North Carolina has had a very popular roadside wildflower planting program
in place since 1985.  See:
www.ncdot.gov/doh/operations/dp_chief_eng/roadside/wildflowerbook/

I drove up from Wilmington (coast) to Raleigh (piedmont) last Wednesday and
saw quite a few large scale beds in bloom.  The program is funded by sale
of 'vanity' license plates and is extremely popular with the public, thus
the publication of the book referenced above.
To quote the web page:  "The North Carolina Department of Transportation
Wildflower Program began in 1985 as an integral part of highway
beautification. Wildflower beds are installed and maintained across the
state by Roadside Environmental personnel in each of the fourteen highway
divisions."

 I know there is also active research going on about growing biofuel crops
on some roadsides and if there were a hue and cry to grow bee forage I
suspect the DOT would be interested after the positive experience with the
ornamental wildflower program.  After all, letting bee forage plants bloom
would be  low cost alternative to regular mowing.

Bill Lord
Louisburg NC

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