Proactive Volunteer
11-18-2004, 08:33 AM
Car tags could boost wildflower planting
By Jon Denton
The Oklahoman
A special Oklahoma tag is ready to hit the road. That’s if enough flower-loving motorists can be found to buy into the idea.
The chief promoter, nonprofit Color Oklahoma, has inspired the sale of about 50 tags. The deadline is Dec. 31 to sell the minimum order of 100. Short of that, the wildflower tag falls into the dustbin of history, spokeswoman Pearl Garrison said.
The retired Tulsa marketing manager came up with the idea about 3 years ago. What was then a casual interest in wildflowers has blossomed into a passion for flanking Oklahoma parks and roadways with a blanket of color.
She helped set up Color Oklahoma, then pushed for its embrace by the Oklahoma Native Plant Society.
“Every now and then, I need a project to get energized, and I spent about six months on the Internet, researching wildflower programs in other states,” she said.
She found Texas, Georgia, Florida, Minnesota and the Carolinas have wonderful wildflower programs. Nevada is a bit lacking, but then the climate and soil is wrong, she said.
Oklahoma? She was thrilled to discover the state ranks among the top five in native wildflower species. A wide diversity of topography, temperature, rainfall and soil nurtures the colorful flora.
“Because of that, Oklahoma lends itself to being a wildflower mecca,” Garrison said.
That notion helped persuade a parade of supporters. It also led to tangible success. There’s a $10,000 federal grant for seeds and research, a new drill seeding machine for the state Transportation Department and legislative approval for a special license plate.
Kim Shannon, wildflower expert with the Oklahoma Biological Survey, stepped up as chairman of Color Oklahoma. Joanne Orr, beautification coordinator with the Transportation Department, supported the effort to replace one of the agency’s aging mechanical seeders.
Big donors and Color Oklahoma, boosted by the nearly 400-member plant society, helped push contributions toward the $10,000 mark. Major donors to Color Oklahoma are the Anne and Henry Zarrow Foundation, Peggy Helmerich and Bonny Klein, all of Tulsa.
Orr said to buy the seeder, Color Oklahoma donated about $7,400, and the Transportation Department came up with about $2,000. The seeder’s manufacturer, Truax Co. of Minnesota, also discounted its selling price.
The seeder replaces one of three 13-year-old models in the department. “They are literally worn out,” Shannon said. State mechanics have struggled for years to keep the attachments working. Parts are not even available for repair.
Orr has high praise for the emerging private-public partnership.
“It will make a world of difference in ODOT’s ability to plant both effectively and with speed,” she said. That’s especially true given the short fall wildflower planting season now under way.
Although the Transportation Department’s wildflower program dates to 1976, getting power behind the flowers has not been easy. Most early plantings faltered, Orr said, due to a short seed supply and the inability to make the soil and seed contact needed for germination.
A good look at the successful Texas wildflower program led Oklahomans to create the highway beautification office in 1987. Since then, technology and planting has led to improved wildflower plots across the state, Orr said.
What hasn’t changed, however, is the need for public support. Oklahoma is among the few states that rely on donated seed for its wildflower plots. The special license plate is an attempt to give that effort a financial boost.
Before the tags can be made, the state Tax Commission must have prepaid applications in hand. The Color Oklahoma tag costs $35 plus $2 for the mail-in fee. Of that sum, $20 goes to Color Oklahoma.
If not enough tags are sold by Dec. 31, 2004, everybody gets their money back, Orr said.
The special tag must be renewed each year in addition to the regular tag. When the special tag attaches to the back of the vehicle, the regular tag goes inside the vehicle where it can be shown to law enforcement.
Garrison said adding beauty to the landscape can be contagious.
“As more and more people donate to Oklahoma parks and highways, they are going to feel more pride in their state,” she said. While she can’t speak to economic benefits, her research found wildflowers bring out a positive trait in human nature.
“Other states have noticed less littering where there were wildflowers alongside the road,” she said. “They tend to protect that natural beauty.”
Wear your colors
The Oklahoma Tax Commission requires 100 prepaid orders before the Color Oklahoma tags can be manufactured.
The tag’s $35 cost includes $20 in wildflower contributions. Mail-in orders carry an additional $2 charge.
The law gives four steps for ordering special tags:
1. Your regular license plate must be current.
2. Once you get a special plate, a timely renewal means you have priority on the plate in the future.
3. The special tag is displayed on the rear of the vehicle to which it is assigned. The commission recommends keeping the regular plate inside the vehicle.
4. At your request, a special plate may be transferred to another vehicle.
Allow 6-to-8 weeks for processing and delivery.
Applications are available at tag offices or by contacting the commission’s Motor Vehicle Division at 521-2468. Application Form 708E also can be downloaded from the Web site www.oktax.state.ok.us.
