Say Florida flora and most people envision palm trees and birds of paradise. But the state is known also for its stretches of wildflowers, starting nearly a century ago when garden clubs led the effort to beautify highways. In the 1960s, the Florida Department of Transportation stepped in to help plant and maintain wildflowers along hundreds of miles of highways. The best viewing spot is the Panhandle Wildflower Route, along State Road 65 through the Apalachicola National Forest, from Telogia 26.5 miles south to Sumatra. During the late fall and in early spring, you'll find more than 250 native species, from narrow-leaf sunflowers to carnivorous yellow pitcher plants (pictured at left). Download a map from the Florida Wildflower Foundation at www.flawildflowers.org.