This has been a month of wildflowers for our family. The quote from the Handbook of Nature Study that I put on the front page of this month’s newsletter really sums up my feelings well.
“Thus by beginning with the child in nature-study, we take him to the laboratory of the wood or garden, the roadside or the field, and his materials are the wild flowers or the weeds, or the insects that visit the goldenrod or the bird that sings in the maple tree, or the woodchuck whistling in the pasture.”
We aimed at going out to look for wildflowers and we were rewarded with meaningful nature study. The incidental things that came into view when we slowed to observe the flowers closely brought other subjects into view as well. The insect on the flower, the birdsong as we walked, and the snake and newt that crossed our paths.
Don’t ever imagine that you can study in nature one subject without being drawn into seeing the relationships between the amazing things happening around you.
Here is the results of our color hunt from the Wildflower and Weed Study Grid (May 2016 Newsletter). I have picked my favorites for each color for you to enjoy.
Light Pink
Dark Pink
Yellow
Orange
Red
Purple
Lavender
White
I am still keeping my running lists of wildflowers that we find by hike in my little journal. It is very helpful to stop during a hike and make some notes as we go along. Also, afterwards, sitting with the images and a field guide, we try to identify any flowers we didn’t recognize during the hike. I have learned about a few new flowers this month by keeping careful track of the wildflowers seen.
I love this time of year!