It’s National Wildflower Week, hug your nearest wildflower!

Winecup (Callirhoe involucrata)

Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)

Well, it’s probably better if you don’t hug a wildflower, just plant one.  Or better yet, plant a whole bunch.

Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta var. pulcherrima)

No matter where you live in this great land, there are resources available to grow stunning North American wildflowers, either by seed or from container plants.

White Autumn sage (Salvia coccinea)

Click the “Garden Resources” tab on the menu bar of this blog for some suggested online resources or check out your County Extension Agent’s office for local sources of regional seeds and/or plants.

Blue curls (Phacelia congesta)

Locally owned nurseries and native plant organizations are ideal places to learn about wildflowers and how to grow them.  The “how” is a snap–wildflowers belong here and usually grow easily, without lots of working or fretting.

Wild red columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is the premier source of information about North American wildflowers and native plants. It’s the go-to place for those interested in learning about our native plants and wildflower heritage.

Grow native wildflowers for beauty,

Giant spiderwort (Tradescantia gigantea) and Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)

…for ease,

Yellow columbine (Aquilegia chrysantha var. hinckleyana)

…for a sense of place.

Golden groundsel (Packera obovata)

Grow native wildflowers because they belong here.  Just like you.

Henry Duelberg sage (Salvia farinacea ‘Henry Duelberg’) and Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)