1-1 1 1-2 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 660 1-3 WHEREAS, No flower other than the Texas bluebonnet can 1-4 capture the unique spirit of the Lone Star State or invoke 1-5 feelings of state pride and loyalty; and 1-6 WHEREAS, The bluebonnet was officially designated the Texas 1-7 state flower on March 7, 1901; after recognizing that there are 1-8 six species of the state flower, the Texas Legislature amended 1-9 this designation in 1971 by adding "any other variety of Bluebonnet 1-10 not heretofore recorded"; and 1-11 WHEREAS, The long-stem bluebonnet (Lupinus havardii) is 1-12 found growing only in a narrow band along the Rio Grande in the 1-13 state's Big Bend region; this long-stem variety has been developed 1-14 into a florist-quality, commercial cut-flower variety after five 1-15 years of research and marketing studies begun in 1989 by 1-16 Texas A&M University; and 1-17 WHEREAS, The Texas Department of Agriculture funded in the 1-18 spring of 1995 a two-year marketing test that allowed researchers 1-19 to grow and test market the flowers in Dallas and El Paso; this 1-20 test proved long-stem bluebonnets were extremely popular with 1-21 consumers; and 1-22 WHEREAS, The commercial variety of the long-stem bluebonnet 1-23 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 2-10 Texas 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 2-13 Big Bend Bluebonnet "Texas" series that include the Texas Sapphire, 2-14 a 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 bluebonnets; 2-18 and 2-19 WHEREAS, No other flower so embodies the natural beauty 2-20 found in Texas and therefore holds a special place in the heart 2-21 of all Texans; now, therefore, be it 2-22 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 2-23 75th Legislature, hereby recognize the Big Bend Bluebonnet 2-24 "Texas" series varieties for their contributions to the state's 2-25 spirit, beauty, and economic growth. 3-1 Shapleigh 3-2 ______________________________________ 3-3 President of the Senate 3-4 I hereby certify that the above 3-5 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 3-6 on May 7, 1997. 3-7 ______________________________________ 3-8 Secretary of the Senate 3-9 ______________________________________ 3-10 Member, Texas Senate