Monday, April 27, 2026

Wildflowers


I've been walking the meadow loop with my camera during the past two weeks.
Some of these wildlings I can identify, others, not sure.
The term 'ephemerals' surely applies to spring flowering plants--many have quietly faded away when I look for them a few days later.
I pause often in my walks trying to pinpoint the elusive sweet flowery scents diffused by the hot sun.
Wild rose and honeysuckle are unmistakable, but there is a more delicate blending of scent that seems a combination of grasses, green leaves and half hidden clumps of blooming plants..


Wild blue phlox.


Spiderwort [tradescantia] The flowers range from clear blue to this deeper rose/purple.


Lyre-leaf Sage


Woodland anemone--maybe?


Wild blackberry


Mayapple. 
Capturing a photo of these is an exercise in attempting to get the camera under the low-growing plant.


Phacelia


Star of Bethlehem
These are a tiny bulb flower that has sprung up near my peonies. 


Oxalis
I find these growing in clumps in the shady wooded edges along the rim of the north and south ravines on the property.


I haven't seen this previously and can't identify.
It is growing in a tangle of under-story plants. 


Common wild mustard--invasive!


Wild Honeysuckle.
Considered an invasive nuisance as it climbs trees and shrubs, clambers over fallen logs and fenceposts.
The sweet perfume is unmistakable.


Stump of an oak that grew at the far end of the lower meadow--damaged in the fire that leveled a former owner's house.
The oak became shaky and J. took it down several years ago.
Wild rose briars are tangled at the base, along with woodbine and other small plants.


The stump is being used as a picnic table by the resident squirrel families.
If you look closely you can see bits of hickory nut shells.



























 

10 comments:

  1. Lovely to see the variety of blooming plants you have and it's not even May yet!!

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    1. Granny M. A warmer than usual April here has forced plants into bloom several weeks early. Many of those pictured thrive in the shady wooded edges of the ravines that line the property on three sides. They fade so quickly!

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  2. I love the “wildlings.” It seems the honeysuckle is ahead of schedule this year. I feel sure the hummingbirds are in the thickets dining on its sweetness. Mary @ hilltop post

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    1. Mary; There is less activity than usual at our hummingbird feeders; I hope they are feeding on local blossoms. The males arrived exactly on schedule, April 7th.

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  3. Your honeysuckle well ahead of the UK one - it doesn't bloom until June here. Early blooms on the blackberries too - ours are concentrating on putting out leaves yet. Lots of colour from wildflowers, they are all so pretty.

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    1. Jennie; Spring bloom here of wildlings and dooryard plants alike is ahead of schedule. In spite of a rainless April weeds are rampant.
      I would love to have columbine and hellebore but I think we dip into heat and humidity too quickly for them to thrive. Native plants grow in the shade along the ravine edges, but I have no garden area with shade. I must make do with whatever pops up in the thick underbrush.

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  4. You have a great variety of things on your property. I have not spied a hummingbird here yet. Unusual!

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    1. Michelle; Male hummers arrived here on schedule but we've seen them--and perhaps one female--only sporadically at the feeders.
      This is surely an atypical April judging by the 16 years we've been in the county.
      Most nearby farms use the 'no-till' method of planting with pre-emergent weed killers and other noxious things. I fear it has to have a negative impact on the bird population.

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  5. Those blue phlox are Phlox Divaricata! Our Dogwoods are just starting to bloom but not as lush as usual. I attribute that the our drought last summer and fall. The Orioles have returned! Spring marches on!

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    1. Mundi: I used to try to learn the Latin names for plants--a good many of them have slipped my mind! A neighbor identified 'Maple-leaved Viburnum' as the one I hadn't encountered previously. I had a bit of trouble finding it again as under-story trees and shrubs have grown lushly in a mere 10 days time along the edge of the north ravine. I did locate it and the leaves are shaped like those of a maple.
      We are weeks past dogwood and redbud.

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