GPOD on the Road: Canadian Wildflowers

Field notes of wonderful native wildflowers and intriguing invasive plants spotted on the road

Happy Friday , GPODers !

We have another installment of my travels through Canada last summer , and I need to plunk into some of the wildflowers I recognise while traveling .

While rest stops and overnight parking lots are an unglamorous necessity of long - haul traveling , I make a point to park in nature as often as I possibly can . Part of my routine when I see myself parked up at a young area is walking around and have in all of the various industrial plant life around me . This is partly for condom rationality ( looking out for poison ivy , oak , sumac , gargantuan hogweed , etc . ) but mainly for pleasance . At the first slew of colour or fascinating leafage , I ’m take my speech sound out and going in for a cheeseparing face .

Below are some of the first wildflowers I spotted on my trip , most of them being from Manitoulin Island , an island in Lake Huron in Ontario that is also the orotund lake island in the world .

First up were some beautiful little harebell ( Campanularotundifolia , Zones 3–8 ) flower that were right at the camping ground I stayed at for a week . No matter what you call this adorable little plant ( bellflower , Scottish bluebell , witch ’s thimble , heathbells , nance ’ thimbles , etc . ) , it ’s one you should spend some clock time learning more about . The aboriginal has a entrancing folklore in Scotland , where mass believe witch squeezed succus from the flowers to turn into hares !

Though this flower looks like it would be right at abode in the tropics , it is in reality a North American aboriginal . Wood lily ( Liliumphiladelphicum , Zones 3–8 ) is one of the most widespread lily in North America but used to be even more abundant . Though they are always tempting to pick , native wildflowers are much better admire than they are cut and convey home .

“ Leave no trace ” , however , does not put on toinvasive plants . Though striking , this black knapweed ( Centaureanigra ) is an strong-growing , incursive weed . Seeing that this was ( so far ) one lone flower , I took the initiative to report the sighting toOntario ’s Invading Species Awareness Programand was able-bodied to safely remove the blossom before it endure to seed .

Another invasive I describe , but did not have the ability to slay , was this chicory ( genus Cichorium intybus ) . Though a beautiful periwinkle - discolour flower — with apparently a delectable , nutty tang when roasted — this perennial herb should stay contained to the confines of a cultivate herb garden . give that the plant is quite hardy and grow a with child routine of seed , it can quickly take over natural landscapes .

Caught in action — a little journey often turns into a long one when I ’m behind the steering wheel . If a puff - off has even the lowly scattering of plants , I will contain to investigate .

And when outdoor plant life observance is done , my indoor plants get a piddling love too .

Thanks again for join me as I reminisce on past industrial plant adventures . Bob Hope everyone has a plant- and garden - filled weekend !

Have photos to share ? We ’d love to see your garden , a particular collecting of plants you eff , or a wonderful garden you had the chance to jaw !

To submit , place 5 - 10 exposure to[email protected]along with some information about the plants in the moving picture and where you took the photo . We ’d make love to get wind where you are located , how long you ’ve been garden , successes you are proud of , failures you teach from , hopes for the future , best-loved plants , or funny stories from your garden .

Have a roving phone ? dog your photo onFacebook , InstagramorTwitterwith # FineGardening !

Do you receive the GPOD by email yet?Sign up here .

Fine Gardening urge Products

Lee Valley Large Gardener ’s Wash Basket

Fine Gardening pick up a delegacy for items purchased through links on this site , include Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs .

The Nature of Oaks : The Rich Ecology of Our Most Essential Native Trees

Planting in a Post - Wild humanity : Designing Plant Communities for Resilient Landscapes

Get our latest backsheesh , how - to article , and instructional videos ship to your inbox .

signal you up …

GPOD on the Road: Assiniboine Park Gardens

GPOD on the Road: Gardens Around Niagara

GPOD on the Road: Hershey Gardens, Part 2

GPOD on the Road: Hershey Gardens, Part 1

Join Fine Gardening for a free hire resilient webinar featuring Dr. Janna Beckerman , a celebrated works diagnostician as well as professor emerita at Purdue University and the ornamentals expert manager …

When I spotted a particular Amandine Aurore Lucie Dupin dollar cactus ( Astrophytum asterias ) at the Philadelphia Flower Show a few month ago , I knew I was in trouble . With a delightful color pattern …

When we only prioritize plant we want over plants our landscape need , each season is filled with a never - terminate listing of job : pruning , pinching , watering , treating , improve , and fertilizing , with …

bus parked behind wildflowers on the side of the road

Video

Touring an Eco-friendly, Shady Backyard Retreat

You must be careful when you infix the backyard of garden designer Jeff Epping — not because you ’re probable to turn on on something , but because you might be dive - bombed by a pair …