It Ain't the Woods, But

Yesterday was a weird day, weatherwise, here. The forecast said scattered showers and thunderstorms. And, all day, we would have periods of sun, followed by periods when it got so dark that you were just sure that it was going to pour any minute. Because of that, I decided to not even try to go back into the woods. It would be just my luck that, even if I made it past the poison ivy, I would be all the way back to the bay when it would start to thunderstorm. As it was, it never rained a drop.

So, I decided to do something a little different. I decided to see how many wildflowers I could find in my yard, and in the woodsy brush surrounding it. I found quite a few, and even a mystery flower.

Who doesn't know these, the common Dandelion? Such a maligned little flower. If you really stop and look at them, they are quite beautiful.



Most of the flowers that I found yesterday are called "common." As if there is anything common about any flower.

Common Mustard -- I have to admit that I yanked this plant up, after I photographed it. They are very beautiful, but they can spread like wildfire.



Common Mullein -- this plant (or one just like it) has been growing just into the woods by my house for a few years now. I love to watch it grow, with its' huge flower stalk, but I will admit that, by fall, it looks pretty ratty. Hmmm, I see wild raspberry and a little maple tree in that shot, also.



Common Chickweed. I never stopped and took a good look at these tiny flowers before. They are very beautiful. They're just so tiny that they don't show up very well when the picture is reduced to this size. You might be able to see them better if you use this link. http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1470/5975278/21946947/386623444.jpg



Common Blue Violet -- If anyone ever read "Anne of Green Gables" when they were young, you may remember that one of her favorite places was "Violet Vale." When I was a kid, I was thrilled to find a place, not far back into the woods, that was just covered with these violets. I, of course, named it "Violet Vale," even if it was on top of a little hill. Bad kid that I was, I dug a few up and Mom planted them in her garden. They are now all over, in the gardens, and in the yard. I suppose those people who like pure lawn, would be upset, but, I love them there.



There's nothing common about this one -- Sweet White Violet -- I love these things, and from a couple of plants my Mom got from an Aunt years ago, they have also spread all over my yard and gardens.



Woodruff -- This I got from a friend a couple of years ago, but, I did find a large patch of it back in the woods a couple of weeks ago.



I'm just calling this Buttercup for now, but, I don't think that's the right name. I'm sure it's some kind of Buttercup, but all the identifications I could find show them as single flowers, not doubles like this. I have an S.O.S. out to a friend who really knows her wildflowers, and I'll update when I hear from her.

Edited to add that "Lilacs and Roses" http://lilacsandroses.blogspot.com/ identified this plant for me as a double celandine poppy. And, all this time, I thought it was a buttercup.




Thyme Leaved Speedwell -- This is my big "find" of the day. I could NOT get a clear picture of it, but, as you can see by my big thumb in the corner, it is a very tiny plant. The flower is beautiful, almost like a miniature Sweet White Violet.



Here's the mystery flower for the day. I'm a novice using Newcomb's Wildflower Guide, and I just could not find it there. The darn thing is so tiny that I can't even quite tell if it has four or five petals. I'll try again, and see if I can update.



This plant grows with abandon under my big evergreen. I usually pull it out, but I'm a little late this year because I have been working on gardens. Just as I went to yank it yesterday, I noticed it had flower buds. So, I'll just leave it until it flowers, and see if I can identify it. "Lilacs and Roses" also identified this plant as sheep sorrel. Thank you so much for those identifications!



This bush is everywhere along the edge of my yard. I'm constantly cutting it back. It has a pretty pink flower, which is just beginning to bud now. It's another I'm anxious to see it in flower this year, to see if I can identify it.



So, not bad for just wandering around the yard, eh? But, not quite as much fun as going back here and poking around. This was taken from the drop off behind my yard.