = 30-40% bloom; balance of blooms over year 2 and year 3
  • All blooms are perennial to provide years of beauty
  • No watering needed; ever
  • No maintenance needed; ever
    “No Mowing Signs” to be placed in the seeded areas during the Spring

PILOT PROJECT SITES

  • City-owned land at Heath Crossing & FM 549 entry (not in flood plain area)
  • The Reserve – 25 acres owned by the HMBC along Chris Cuny/Hawk Drive
  • If the pilot project is successful, future sites to include City trails

RECOMMENDED APPROACH

  • When to Sow: Sowing scarified seeds should be done late August to October.
  • How to Sow: For best results, spread seeds on roughed up soil to make contact and push in by walking over them.
  • What to Sow: Indian Paint Brush and Bluebonnets are a good combination.

HOW CITIZENS CAN PARTICIPATE:

  • You are invited to the first sowing on August 20 at 6 p.m. to learn first-hand from Mr. Shippe how to sow seeds at your property. Meet at the round-a-bout on Chris Cuny and Hawk Drive.
  • You can order seeds from the same vendor to be used for the PATH planting:
    Wildseed Farms, wildseedfarms.com, 830-990-8080
  • How much coverage you are seeking will determine how much seed to purchase. Prices range from $60 per pound of bluebonnet seeds that will cover an acre, to a few dollars for a small packet of seeds to cover 10 sq. feet.