The Charming Crocus – Find it in Siberia and Your Backyard

When we lived in Virginia, the sight of crocus blooms popping up in our yard meant that spring was close at hand. I think that is the reason why the crocus remains one of my favorite spring bulbs! But did you know that there are over 80 different varieties of crocus? The crocus is part of the iris family and is thought to have originated in Europe, Asia, and Africa.  These flowers can live from … [Read more...]

Snowdrops – when You See These, You Know Spring Is Almost Here!

Ahh, spring is in the air. There’s a warm breeze blowing, birds chirping, and snowdrops dotting the ground! But don’t get lulled into a false sense of the season - old man winter can still rear his frozen head. Snowdrops are one of the first flowers to appear each spring. These blooms typically appear as soon as the temperatures are regularly above freezing - depending on where you live this … [Read more...]

The Best Friend of Monarchs Everywhere {Beautiful Milkweed}

I am a huge fan of Monarch butterflies! By default, I am also a fan of the plants that feed the monarch caterpillars - the milkweed. This time of year, the milkweeds in the field by your house are starting to die off and release their seeds, like the one in the picture, which makes them super easy to spot. The Milkweed is a native plant to North America with over 100 different varieties. Inside … [Read more...]

Daisies {InstaScience}

Around this time of year we start to see Pumpkin Spiced Lattes and fall colored floral arrangements. Most of these flower bunches include a few daisies thanks to their variety of fall-ish colors. These flowers can be red, pink, purple, yellow, or orange. But their most iconic look is white with a yellow center. With daisies, what we see as one flower is actually a composite flower. Each daisy … [Read more...]

Queen Anne’s Lace {InstaScience}

One of my favorite late summer field flowers is the Queen Anne’s Lace. There is a myth that says this flower has been named after Queen Anne of England who was an expert in making lace. Based on the legends, Queen Anne pricked her finger with a needle and a single drop of blood fell onto the lace, leaving the dark purple floret found in the flower's center. However the color got there, these … [Read more...]

Purple Coneflower {InstaScience}

I am in love with purple and with fresh flowers, so you know that when we came across these amazing looking purple coneflowers on one of our walks, we had to stop to take a picture! The purple coneflower is a wildflower that looks like a daisy. It is an erect, perennial herb that grows 1-3 feet stems in height and has medium-green lanced-shaped leaves. The flowers are typically purple, but the … [Read more...]