Wildflower Wednesday

I am very excited to be joining Gail at Clay and Limestone for Wildflower Wednesday. I just love wildflowers! Being new to blogging this is my first time to participate. All of these photos were taken today, near my home or in my garden.

Plains Coreopsis Coreopsis tintoria (Asteraceae)

I have this lovely coreopsis growing in my own garden, but none of them are blooming yet. Then the other day, I was driving down the freeway and I noticed them blooming in this empty lot. Don’t you just love it!

That’s the beauty of wildflowers. Give them a little rain and they are ready to go!

I’m so looking forward to them blooming in my garden.

Here we are at my garden to check out what’s blooming there. Please notice the Giant Coneflower (Rudbeckia maxima). I believe this flower is close to 6 feet.

The structure and shape of these flowers are so cool!

Giant Coneflower is native to North America.

This plant is just getting started in my garden. It usually blooms wildly from now until late April. Then it slows down and comes back for a fall flush

It has slivery leaves that add great foliage to the garden. I also like how it looks in bud form.

Scarlet Sage (Salvia coccinea Lamiaceae) I’m told this is a Texas native. I just love it and so do hummingbirds.

Blanketflower or Firewheel Gailardia aristrata (Asteraceae)

Firewheel did so well in the terrible drought Houston had in 2011. It bloomed from early spring until the first frost in my garden. Although known as a perennial, the high heat and humidity of Houston sometimes sends it packing. I always save seed and scatter them in the fall, to insure plants for the next spring.

These photos are of its’ bud form. I currently don’t have any flowers open. However, I still think it looks striking!

Mexican Bush Sage (Salvia leucantha)

I’m told this Mexican Bush Sage is native to Mexico. It does quite well in my Texas garden and just started blooming a few days ago.

Yellow Cosmos is also native to Mexico.

The flowers are a red-orange, orange or yellow. They are easily started from seed.

This cosmos started blooming a few weeks ago, and will bloom until frost.

Common Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)

Originally native to Europe, Asia and Africa, mullein has naturalize across North America.

Once it is finished blooming, I will scatter the seeds and the new plants will return next fall.

If you would like to see more wildflowers visit Clay and Limestone. Thanks Gail for hosting. I’m looking forward to the next Wildflower Wednesday on March 28^th.