After the fun of our spring wildflower challenge it seemed that a focus on summer wildflowers was in order. It is amazing just how many wildflowers you see when you begin to really observe them. I have really enjoyed learning to identify them and pass on some of their names to the boys.
Carolina thistle:
Black snakeroot:
I kept a list in my nature journal of the flowers we saw from mid-May through the end of August. And what a list - 46 different types of wildflowers! 26 of them were located on our own property.
Pasture rose:
Heal-all:
Wildflowers found on our property:
1. milkweed
2. pasture rose
3. narrow-leaved vervain
4. day lily
5. annual plantain
6. tickseed
7. lady's thumb
8. coneflower
9. tall cinquefoil
10. wild potato vine
11. early goldenrod
12. butterfly weed
13. meadow phlox
14. horse nettle
15. ironweed
16. Queen Anne's Lace
17. white clover
18. red clover
19. carolina thistle
20. late thoroughwort
21. perplexing tick trefoil
22. hairy hawkweed
23. scaly blazing star
24. carolina wild petunia
25. heal-all
26. joe-pye weed
27. flowering spurge
Flowers found elsewhere:
28. black-eyed susan
29. glade bluets
30. zigzag spiderwort
31. wood vetch
32. broadleaf waterleaf
33. goat's beard
34. tansy
35. yellow jewelweed
36. yellow sweet-clover
37. black snakeroot
38. american lotus
39. common cattail
40. chicory
41. fleabane
42. hawkweed
43. orange jewelweed
44. teasel
45. honeysuckle
46. winged loosestrife
This was a really fun challenge because the entire family got in on the action. Not only would the boys make sure to point out wildflowers, but a few times The Mister came back from a hike or a jog with a wildflower for me to identify. I wonder how many we'll find this fall!