By Jon Denton
The Oklahoman
A special Oklahoma tag is ready to hit the road. That’s if enough flower-loving motorists can be found to buy into the idea.
The chief promoter, nonprofit Color Oklahoma, has inspired the sale of about 50 tags. The deadline is Dec. 31 to sell the minimum order of 100. Short of that, the wildflower tag falls into the dustbin of history, spokeswoman Pearl Garrison said.
The retired Tulsa marketing manager came up with the idea about 3 years ago. What was then a casual interest in wildflowers has blossomed into a passion for flanking Oklahoma parks and roadways with a blanket of color.
She helped set up Color Oklahoma, then pushed for its embrace by the Oklahoma Native Plant Society.
“Every now and then, I need a project to get energized, and I spent about six months on the Internet, researching wildflower programs in other states,” she said.
She found Texas, Georgia, Florida, Minnesota and the Carolinas have wonderful wildflower programs. Nevada is a bit lacking, but then the climate and soil is wrong, she said.
Oklahoma? She was thrilled to discover the state ranks among the top five in native wildflower species. A wide diversity of topography, temperature, rainfall and soil nurtures the colorful flora.
“Because of that, Oklahoma lends itself to being a wildflower mecca,” Garrison said.
That notion helped persuade a parade of supporters. It also led to tangible success. There’s a $10,000 federal grant for seeds and research, a new drill seeding machine for the state Transportation Department and legislative approval for a special license plate.
Kim Shannon, wildflower expert with the Oklahoma Biological Survey, stepped up as chairman of Color Oklahoma. Joanne Orr, beautification coordinator with the Transportation Department, supported the effort to replace one of the agency’s aging mechanical seeders.
Big donors and Color Oklahoma, boosted by the nearly 400-member plant society, helped push contributions toward the $10,000 mark. Major donors to Color Oklahoma are the Anne and Henry Zarrow Foundation, Peggy Helmerich and Bonny Klein, all of Tulsa.
Orr said to buy the seeder, Color Oklahoma donated about $7,400, and the Transportation Department came up with about $2,000. The seeder’s manufacturer, Truax Co. of Minnesota, also discounted its selling price.
The seeder replaces one of three 13-year-old models in the department. “They are literally worn out,” Shannon said. State mechanics have struggled for years to keep the attachments working. Parts are not even available for repair.
Orr has high praise for the emerging private-public partnership.
“It will make a world of difference in ODOT’s ability to plant both effectively and with speed,” she said. That’s especially true given the short fall wildflower planting season now under way.
Although the Transportation Department’s wildflower program dates to 1976, getting power behind the flowers has not been easy. Most early plantings faltered, Orr said, due to a short seed supply and the inability to make the soil and seed contact needed for germination.
A good look at the successful Texas wildflower program led Oklahomans to create the highway beautification office in 1987. Since then, technology and planting has led to improved wildflower plots across the state, Orr said.
What hasn’t changed, however, is the need for public support. Oklahoma is among the few states that rely on donated seed for its wildflower plots. The special license plate is an attempt to give that effort a financial boost.
Before the tags can be made, the state Tax Commission must have prepaid applications in hand. The Color Oklahoma tag costs $35 plus $2 for the mail-in fee. Of that sum, $20 goes to Color Oklahoma.
If not enough tags are sold by Dec. 31, 2004, everybody gets their money back, Orr said.
The special tag must be renewed each year in addition to the regular tag. When the special tag attaches to the back of the vehicle, the regular tag goes inside the vehicle where it can be shown to law enforcement.
Garrison said adding beauty to the landscape can be contagious.
“As more and more people donate to Oklahoma parks and highways, they are going to feel more pride in their state,” she said. While she can’t speak to economic benefits, her research found wildflowers bring out a positive trait in human nature.
“Other states have noticed less littering where there were wildflowers alongside the road,” she said. “They tend to protect that natural beauty.”
Wear your colors
The Oklahoma Tax Commission requires 100 prepaid orders before the Color Oklahoma tags can be manufactured.
The tag’s $35 cost includes $20 in wildflower contributions. Mail-in orders carry an additional $2 charge.
The law gives four steps for ordering special tags:
1. Your regular license plate must be current.
2. Once you get a special plate, a timely renewal means you have priority on the plate in the future.
3. The special tag is displayed on the rear of the vehicle to which it is assigned. The commission recommends keeping the regular plate inside the vehicle.
4. At your request, a special plate may be transferred to another vehicle.
Allow 6-to-8 weeks for processing and delivery.
Applications are available at tag offices or by contacting the commission’s Motor Vehicle Division at 521-2468. Application Form 708E also can be downloaded from the Web site www.oktax.state.ok.us.