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The Observations of John Larkin - May 1996
Some of the wildflowers we are trying to save for posterity that are presently blooming
April 10 to May 10, 1996
Bracketed numbers = months in bloom.

• Achillea millefolium, Yarrow - Perennial herb to 2' lacy foliage white flowers in flat clusters.
  
  
• Aletrislutea, Colic-root - Perennial herb to 2', leaves thin, 4-8" long, 1/2" yellow, thin flowers (about 20) on stalk. Lake Ramsey Road.Wet sites.
   
• Aleurites fordii, Tung Oil Tree (Introduced) - Resembles our Catalpa trees in leaf and flower, but has a deep pink center. Attractive in rows. Tung Oil was once a thriving industry in our area.
   
• Allium arenicola. Wild Onion - Compact clusters of small, white to pink flowers on 12" scapes (leafless stems). Grow from small bulbs.
   
• Aphanostephus skirrobasis, Lazy Daisy - Annual to 20",3/4" flowers that resemble Daisy Fleabane. not as many rays (petals).
   
• Baptisia leucophaea, Nodding Indigo - Perennial herb to 18" tall, leaflets in threes, 1" pea shaped yellow flowers in drooping clusters.
   
• Dichromena colorata, White-topped Sedge - Lily like white bracts surround the tiny flowers. Moist pinelands & marshes.
   
• Eriocaulon decangulare, Hard-heads - Basal rosette of thin, grass-like leaves, with bare flower stalks to 2' tall, topped by button-like dense off­white flowers. Grows in acid pinelands, bogs, and pond margins (and Ramsey Road).
   
• Helenium amarum, BitterWeed - Winter annual or biennial herb to 2' tall with many 3/4" all yellow flowers. blooms for months.
  
  
• Kalmia latifolia, Mountain Laurel - Gets to be large evergreen shrub. Growing along Pusepetappa Creek in Washington Parish. Best time to see in bloom is mid to late April.
   
• Lobelia appendiculata. Pale Lobelia - About 18" tall, on erect stem with pale blue, 3/8" flowers along stem, lower lip has typical ,Lobelia three lobes.
   
• Lonicera sempervirens, Coral Honeysuckle - Not rampant, evergreen vine with clusters of bright red tubular flowers. (3)
   
• L. japonica, Japanese Honeysuckle - Sweet smelling flowers, but very invasive. Imported
   
• Mitchella repens, Partridge Berry - Groundcover, twin leaves, twin flowers, & twin berries.
   
• Oenothera speciosa, Showy evening Primrose - Perennial herb 12 to 18" tall, 3" pink or white cup-shaped flowers. March to June. (3).
   
• Phlox divaricata. P. pilosa are still blooming (2).
   
• Physostegia virginiana, Obedient Plant - Perennial to 3', pinkish flowers on spike.
   
• Prunella vulgaris, Self-heal - Perennial in clumps to 18" tall. 1/2" white & lavender flowers in compact cylinders. Closely follows Salvia Iyrata in bloom.
   
• Rosa Carolina - Low growing, spreading, many 1 1/2-2" delicate pink, single flowers, followed by bright red hips, which the birds love.
   
• Rudbeckia fulgida, Bracted Cone-flower; R. amplexicaulis and R. hirta, Black-eyed Susan are all in bloom.
   
• Scutellaria integrifolia, Rough Skullcap - Perennial herb to 12", 3/4" lavender-blue flowers on spikes. I have about 50 plants from the one I got from Mary ElIen Armitage.
   
• Sarracenia alata, Yellow pitcher plant – Unusual insect catching plants, with yellow, upside down flowers and hollow, 2‘ leaves.  Wet sites.
   
• Spigelia marilandica, Indian Pink - Perennial herb to 2', red, tubular flowers open with a yellow five pointed star in center. Interesting.
   
• Tradescantra virginia, Spiderwort - Perennial herb, l' tall, blue, pink or white flowers with grass-like leaves. (2)
   
• Verbena rigida, Stiff Verbena - Low growing perennial with deep purple flowers, doing great. (2)

Printable May, 1996 Blooms (Adobe PDF)