Wildflower Study Kick Off!

Today we begin a new "tab" in our Nature Studies- Wildflowers! It's timely, isn't it? With spring upon us and all of the beautiful wildflowers out. I only wish we had begun sooner so we know what flowers we are looking at.

We began with studying the parts of the flowers:

And then we began with our state flower- the Texas bluebonnet . Scientific name:Lupinus texensis

If you and your kids are not familiar with lupines, try reading Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney. It is a fantastic book about a woman who makes the world beautiful by planting lupines.

This is the Agalinis. Scientific name is pururea, Common name is a Purple False Foxglove

Another view:

This next one is the Bitterweed found here in the Texas Hill country. Its scientific name is Helenium amarum . It is related to the sunflower. It is called a Bitterweed because it's aroma is very bitter. Cows generally stay away from them, but if a heifer does eat this flower, its milk tastes bitter. Bees honey will also taste bitter and foul if it makes its honey from the pollen of this flower.

Time to journal: