Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Wildflowers: May 18, 2010

After the recent rains, the wildflowers began to bloom.  Wildflowers are one of my passions.  My daughters would say obsessions. Far Guy would say "No wildflowers should be forgotten.. or husbands."  Chance doesn't care he just knows he gets to go for a rides, sometimes several times a day.
 Everyday is an adventure this time of year..once the wildflowers begin to bloom ..there are so many. How in the world will I find enough hours in the day to capture them all?  The graveyards that have not been mowed are wonderful places to look right now.  The carpets of color are absolutely smashing.  That and I like graveyards because they are so quiet and calm.

I am kinda stuck in a conundrum..you know a situation..a crossroads.  I am stuck between wanting to show you everything I see, the little things that you may miss if you are travelling down the road at 55 mph..and boring you to tears..well maybe not quite that bad..but you all know what I mean.

So today we will start this series, at the beginning where all good things should be started. A little peak into May Wildflowers in bloom in central Minnesota. These will all be plants found in the wild, in yards, in the ditch, and along the edges of fields.  They struggle along with what rain falls naturally, they compete with weeds for their survival..and people who mow them down. Everyday will not be flowers, but there will be lots of them!
 I love Phlox subulata, since it is one of the first things blooming..and because it is so beautiful.  There are three different colors that grow wild here, what I will call lavender, rosy lavender and white.  White is less common.  This plant is also call Moss Phlox or Creeping Phlox, the leaves are small and needle like, and most of the time prickly.  There are many varieties of this plant that are available commercially.  It is a good choice for erosion control because the roots that grow form a very dense mat, it also looks lovely planted along a pathway or in a rock garden. It is a great example of a hardy groundcover that also grows as a wildflower:)
** As always click on any of the photo to enlarge them!

18 comments:

Emma Rose said...

Lovely! We need some of that at the castle :)

Kisses for Chance,
Emma Rose

DJan said...

Well, it's a good thing you are starting this at the beginning, with a whole spring and summer ahead!! I love wildflowers too, and phlox grows everywhere in the high country around here, so I'll be putting pictures up of our Washington variety, when they come out. Not yet...

Becca's Dirt said...

I love wildflowers. They fill in so nicely along the roads and in pastures and any where else they may decide to grow. Have a nice day.

Anonymous said...

I have often wished you could visit GA and we could search out wildflowers! I love your pictures. I like strolling thru peaceful, old cemeteries also.

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

I just love wild flowers and these are great. I have planted a long row of local wildflowers across the road from our yard. Last years blooms brought me many hours of enjoyment.

Have a blessed day!

DayPhoto said...

I love cemeteries also. In my real life I would like to take care of cemeteries, but I don't think that will ever happen.

Love your photos. I have the commerical pholx in my yard and I agree...it is a favorite.

Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com/

lisa said...

I so agree! I love wild flowers! Your pictures are very pretty!

West Side of Straight said...

Yes they are so pretty. Think I should try some again.

Linda said...

I love phlox too and you never bore me to tears. I love the header, I'm going to have to find out how you do those.

The Retired One said...

I have creeping phlox in my rock gardens...it smells wonderful too!I have pink too.

LadyFi said...

Wild flowers are so pretty, growing as they do in fields and ditches without being forced into orderlies lines...

carolina nana said...

WILDFLOWERS ARE ONE OF MY PASSIONS. IT IS SO INTERESTING WHAT THESE WILD PLANTS CAN BE USED FOR. BLESSINGS TO YOU.

Shirley H. said...

I love your pictures of wild flowers. I never knew that MN had so many.Actually I love all your pictures! Thank you for them.
Shirley H.

Far Side of Fifty said...

Shirley H, Good to hear from you again! Glad to hear you will still enjoy the Wildflowers! How are you doing with the TN? Hang in there gal! :)

Rae said...

Lavendar phlox is one of my favorites. It is gorgeous. My neighbors have it spilling over in their rock garden. It is breathtakingly beautiful each year. I am anxious to see all your wildflower photos. I don't think you could ever post too many.

Pamela said...

I am so glad you identified those --
Last month I saw a very similar (maybe the same?) wild flower blooming along the hills where the Walla Walla River flows, and then more in the Columbia River Gorge. I told my husband I thought they were a wild phlox. He agreed, but we never stopped and took a photo. Lovely.

OK! I just need to come visit you and go on a wildflower hunt. I see them all the time on my bird walks/drives -- and need an expert to tell me what I'm seeing. But even more - I think I'd love to go with you.

L. D. said...

They are really nice photo shots of the wild flowers. I lost a friend from the cities a couple of years ago who would always give us the list of all that she saw while on her walk and was always on the look out for and Indian Paint Brush. Lady Slipper time is coming up in another month.

Lanny said...

On a blue note (a bright one not a glum one): Our display of camas is just coming to its end on the roadsides and out in on the range, the military has been hard at mowing the scotch broom for the last few years so now the camas is far more noticeable, it is like a sea of blue across the little prairie. Wildflowers are wonderful! I even appreciate the weedy ones like mullien.