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Orange County Roadside Wildflowers — Johnny Randall responses to CfE questions 1) Regarding data collection, why try to inventory Orange County roadsides? Why not take a sampling based approach? E.g. sample from a frame of 500m roadside segments (whatever can be manageably surveyed). One could stratify by road direction (N -S, E -W), distance to stream, presence of parallel utility right of way, and so on. This approach could result in a more manageable data collection process and yield valid estimates roadside wildflower metrics (question 2). The original roadside inventory plan was to determine where the high - quality (i.e., greatest botanical diversity) occurs along Orange County roads and rights -of -way. From these data, the BOCC was going to have an objective means of establishing "no- mow -no- spray' areas. BUT— because we at the Botanical Garden and our "roadside warriors" found that the vast majority of roadsides left to grow "wild" (i.e., not part of someone's yard or business) contained a fabulous array and display of wildflowers. We were particularly distressed over the effects of herbicides on these areas. Herbicides are killing our extraordinary roadside wildflowers and transforming these areas to stands of horribly unattractive dead vegetation. Your suggestion for a sampling -based approach is certainly one way to gather data on the plant diversity along roadsides, we do not have the time and resources for further data collection. We therefore request that the BOCC, through a recommendation from the CfE, help to set up meetings with the appropriate staff from NCDOT, Duke Energy, Piedmont Electric, and other rights -of -way managers to discuss alternatives to herbicide use. And to answer Question 3 here: Yes — the Botanical Garden would consider being the OC staff, DOT, and utility company liaison. I personally look forward to having this discussion as soon as possible. 2) What are the metrics that would be used to measure the success of a roadside wildflower program? area sprayed with herbicide? species diversity? abundance of invasive? 3) If the CFE could get the Board of Commissioners to update the 2012 resolution to expand its commitment to also reduce the use of roadside herbicides, would the NCBG consider being the OC staff, DOT, and utility company liaison? The current resolution puts the CFE in that position. I don't get the sense that the CFE has the bandwidth or resources to manage such relationships. 4) 1 really like the idea of "wild roadside" program that could perhaps tie into other scenic routes in the county. I could see the local tourism organization supporting such a program. Do you have ideas for routes? We can certainly recommend "wild roadside" scenic routes. I imagine that there are ways to create an application with a narrator who describes these wildflower sections as the driver /bike- rider /walker approaches these areas. We would love to brainstorm such idea.