Have You Noticed All Those Flowers Along Michigan Highways? Here’s Why

When it comes to Michigan's roads, whether they're surface streets or highways, there's something that all Michiganders can agree on—the roads stink.

What? It's not like it's some big secret.

But while Michigan's Department of Transportation (MDOT) has been busy working on the roads, they've also been doing something a little more unexpected. It seems that they've been planting flowers too!

Michigan’s Roads Are Getting a Colorful Upgrade

Yep. Along Michigan highways, MDOT has been planting native wildflowers to help create pollinator habitats—and honestly, they're pretty beautiful.

a bunch of flowers that are in the grass

I noticed it myself when we were driving to visit family recently. There were wildflowers and sunflowers popping up in the highway medians, and I couldn't help but think, OK, MDOT. I see what you're doing here.

Why Is MDOT Planting Wildflowers?

It seems like MDOT has seized that opportunity, because the flowers were absolutely gorgeous! And the planting of all these flowers is helping a great cause: our pollinators.

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Pollinators are facing challenges around the world, so anything we can do to help is awesome. By planting native flowering plants, MDOT has added lots of food sources for bees and helped to improve wildlife habitats throughout Michigan.

MDOT Has One Warning About the Flowers

While the planting of the native wildflowers has practical benefits, it obviously has a visual and aesthetic benefit too. However, MDOT used Facebook to recently remind people that while the flowers are super pretty, "parking on the shoulder of busy roadways to take pictures of those flowers can pose a bit of a safety issue." Instead, if you check in on MDOT's Facebook, you can see plenty of pretty pictures of the flowers.