In the rural area of Indiana we live in wildflowers of woodland and field are
abundant. Learning identification of these various wildflowers can be tricky, as
many flowers have dozens of variations as well as some bearing similiarity to each
other.
The wildflowers of the woodlands are the first to bloom here, usually by late March.
These flowers of the deep forest must get an early start, before the tree canopy
fills in and blocks the availability of sunlight. The early show of the spring
beauties, trilliums, and dog tooth lilies signals the arrival of spring. The later
woodland wildflowers, the bonesets and jewelweeds are more tolerant of the shade and
color the late summer forest with their snow white, oranges and yellows.
The wildflowers of the fields can afford to be a bit more patient. The asters, black
eyed susans, daisies and other flowers of the wild meadows and fencerows enjoy
the heat of summer and the extended daylight of the waxing summer sun.
The pages of this section will focus mainly on helping to identify the wildflowers
here in Indiana. But this will also be helpful to the neighboring states of Ohio and
Illinois because the same types of flowers also grow there.
Learning to identify the various wildflowers of field and woodland is a fun activity,
and the forests of our native Indiana abound in many different types. Every month
of the year, save the winter months of December, January and February boasts an
array of different types of wildflowers to grace the wild lands about.
I have resisted the urge to try to transplant wildflowers into my flower gardens.
But I am lucky, the forest is a mere steps away from doorstep, so enjoying the
wildflowers in their natural state is easy. So included in most of the information
will include propagation helps. Just remember that taking plants from the wild
is illegal in most states. State Forests in Indiana allow limited harvest of
seeds of some flowers and trees, and I have augmented my garden collecting a very
few seeds from these sources.
