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