Yellow Bell

Blooming in early spring, this charming little flower is well described by its common name. The blossom, up to 35 mm long by 10 mm wide, nods at the top of 10–30 cm tall stems.

WildflowerPenny Dodd and Marion JankunisJuly 9, 2019Galt Museum & ArchivesComment

Blanket Flower

Large, bright yellow flowers, surrounding a central disk of crimson, are showy at the ends of 20–60 cm stems. What appear to be petals are actually individual flowers called ray florets. This member of the daisy family blooms from June to August across the prairies on dry hillsides and in open areas.

WildflowerPenny Dodd and Marion JankunisJuly 8, 2019Galt Museum & ArchivesComment

Scarlet Butterfly Weed

This slender, 10–30 cm tall, flower is not very showy because the blossoms are small and open only one or two at a time. Also, it fully opens only at night. Typical of night blooming flowers, which are pollinated by moths, the protruding stamens are conspicuous and, in this plant, red-tipped.

WildflowerPenny Dodd and Marion JankunisJuly 7, 2019Galt Museum & ArchivesComment

Three-Flowered Aven, Prairie Smoke

On the dry open prairie, the stem rises 20–40 cm above basal leaves, and supports three nodding, purplish-pink flowers. By late June, the seed-heads have formed erect clusters of feathery styles. Large patches of these plants that have gone to seed look like a smoky haze drifting across the prairie, hence their common name, prairie smoke.

WildflowerPenny Dodd and Marion JankunisJuly 6, 2019Galt Museum & ArchivesComment

Northern Hedysarum

Three species of Hedysarum grow on the prairies. They are sometimes referred to as sweet-vetch or sweet-broom. Typically, their pea-like flowers grow in long slender wand-like clusters. Northern hedysarum’s reddish purple flowers often grow in one sided clusters up to 15 cm long.

WildflowerPenny Dodd and Marion JankunisJuly 5, 2019Galt Museum & ArchivesComment

Colourado Rubber Plant

This plant’s common name likely originates in the milky latex secreted by its roots. A distinguishing feature is the mostly basal leaves that are divided into three to seven narrow segments. The flowers, about 2 cm across, form a flat topped yellow cluster.

WildflowerPenny Dodd and Marion JankunisJuly 4, 2019Galt Museum & ArchivesComment

Dotted Blazing Star

A late summer splash of pinkish-purple on a dry, sandy hillside, or even the edge of a gravel road, draws attention to the dotted blazing star flower. The plant grows as a clump, 10–30 cm tall, with the flowers in a dense cluster along the top half of each stalk.

WildflowerPenny Dodd and Marion JankunisJuly 3, 2019Galt Museum & ArchivesComment

Blue Flax

Named for the explorer Captain Meriwether Lewis, this plant is a member of the flax family. The scientific name Linum acknowledges flax as the source of linen fibre. The pale blue flowers, 20–35 mm across, which occur in clusters atop 20–60 cm stems, last only one day.

WildflowerPenny Dodd and Marion JankunisJuly 2, 2019Galt Museum & ArchivesComment

Yellow Flax

Most often found in sandy soils, the yellow flax, at 15–40 cm tall, is smaller than blue flax. Its linear leaves are few in number, stiff or rigid (as the scientific name suggests) and are easily broken off the stem. The flowers are a smaller, yellow version of their blue relative’s blossom.

WildflowerPenny Dodd and Marion JankunisJuly 1, 2019Galt Museum & ArchivesComment

Skeleton Weed

This plant’s stiff stems, with narrow inconspicuous leaves, account for its common name. One bright pink flower head develops at the end of the 15–20 cm tall stem. It grows on ridges and dry areas.

WildflowerPenny Dodd and Marion JankunisJune 30, 2019Galt Museum & ArchivesComment