Wildflowers
“The difference between a flower and a weed is judgement." -Unknown
A wildflower also spelled wild flower, is a flower that grows in the wild. Generally the term applies to plants growing without intentional human aid. Most wild flowers are beautiful, fragrant and colorful. Wildflowers can be found alongside streams, rivers, in deep forests, on meadows or hillsides, and even in deserts. Although most wildflowers are native to the region in which they occur, some are the descendants of flowering plants introduced from other lands.
The Common dandelion is a most familiar wildflower. It is well known for its yellow flower heads that turn into round balls of silver tufted fruits that disperse in the wind. These balls are called “blowballs ” or “ clocks ” in both British and American English.
The daisy is also one of the most familiar wildflowers. There are approximately 4000 species of daisies that differ in size, shape, color and type of habitat. In Christianity, the daisy is a sacred symbol of Virgin Mary signifying her chastity, grace and purity.
Snowdrops are one of the first bulbs to flower and signal the start of spring. They are one of the few flowers that only come in one color – white. This is probably why the snowdrop symbolizes purity, the traditional color meaning of white flowers.
Crested Butte is so renowned for its abundance of wildflowers that it’ s often referred to as “Colorado ’ s Wildflower Capital. ”
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is home to more than 1,500 varieties of wildflowers, more than any other national park in North America — earning it the nickname “Wildflower National Park”.
When spring arrives at the western tip of the Mojave Desert in California, Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve becomes an ocean of vibrant orange poppies. Within the reserve, there are 11 kilometers (7 miles) of trails, including a paved section for wheelchair access, which traverse the poppy fields.
The longest wildflower trail is 295.1 km (183.4 mi) achieved by Incorporated Forest Road and P&G Downy (both Republic of Korea) at Mount Jiri, in Hadong, Republic of Korea, verified on 8 October 2019.
A superbloom is a rare desert botanical phenomenon in which an unusually high proportion of wildflowers whose seeds have lain dormant in desert soil germinate and blossom at roughly the same time. The phenomenon is associated with an unusually wet rainy season. The term may have developed as a label in the 1990s