Sincemoving to our farm , I ’ve been in perfect awe of the landscape . Not only in the diversity that subsist on our acreage — forests , pasture , Creek , ponds — but also the way it has changed in the short clock time that we ’ve been hold up here . Despite numerous camping and hiking trip , and time spent in my urban garden , I ’ve never had the luxury of being this up close and personal with nature . Every daytime is like a seek - and - find game — there ’s always a new plant waiting to be name .
On move - in day , our belongings was awash with daisy , the cheery white-hot flowers spread as far as the middle could see . Daisies presently turned over to flirt milkweed , and then black - eyed Susans started punctuating the pastures . Now it ’s all about wild Citrus bergamia , with clumps of the risky - head purple blossom mature with abandon . Hidden among tall grasses , I ’ve spotted St. John ’s wort and cinquefoil , and not so hard to spot have beenwild blackberriesand autumn olives . Just now , vernonia is start to show it ’s color , and I ’m looking forward to what else is in store for late summer and fall .
Part of the merriment of this little game is that I ’ve gotten to place plants I ’d only record about in books or see in their dried bod and learn more about how they can contribute to the health of our solid ground and of our bodies . Do you want to join in the fun , too ? Below is a selection of blossom I ’ve spotted on my farm . attempt to identify the flower first ( I ’ll provide some hints in the text below ) , and then slide the bar leave behind to give away the true identification . Tally up your right guesses , and permit me know how you do !
Wildflower No. 1
Hint : I learned to identify this flower a long prison term ago as a minuscule girl . The legend behind the peak ( aka wild cultivated carrot ) tell a member of royal line was sewing a peculiar garment when she prickle her finger and a drop of blood fell in the centre . you could distinguish this flower from others in its family because of a little flushed efflorescence found among the white .
Wildflower No. 2
Hint : The heads of this works eventually develop purplish flowers that are arrange almost like a UFO . The spiky dry out blossom heads were once used to“tease ” woolinto fleece .
Wildflower No. 3
Hint : The forest of this evergreen is praise for its sturdiness and for the lovely smell of its wood . What you might not know is that the berries can be chewed to cure oral fissure sore or a tea can be made from them to expel intestinal worms .
Wildflower No. 4
steer : A signature trait of this plant is the leave , which grow in a cross shape and , when held up to the sunlight , appear to be perforated with a needle . You ’ll likely be harvesting the bloom for a skin - relieving balm or anti - depressant tea around June 24 , the birthday of its namesake .
Wildflower No. 5
Hint : This cheery yellow flower is cousin to the daisy andEchinacea .
Wildflower No. 6
pinch : This bloom is a biennial . During its 2nd yr , it sends up a grandiloquent stalk with chickenhearted bloom on it . All office of the plant have a dissimilar medicative use , from soothing earaches to calming coughs . It ’s even known as nature ’s toilet paper because of its easy leaves .
Wildflower No. 7
speck : This is one of the hidden gems I found on the farm . An introduced coinage from Eurasia , it can be used as apoulticefor cuts and wounds . A more mystical notion says it can be used in “ love potions”—which I take as a unspoilt sign for Mr. B and me as we transition into life as honeymooner .
Wildflower No. 8
Hint : This is butterfly stroke candy . While I recently learned that parts of the industrial plant are eatable , if you have any in your lea , just allow it be . Thebutterflieswill give thanks you .
Wildflower No. 9
Hint : The root of this plant is known as poor human being ’s coffee , so if you ’re look to skip the caffeine , mix it with someroasted blowball rootin some tea for a farm - base bitter brew .
Wildflower No. 10
steer : This is the plant I ’m obsess with this season . I love to say it ’s Romance name because it roll off the clapper so playfully . A works in the mint family , it ’s in particular helpful as a cough and cold therapeutic . In fact , I think I ’m going to tincture some in ourfreshly harvested honeyto have on deal for the winter .
Wildflower No. 11
Hint : This is another bee and butterfly favored — in fact , just the other day I spotted a sovereign cat noshing on one . This works is also do it as pleurisy root because the root is helpful in treating lung and pectus condition . Avoid permit your animate being crease on it , though , because office of the plant can be toxic to them in its more mature stage .
Identifying Your Farm’s Plants
If you also desire to learn more about what ’s growing unfounded onyourproperty , there are a number of resources that are there to avail . I have a trusty regional flora recognition book and tree diagram dichotomous tonality that I consult foreverything — I carry them with me when I ’m out hiking . There are also some internet site , including theUSDA ’s PLANTS Databaseand theLady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center , that make fantabulous resources . For those tricky plant where you require a 2nd opinion , check out a figure of Facebook mathematical group dedicate to establish I.D. , including “ Plant Identification , ” “ Plant Ident 101 , ” and “ Edible Wild Plants . ” And , of grade , nothing beats hit your country with an experient forager , Cecil Scott Forester or natural scientist — these people are a wealthiness of noesis , and I always learn something new when I go on a tramp with one of them .
I do need to point out that if you ’re scrounge plant life for their comestible or medicinal quality , like I usually am , make indisputable you have a positive identification of the plant life before you use it . eff the plant ’ dangerous look - alikes — especially in the carrot family — and if you have any doubt about if it ’s safe to consume , leave it for the bees and butterflies to bask .
