Spring Wildflowers with the Outdoor Hour Challenge
Don’t miss the giveaway below!
Here in Central Oregon we haven’t experienced many wildflowers yet but I know they are coming! I’m trying to support the Charlotte Mason homeschoolers who are following the Ambleside Online’s nature study schedule so I’ll compile some ideas for studying wildflowers. As you observe the wildflowers in your neighborhood, check with the Handbook of Nature Study (the book and my website) for information and inspiration.
Here are some of the main wildflower links for you to use here on the website.
- Gardens Tab at the top of the website. This page lists all of the wildflowers we’ve studied here with the Outdoor Hour Challenge in the past. You will find them listed by ebook and then at the bottom of the page in alphabetical order. These links are available to everyone.
- Wildflower Nature Study Set #1. This ebook contains 5 wildflowers not specifically covered in the Handbook of Nature Study book. This ebook is part of the Ultimate and the Journey level memberships. Purchase a membership by following this link: Handbook of Nature Study membership information.
- Wildflower Nature Study Set #2. This is the second set of 5 wildflowers not specifically covered in the Handbook of Nature Study book. This ebook is part of the Ultimate and the Journey level memberships. Purchase a membership by following this link: Handbook of Nature Study membership information.
- Wildflower Printables: There are 6 additional wildflower printables available to Ultimate and Journey level members. Purchase a membership by following this link: Handbook of Nature Study membership information.
Getting Started
I hope these links help you locate the wildflower study that your family is interested in completing this season. There are so many to choose from so don’t be overwhelmed. I decided when I first started out identifying wildflowers with my children that we would take each flower one at a time. We aimed to learn a new flower each time we took a walk and that strategy helped us not be overwhelmed. Take it one flower at a time and use the Outdoor Hour Challenges to help you dig deeper and then follow up with a nature journal entry of some sort.
Is it important to know each flower’s name?
I recently took a hike with a friend and she was hoping I could teach her the names of the wildflowers we saw as we walked. I told her that once you know a flower’s name, you think of it as a friend, the kind of friend you look forward to seeing. She laughed at first but later realized that it does change your view of a wildflower once you know its name.
My Best Hint: Take lots of pictures for future reference!
It’s much easier to identify a wildflower with a field guide if you have an image of the flower, its leaf, and its stem.
Some Links to My Past Wildflower Studies You May Want to View for Inspiration:
California Poppies: We have spent many hours observing the poppy and its many interesting features.
Hike to the River – Spring Wildflowers: When we lived in California, we had our favorite trail to the river and at this time of year it was full of wildflowers. Be inspired to take your own walk!
Spring Wildflowers: Here is another one that is full of our California wildflowers.
I’m giving away 5 copies of each of my wildflower ebooks. I will randomly draw 5 winners to receive Set #1 and Set #2 of the new wildflower ebooks here on the Handbook of Nature Study.
Use the Rafflecopter gadget below to enter.
I’ll be picking the winners on 4/14/18 so enter today.
We haven’t seen any wildflowers here yet.
We’ve seen bluebonnets, paintbrushes, and a few that we have failed to identify.
I would love to see some bluebonnets!
Yes! We live in LA near the Texas border. Lots of the yellow wildflowers and purple ones cropping up. Oddly enough, we don’t see them in LA but as soon as you hit Texas a few miles away there are these absolutely gorgeous salmon-colored flowers everywhere. They are my favorite.
No flowers yet, we still have a foot of snow!!
We are getting snow later this week….no wildflower here either.
We have seen wildflowers here! We live in the mountains of Southern California and while our mountain doesn’t have many yet, wildflower season is in full bloom when we go down the mountain.
We were on the So Cal coast last March and the flowers were amazing!
We have seen a couple wildflowers coming to bud recently (then it snowed again) here in SW PA.
Soon you will see them I’m sure!
Yes, we are seeing bluebonnets, and Indian paintbrush!!
I love Indian paintbrush too!
I haven’t seen any flowers yet. We still have snow on the ground here in Montana.
I haven’t noticed any wildflowers yet…hopefully we’ll see soon in the next few weeks!
We might have not sure
We live in Southern California and have seen many succulent type plants blooming flowers. They send these tall shoots from the middle of the plant. It’s quite striking! We still need a dedicated trip out somewhere where we can see other wildflowers blooming.
We finally have some wild daffodils peaking out after a long winter in PA. 🙂
Not yet, still waiting for the snow to melt!
We still have snow on the ground. And this rate we won’t see wild flowers until June.
I’m sort of with you….maybe a few before June but it really will get started in June and July!
We had snow today! THere are lots of spring flowers blooming- daffodils, etc., but I haven’t seen any wildflowers in my area yet.
Nothing yet. Maybe after this next foot of snow melts…..