Native Wildflowers. I commonly use these native species to add interest to our bouquets. It is not guaranteed that they will appear every year in our 500 acres of grass meadows, but they show up in most years, depending on the weather and field conditions. Foraging takes a lot of time, like a game of hide-and-seek for flowers while walking through pasture grass; but they are irresistible for the short time in spring or fall when they appear. These species are very important to pollinators, so I’m always careful not to take more than I need.

Common milkweed

Blazing star liatris

Queen Anne’s lace

Ox-eye daisy

Black eyed-Susan

Gayfeather liatris

Yarrow

Fleabane

Ironweed

Goldenrod

Pigeon Pea

Fall aster

Deptford Pinks

Blackberry lily

Verbena/Vervain

In nature, flowers are used for attraction; attraction of pollinators to complete a plant’s lifecycle. Plants are brilliantly evolving their appearance and smell to compete for pollinator services. In commercial breeding programs, the love and care taken by breeders to develop new varieties is truly an amazing process. Either way, we now have access to an enormous scope of flowers to be enjoyed! I believe that bringing flowers into our space helps remind us that we are part of this bigger ecosystem working around us. The color, texture, and shape of flowers are purposeful in their functionality; sparking our curiosity and wonder. It is well known that the presence of flowers can make us feel more relaxed in a fast-moving world.