From Left, Brian Herring, ODOT Stephens County Superintendent; Ann Headrick, Duncan Philomathic Club; Kevin Chumley, ODOT Jefferson County;  Monica Bartling, Chair, Color Oklahoma with Wildflowers; Lisa Padgham, Duncan Philomathic Club; Elizabeth Scott, GFWC Oklahoma Environmental Chairman; Diane Davenport, Duncan Philomathic Club.  3 ½ acres of Native Wildflowers were planted along High 81 between Osage Road and the Lawton Duncan Y in designated wildflower areas in the center median of US Hwy 81.  The GFWC-OK Duncan Philomathic Club received a grant from Color Oklahoma to fund the wildflower seeds that were planted by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation.  The City of Duncan Public Works Authority was also a collaborator on the project. Photo provided by Color Oklahoma.

By Monica Bartling, Chairman, Color Oklahoma

Duncan, OK Dec. 5, 2024 It was a cold and blustery Thursday morning in early December, but a group of volunteers were envisioning medians filled with native wildflowers next spring.  The volunteers from the GFWC-OK Duncan Philomathic Club, Color Oklahoma and GFWC Oklahoma gathered to watch Brian Herring, Superintendent, ODOT Stephens County and Kevin Chumley from ODOT Jefferson County plant 3 ½ acres of wildflowers along the center mediums between Osage Road and the Lawton/Duncan Y on US Hwy 81 north of Duncan.

The areas planted were previously designated as wildflower planting areas but had deteriorated with lack of seeding in recent years. This April the areas should show beautiful red and yellow Gaillardia (commonly known as Indian Blanket) and bright yellow Coreopsis tinctoria (commonly called plains coreopsis or tickseed). Showy Primrose was also planted but it requires two growing seasons to produce flowers.  The showy primrose will produce small pink blossoms that tend to spread quickly the second growing season.

The Duncan Philomathic Club received a matching grant from Color Oklahoma to fund the planting.  43 total pounds of seeds were planted. The planting is part of the local organization’s mission to make Duncan more beautiful and also support the pollinators.  According to the National Wildlife Federation planting wildflower plots is one way to help bees and other pollinators at a local level. The Duncan GFWC Club is one of five General Federation of Woman’s Clubs across Oklahoma to work with Color Oklahoma and ODOT to help fund and plant wildflowers areas across the state.

You can help fund plantings across Oklahoma, by donating to Color Oklahoma or by purchasing a wildflower license plate for your vehicle. https://coloroklahoma.com/you-can-help/. To make a tax deductible donation to Color Oklahoma, send your check to Color Oklahoma, PO Box 14274, Tulsa, OK 74159