Tag: wildflowers
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Yellow Saucers
Wildflowers are the loveliest of all because they grow in uncultivated soil, in those hard, rugged places where no one expects them to flourish.They are resilient in ways a garden bloom could never be.* One of my favourite wildflowers, purely for its magnificent resilience, is the Evening Primrose, which flourishes — nearly everywhere — here…
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Pastel Petals in Presqu’ile’s Pannes
The Obedient Plant gets its name because you can manually swivel its individual blossoms to the left or right, and they will “obediently” stay in that exact position. Being, at first, a skeptic, I tested this theory several times, and on each of those occasions it worked perfectly. Obedient! It is always a happy surprise…
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Forest Grace
Canada Anemone is such a cheerful native perennial. Its bright, five-petaled white blooms with golden centres are at their peak right now, thriving in moist thickets, meadows, and along the edges of dense woodlands. You’ll see them with nearly every step you take along the trails here in southern Ontario. Forest Grace Beneath a sea…
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A Tiny Surprise
Passing through a meadow filled with blooming Milkweed and spotting a hovering, Hummingbird Clearwing Moth, was a truly magical summer experience. A Tiny Surprise Flashes of pink all through the green,Where meadow milkweed reigns supreme,A tiny guest upon the breeze,That flits among the rosy frieze. With whirring wings and see-through flight,A feathered shadow in the…
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Summer’s Stars
We have a glorious copse of these beauties on the edge of our woods. Multiflora Rose is a non-native, sprawling, perennial shrub that climbs over other, native plants, choking them out in the process. ’Though included on Ontario’s Invasive Species list, I cannot help but think that it is absolutely okay to celebrate any beautiful moment in nature. …
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Parasols
I saw a glorious copse of Wild Parsnip in bloom and their intricate clusters of tiny, yellow blossoms looked remarkably like the delicate lace parasols used by women of the Victorian Era. Far more than mere sun protection, they were vital, class-signaling, snobbish, fashion accessories. Parasols A copse of gold along the lane,Defying clouds and…
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Climbing Sprite
Bird Vetch (or Cow Vetch) is a lovely, delicate flower with a fascinating history. Brought to North America from Europe and Asia for livestock fodder, it has become a prolific — now deemed invasive — scrambler along sunny roadsides, fields, and wetlands, like the beautiful Caldwell First Nation Conservation Boardwalk in Leamington. Climbing Sprite Upon…
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The Petty Josie Pye-Weed
I suspect that every lover of the Anne books automatically thinks “Josie” when finding or identifying Joe-Pye Weed. So, as a bit of a humorous nod to Anne’s notorious rival from Avonlea: The Petty Josie Pye-Weed A rosy spray of Josie Pye,Stands crisp and proud beneath the sky.It holds its head with haughty grace,The vainest…
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The Flower Hour #40: GHI — A Triple Trio Gone Wild!
Wildflowers are the stuff of my heart.* Where wildflowers bloom, so does hope.1 Thanks to Terri for another Flower Hour challenge, her weekly reminder to be sure to notice the flowers along the way (borrowing from the great Walter Hagen2). Please take a few minutes to read Terri’s lovely post and see her purely amazing…
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Garden Gold
There is a joyous humming in our laneway garden as bees galore feast on the pollen and nectar in the masses of Cutleaf Coneflowers. An absolute haven (and heaven) for our local pollinators, and pure delight for me. Garden Gold Upraised against the summer sky,Golden coneflowers reach up high.With lobed and leafy stems they stand,A…
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Woodland Dancer
One of my favourite wildflowers is the White Campion, an herbaceous annual of the Pink (Carnation) family. Its corolla appears to have ten parts but it actually has five deeply cleft petals. Its blossoms open wide in the evening, emitting a sweet, clove-like scent which attracts many species of nocturnal moths for pollination. As daylight…
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Impish Grace
Impish Grace Along the creek, the sunbeams dance,On purple spikes that caught my eye,A fuzzy bee is in a trance —she’s bobbing, buzzing, bumbling, by! She rolls in pollen, head to toe,And takes a sunny, fuchsia seat,Uncaring this is a “no-grow,”She knows she’s found a tasty treat. So pretty in the afternoon,Magenta splash of impish…
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Midsummer Rural Ramble
We are smack dab in the middle of summer and yesterday, even with the scorching heat, it was just too pretty to stay home. There is an undeniable allure in slowing down and leaving the main roads behind. Choosing to trace the rural farm routes is, for me, the perfect way to unplug and experience…
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The Flower Hour #39: Orange you glad?
