It’s Wildflower Week

May 1, 2017

It seems there is a special week for almost everything in America. However, this week’s special concern is really a good one — it’s Wildflower Week! In honor of the occasion, I thought I would share some photos of a few of my favorite native plants.

Violets (Viola spp)

The blossom of the mayapple hides under the umbrella-shaped leaves. Later when the flower becomes a seed. it is shaped like an apple. If you've never taken the time to watch the chipmunks fighting over the apple, you should. It's a hoot! — Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum)

Blood Root (Sanguinaria canadensis)

Dutchman’s Breeches (Dicentra cucllaria)

Merrybells (Uvularia grandiflora)

A bumblebee making his livelihood on Virginia Waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum). Recent declines in pollinators have alarmed scientists and naturalists alike. Pollinators include not only bees, but also birds, butterflies, bats, beetles and more. — Virginia Waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum)

Hoary puccoon (Lithospermum canescens (Michx.) Lehm) is threatened and/or endangered in many states. This plant pops up occasionally in my prairie in appreciation for being rescued from destruction many years ago. — Hoary puccoon (Lithospermum canescens)

Pink Lady Slippers (Cypripediium acaule)

Wild geranium (Geranium maculatum)

Turk’s Cap Lily (Lilium superbum)

Wild Petunia (Ruellia humilis)

Butterflyweed (Asclepias tuberosa) is one of the host plants for the Monarch butterfly. See a complete listing of native pollinator plants from the Wild Ones Wild for Monarchs paper.

Rattlesnake Master (Eryngium yuccifolium)

Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)

Wild Quinine (Parthenium integrifolium), Royal Catchfly (Silene regia), Pale Purple Coneflower (Echinacea pallida), Yellow Coneflower (Ratibida pinnata), Bee Balm (Monarda fistulosa)

Culver’s Root (Veronicastrum virginicum)

Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)

White Turtlehead (Chelone glabra)

Joe Pye Weed (Eupatorium maculatum)

Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum))

Female monarch nectaring Rough Blazingstar (Liatris aspera)

Prairie Blazingstar (Liatris pycnostachya)

Virgin’s Bower (Clematis virginiana)

Riddell’s Goldenrod (Solidago riddellii)

Calico Aster (Aster lateriflorus)

New England Aster (Aster novae-angliae)

Sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale) and Ironweed (Vernonia fasciculata) both prefer moist soil and sun.

Red Baneberrry (Actaea raubra)

Smooth Penstemon (Penstemon digitalis), Nodding Onion (Allium cernuum), Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum), Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), New England Aster (Aster novae-angliae), Sweet Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia subtomentosa)

Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) turns a beautiful shade of bronze in fall.

According to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center’s website: “National Wildflower Week was founded in 1987 by the American Wildflower Society and taken on by the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in 2002.” It is a celebration of the natural beauty and the ecological importance native plants.

Here’s a good synopsis of the importance of wildflowers.

Note: To see the gallery photos enlarged, click on a photo and then click on it again.

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