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RALEIGH – In 1985, the North Carolina Department of Transportation launched its Wildflower Program with just 12 acres of roadside land adorned with wildflower beds.

The initiative has flourished, and almost four decades later hundreds of acres of wildflower beds are planted and meticulously maintained on roadsides statewide.

The program’s success is due to NCDOT’s employees, who were honored this week during the 2023 Wildflower Awards.

“Our employees are the backbone of our efforts to keep North Carolina’s roadways beautiful,” said David Harris, NCDOT’s Roadside Environmental engineer. “Their hard work and attention to detail ensure that travelers and residents alike can enjoy the breathtaking scenery that North Carolina has to offer.”

These wildflower awards are sponsored by The Garden Club of North Carolina and given to the best-looking flower beds in each region of the state. The awards recognize the efforts of NCDOT staff who carry out the program and enhance the overall appearance and environmental quality of the state’s highways.

The Wildflower Awards were given for beds that bloomed in 2023. The winners are:

William D. Johnson Daylily Award:

First Place – Division 4, US 264 at Dowing Street in Wilson County
Second Place – Division 7, I-85 at Grandover Resort in Guilford County

Best Regional Wildflower Planting, Eastern Region:

First Place – Division 2, NC 58 at NC 24 Cape Carteret in Carteret County
Second Place – Division 6, I-95 South in Robeson County

Best Regional Wildflower Planting, Central Region:

First Place – Division 7, US 29 at Barnes Street in Rockingham County
Second Place – Division 9, US 52 exit 129 Perch Road in Stokes County

Best Regional Wildflower Planting, Western Region:

First Place – Division 12, I-40 at exit 138 Oxford School Road in Catawba County
Second Place – Division 13, US 25/70 at South Windy Ridge Road in Madison County

Best Overall Division Wildflower Program:

First Place – Division 9, which includes Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Rowan and Stokes County
Second Place – Division 7, which includes Alamance, Caswell, Guilford, Orange, and Rockingham County

A Flickr album with photos of the winners is available here.