Where the Wild Things Are!
What a fantastic children's story written by Maurice Sendak.
What a fantastic children's story written by Maurice Sendak.
As a child, I was fascinated by this story of a little boy's adventure into the wild forest after being sent to his room for causing mischief. The rebellious little boy, Max, sailed into the wilderness and to the land where the wild things are. They were terrible fearsome beasts whom Max tamed by staring into their eyes without blinking. They made him king of the wild things! But Max became lonely and homesick so he sailed back home. Upon awakening from his dreamy adventure, he was greeted by a warm supper, proving that he's loved even when he's ill behaved.
What does this walk down memory lane and children's literature have to do with gardening? Well, it reminds me of untamed wild flowers, of course, which I've spotted quite a bit of lately.
So let the wild rumpus begin!!
This Indian Blanket Flower, or Gaillardia,
populates the fields around my house, as well as my personal garden.
populates the fields around my house, as well as my personal garden.
White Star Sedge - this lines my roadside.
Bidens Spanish Needle
Cassia Fasciaculata (mimosa)
Here it is close up...beautiful, isn't it?
Here's a white version.
www.ecoyardfarming.com via flickr
This is Blue Flag Iris.
(My photo turned out very blurry so I've borrowed this one courtesy of www.ecoyardfarming.com via flickr)
I LOVE this one!!!
Tickseed
I think this is wild azalea? It lines my roadside and is really pretty!
NOPE...not wild azalea, but Tarflower Bejaria racemosa...thankyou Nell Jean!
NOPE...not wild azalea, but Tarflower Bejaria racemosa...thankyou Nell Jean!
Echinacea, or Purple Coneflower is native to Florida.
This one grows in my garden as well as my roadside.
This one grows in my garden as well as my roadside.
Creeping Ox Eye
Fleabane
This is a close up of a Prickly Pear blossom with a bee inside.
Salvia Rubra - this is a macro shot of the tip of a red salvia.
Puncture Weed
I have absolutely no idea what this pretty posey might be...any takers?!
Thank you Myamuhnative and Lotusleaf for providing the identity to this Pink Porterweed!
How 'bout this pretty white unknown?
And while you're at it, does anyone know what this one is?
At least I know what this one is...
Blue eyed Grass
And this one too...
Rattlebox
The next two are Tassle Flowers
This WILD THING fits right in!!
14 comments:
Wonderful photos of the "wild things". We have things growing wild in the vacant lots either side of us, that I have no idea what they are. I'd love to identify some of them.
Pink Porterweed!
Yes, I too think that it is a pink Prterweed, a native of India. All the wild flowers are so pretty!
Porterweed, Stachytarpheta also grows in the Caribbean Islands and is naturalized in parts of Florida. It is a butterfly magnet.
The white flower that you thought might be an azaleas has too many stamens, too long petals and the buds and seed capsules are unlike azaleas. I believe that it is Tarflower Bejaria racemosa. White native azaleas bloomed in April.
Make a search for 'white flower blooms in June in Florida' to possibly find the unknown white flower. Is that a vine?
Hi Kimberley,
Wonderful photos. It is so easy to miss all of those little beauties that we take for granted that are flowering right under our feet at time.
Albeit here in cooler UK, we don't have some of those beauties that you do.
Dear Kimberly, If these are the wild ones, then bring them on. What a lovely selection of diverse and all equally attractive plants [beautifully photographed too]. Would that these could be found in the environs of Maida Vale. Sadly I can bring to the party no more than a dusty dandelion!
I didn't know that the one you called Fleabane even had a name. I should have known I guess, everything as a name lol. It grows all over my yard, and I think it's pretty even though it's kind of weed-ish? :)
Wildflowers really are so pretty. You've captured the best ones. Quite a few are grown on purpose in my garden: blanket flower, porterweed (both blue and pink), and blue-eyed grass. In the spring I let the tickseed and fleabane, along with toadflax this year, go for a few weeks before mowing.
This was a fun experience in Florida wildflower education for me! I can name midwestern wildflowers and grasses all day, but am still a beginner down here in the south. I enjoy seeing their bright little faces along the road, field, or waterway. I'm so glad everyone enjoyed seeing them too!
Thank you, myamuhnative and Lotusleaf, for identifying the Pink Porterweed!
NellJean, you are a plant encyclopedia that I am so happy to be acquainted with! I believe you're correct regarding the idenification of the Tarflower. I've never noticed it along my roadway, but this year, it's lining both sides!
Edith, bring on your dandelions and join the wild rumpus! All are welcome!
Kyna, I think most of these ARE weeds, but again, weeds are simply plants you don't particularly want, right? Even my blanket flower and vincas, which I've always considered beautiful garden flowers, are like weeds in my garden as they're a bit invasive and reseed readily. Regardless, I love them!
Kay, I'm also guilty of leaving the "weeds" unmowed so I can appreciate their little blooms. That's how I happened upon the Blue-eyed Grass. It popped up in my lawn and was too pretty to mow, so I left this unmowed patch in the middle of the side yard! That's OK...my neighbors have come to expect such things from me! HAHAHA!!
I absolutely love the barking treefrog! Other than that, this was a great idea for a post with lots of great photos for identification!
I love wild! There are so many! Really enjoyed that little sedge that looks like shooting stars. I plan to plant some blue-eyed grass and you've just reminded me again. I think the tassel flowers are my favorite, no maybe the tarflower but I really like that mimosa, too ...
Kimberly,
The white clustered flowers are Mexican Clover - Richardia brasiliensis. Your South Fl. variety has bigger flowers than the one we have in central Fl. The yellow flower below that is Piriqueta caroliniana and a member of the Turnera family that includes Turneras like Cuban Buttercups. I like finding and identifying Florida Wildflowers too.
Great photos! I just brought home a bag of seeds for the blanket flower from dad's garden and will broadcast them tomorrow. I have never had them in the garden before as I prefer pastels; but they are so hardy, I want to see if they will come up for me.
Porterweed is one of my favorite flowers. I have always had the purple; this year they died back in the freeze and I did decide to put in some cleomes...but they will get huge and fill in many spots nicely...
Love your little frog too! :)
Patricia
Beautiful. When we were in Florida, it looked as if there were only lawn, stripmalls (lots) and a few botanical gardens. But we probably didn't know where to look. Thanks for the tour!
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