Orange is the happiest color. [Frank Sinatra] Knock, knock.“Who’s there?”“Orange.”“Orange who?”“Orange you glad Terri picked this challenge?” [Sorry! Couldn’t resist. Favourite childhood joke, bar none.] Thanks to Terri for our weekly glimpse at floral beauty – quite the loveliest weekly challenge of all, IMHO. Please take a moment to view Terri’s post and admire her…
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Essex Erato #17
Meadow Glory From a dark trailI emerge at Elysium:wildflowers and bees. But in every walk with Nature one receives far more than he seeks.† ’Til next time, y’all… †John Muir, “Steep Trails” — Page 1343, Chapter IX Mormon Lilies from his anthology “John Muir: Ultimate Collection”.
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Lens Artists Photo Challenge #404 – Carolinian Kaleidoscope
Lens Artists Photo Challenge #404 – Subjects that begin with the letter B Thank you to Beth for this challenge: It’s my turn to host the challenge this week. Let’s have a little fun and feature subjects that begin with the letter B. What subjects can you find that start with the letter B? Please limit…
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Floral Friday – White Campion
White Campion is an herbaceous annual of the Pinks (Carnation) family. Its corolla appears to have ten parts but it actually has five deeply cleft petals. Some other common names include Cow-rattle, White Bachelor’s Button, White Cockle and Milkmaid. White Campion blooms June through August and, at night, emits a sweet, clove-like scent which attracts…
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Wildflower Wednesdays – #1 Daisies
Terri Webster Schrandt recently launched The Flower Hour photo challenge on October 7, 2025, after it was discovered that Cee Neuner closed her blog permanently. Cee Neuner was the originator of Flower of the Day (FOTD) photo challenge and posted the challenge all 7 days of the week. After our beloved friend and amazing photographer…
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Project 365 – #21
I’ve been encouraged to link my flower posts so, fingers crossed, here goes: Spring Festival 2026: Week #9~Buttercup Field Floral Friday – Last days in the garden using the tripod for my flowers The Flower Hour #31: Local Lilacs and Lupine ‘Til next time, y’all…
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The Flower Hour #31: Lilac is more than a flower…
My trusty friend, The OED, tells me that the colour “lilac” is a moderate to pale grayish-purple or a light purplish-pink. With apologies to Terri, our Lilacs have finished here in southern Ontario, and the only Lupins I know of are in the Monty Python sketch “Dennis Moore” — “Give me all your Lupins!” —…
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Lens-Artists Challenge #398: Choose A Colour
You may share one photo featuring each of the following captivating colors in their various shades: red, blue, green, purple, orange, and yellow. Nature always wears the colors of the spirit.† And never is that more apparent than in the world of wildflowers. Thank you to Ritva for designing such an interesting, interpretive, and creative…
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The Flower Hour #29: Vis Medicatrix Naturæ*
Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees.2 Tramping through the woods at Wheatley Provincial Park yesterday, nature’s peace did indeed flow into me and, happily, there were windflowers galore! Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where Nature may heal and cheer and give…
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Joyspotting 2026 #1
1. Look Up: 2. Look Down: 3. Keep an Eye Out For Colour: 4. Follow the Curve: 5. Go Where the Wild Things Are: 6. Seek Out Symmetry: 7. Search for Signs of Abundance: 8. Watch for Weirdness: You can trim a tree but not it’s determination to grow where it wants! 9. Zoom In:…