The “Operation Wildflower 2016 Roadsides in Bloom” calendar, which showcases the natural beauty along West Virginia’s roads, is now available.
Orders for the calendar, which are free to West Virginia residents, are now being accepted on the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection website.
The photos featured in the calendar were submitted by photographers from across West Virginia for a contest co-sponsored by DEP and the Division of Highways.
This year’s cover photo, which showcases white heath aster along Route 200 in Mineral County, was submitted by Patty Barker.
The 12 pictures featured for each month of the year are:
• January: Dogwood in bloom on a clay road in Roane County; Gladys Carper, photographer
• February: Mountain laurel along Lake Stephens Road, in Raleigh County; Kathy Taraczkozy, photographer
• March: Wildflowers along Rt. 19 in Mercer County; James W. Lyons, photographer
• April: Spotted star thistle on Whitley Road in Raleigh County; Rita D. McAlpine, photographer
• May: Turk’s cap lilies along the Highland Scenic Highway in Pocahontas County; Edward Rehbein, photographer
• June: Black-Eyed Susans on Rt. 20 in Summers County; Angie Bolen, photographer
• July: Bluets along County Route 6 in Pleasants County; Pam Mulligan, photographer
• August: Showy orange honeysuckle along Rural Mountain Road in Randolph County; Lois Pigott, photographer
• September: Fall wildflowers on the Highland Scenic Highway in Pocahontas County; Patricia Moles, photographer
• October: Cosmos in a Division of Highways plot along Rt. 14 in Wirt County; Carletta Johnston, photographer
• November: Thistle on Rt. 39 in Pocahontas County; Ann Walker, photographer
• December: Bee Balm near Onego, Pendelton County; Sydney Morgan, photographer
To qualify for the calendar, the photo must have been taken in West Virginia and must feature wildflowers not cultivated flower beds. The road near the wildflowers must also be prominently visible.
