By Goolsby                                             H.R. No. 852

         Line and page numbers may not match official copy.

         Bill not drafted by TLC or Senate E&E.

                                 R E S O L U T I O N

 1-1           WHEREAS, No flower other than the Texas bluebonnet can

 1-2     capture the unique spirit of the Lone Star State or invoke feelings

 1-3     of state pride and loyalty; and

 1-4           WHEREAS, The bluebonnet was officially designated the Texas

 1-5     state flower on March 7, 1901; and after recognizing that there are

 1-6     six species of the state flower, the Texas Legislature amended this

 1-7     designation in 1971, by adding "any other variety of Bluebonnet not

 1-8     heretofore recorded"; and

 1-9           WHEREAS, The long-stem bluebonnet (Lupinus havardii) is found

1-10     growing only in a narrow band along the Rio Grande in the state's

1-11     Big Bend region; and this long-stem variety has been developed into

1-12     a florist-quality, commercial cut-flower variety after five years

1-13     of research and marketing studies begun in 1989 by Texas A&M

1-14     University; and

1-15           WHEREAS, The Texas Department of Agriculture funded in the

1-16     spring of 1995 a two-year marketing test that allowed researchers

1-17     to grow and test market the flowers in Dallas and El Paso; and this

1-18     test proved long-stem bluebonnets were extremely popular with

1-19     consumers; and

1-20           WHEREAS, The commercial variety of the long-stem bluebonnet

1-21     is in demand by the florist industry for its color and fragrance;

 2-1     blue flowers are prized for floral arrangements because this color

 2-2     in nature is a rarity; and also because strong fragrances are

 2-3     rarely found in the majority of commercially bred cut flowers; and

 2-4           WHEREAS, The commercial long-stem bluebonnet offers a great

 2-5     potential for the Texas economy and increased business for Texas

 2-6     nursery growers and floral retailers because almost all cut flowers

 2-7     are produced out-of-state; and

 2-8           WHEREAS, Potential market estimates indicate that if 10

 2-9     percent of the cut flowers bought by Texans were produced by Texas

2-10     growers, a $100 million industry would be created; and

2-11           WHEREAS, The Texas Agricultural Experiment Station has

2-12     released for commercial production several varieties in the Big

2-13     Bend Bluebonnet "Texas" series that include the Texas Sapphire, a

2-14     traditional blue flower, as well as Texas Ice, a white bluebonnet;

2-15     and

2-16           WHEREAS, Texas A&M University offers contracts to Texas

2-17     growers who desire to commercially grow these long-stem

2-18     bluebonnets; and

2-19           WHEREAS, No other flower so embodies the natural beauty found

2-20     in Texas and therefore holds a special place in the heart of all

2-21     Texans; now, therefore, be it

2-22           RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas

2-23     hereby recognizes the Big Bend Bluebonnet "Texas" series varieties

2-24     for their contributions to the state's spirit, beauty, and economic

2-25     growth.