Driving along the highway of northern Texas in late spring can feel like a ride through a gallery of native wildflowers. The roadsides were rich in color in an otherwise featureless landscape. Among the stars of the roadside bloom was Indian Blanket, sometimes called fire wheel, (Gaillardia pulchella). This flower was very familiar to this coastal North Carolina resident. It is as common on the North Carolina coast as it is in the sun-baked soil of northern Texas.

But Indian Blanket is just one part of the roadside mosaic. In a good year, you'll also see stands of Prairie Aster, lance-leaf coreopsis, black-eyed Susans, horsemint, and more. These wildflowers often grow in mixed communities, blooming in succession from spring into summer depending on rainfall and temperature.

Miles and miles of color passed me before I finally pulled off for what I planned to be a few minute to admire the flowers. An hour later I was still wandering, exploring and admiring the roadside color. I probably could have stayed another hour, but I needed get back on the road.