Friday, July 11, 2014

Early Summer Wildflowers from Wildflower Hill


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Wildflowers are in full bloom out on Wildflower Hill so I thought I would share some with you all today. Verbena bonariensis (aka jumping verbena) never fails to bring in the butterflies and pollinators.
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Partridge pea (Cassia fasciculata) is a great native wildflower that is also a super wildlife and pollinator attractor. This partridge pea was a part of the wildflower seed I set out when I frost seeded in the early spring.  I am most happy to see some of the seed took well!
shaggy rosinweed
Shaggy rosinweed (Silphium Mohrii) is one of my new favorite wildflowers. I actually purchased this as a plant from a local native plant nursery. Since moving it out to the property it has really stood tall and proud. The flowers are a sweet pale yellow that hold up to all sorts of summer heat and drought.
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Shaggy rosinweed might be known for its 'shaggy' appearance as evidenced here by the close of the hairs all along the stem and leaves. These hairs really help the plant to stand out and to stand up to the sun's heat.
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Here is a long shot of the shaggy rosinweed in situ in the wildflower field.
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This native butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) took a big hit due to the backhoe coming and in and digging up the area in which the butterfly weed grows. I was most thankful to see it at least bounce back a bit.
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Queen Anne's lace (Daucus carota) is not a native wildflower but one that has happily naturalized all across Wildflower Hill. It is a cheery and very prolific wildflower.
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Brown eyed Susan's grow wild on Wildflower Hill with no help whatsoever from me.
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This sweet little wildflower is about 18-24" tall and I cannot identify it. Does anyone know what it could be?

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Woodland sunflower. These grow in abundance!
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Finally we close with Rose Gentian, aka Sabatia angularis....

in the garden....on Wildflower Hill.

Growing conditions for all of these wildflowers are acidic soil (pH of 5.4), full to part sun, clay to rocky soil, dry to mesic habitat on sloping land. You might notice all of these pictures have lots of other 'plants' in them-mainly the areas look weedy. Wildflower areas are, by their nature, weedy. We are maintaining our wildflower areas by bushhogging once per year. This is the only Year 1 for wildflowers so as the years progress, we shall see how the areas improve or devolve.

Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden

8 comments:

  1. It all reminds me of my home. So pretty.

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  2. I've never heard it called 'jumping verbena' but that's exactly what it does!
    I must've pulled out a thousand seedlings in the rocks around my pond...and
    still have thousands around the yard..lol! They are beautiful, long bloomers and
    such a butterfly magnet! Hope your wildflower garden gets better and better!

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  3. I love the 'wild' look of wildflowers. It is so wonderful watching the progress through the seasons there at your new place.

    Have a nice weekend ~ FlowerLady

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  4. You have nice variety of wildflowers. I think I would call your wildflower area a meadow. It will be interesting to see how it evolves.

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  5. How sweet it must be to have a Wildflower Hill!!

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  6. I love finding wildflowers making there way in the garden or meadow...you have a wonderful variety

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  7. Thanks for sharing the wildflowers. Since we've had a little rain, more wildflowers are showing up in our area grasslands.

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  8. Wildflower Hill is coming along nicely! You have done a great job of attracting pollinators to your oasis...

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