This is a collection of some of my favorite wildflower photos taken in April and May of this year. If you’d like to see a larger version of any flower, just click on its photo.
The above photo was taken at the Wahkeena Nature Preserve. The staff there make it really easy to locate their most picturesque wildflowers. We were greeted by the in-house naturalist, Tom Shisler. He actually gave us a map of the grounds with the locations of the orchids identified by pink marks on the map. And if that’s not enough, the staff puts up little flags on the trail near the flower to help hikers locate them. On top of all that the staff notifies the public as to what wildflowers are currently in blossom at their blog.
Photographed May 2nd at Tar Hollow State Park
Photographed May 2nd at Tar Hollow State Park
Photographed May 23rd at the Edge of Appalachia
Photographed May 24th at Davis Memorial State Nature Preserve
Photographed May 23rd at the Edge of Appalachia
Photographed May 2nd at Tar Hollow State Park
Photographed May 9th at the Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Photographed May 2nd at Tar Hollow State Park
Photographed May 23rd at the Edge of Appalachia
The milkweed below was a new one for us. It has green petals and purple stamen that remind me of jacks.
Photographed May 25th at the Chaparral State Nature Preserve
Photographed May 24th at Shoemaker State Nature Preserve
also known as Dwarf larkspur
Photographed April 26th at Caesar Creek State Park
Photographed May 23rd at the Edge of Appalachia
Photographed May 23rd at the Edge of Appalachia
Photographed May 12th at Howard Collier State Nature Preserve
Photographed May 9th at Cuyahoga Valley National Park
To me the photo below look like buds emerging from lips. 😀 It turns out this plant is one of Ohio’s native honeysuckle plants.
Photographed May 9th at Deep Cut Quarry Park
Photographed May 25th at the Chaparral State Nature Preserve
Photographed May 10th at Brecksville Reservation
The plant below, American columbo, has odd looking flowers, but the plant is even more striking. The flower stalk (panicle) can grow up to 7 feet tall with up to 100 flowers emerging from it. The plant may grow for thirty years prior to flowering, after which it dies.
Photographed May 24th at Shoemaker State Nature Preserve
Below is a photo of the flower panicle for one specimen of American columbo.
Photographed May 24th at Davis Memorial State Nature Preserve
Photographed May 10th at Brecksville Reservation
Photographed May 12th at Howard Collier State Nature Preserve
Photographed May 24th at Shoemaker State Nature Preserve
As summer draws near, the spring wildflower season is rapidly ending. By mid-July summer wildflowers will be in peak bloom. Unlike spring wildflowers which tend to be found in forest settings, summer flowers are found in prairies, fens, and fields. Now that’s something to look forward to.
Additional information
- TrekOhio: Common Spring Wildflowers in Ohio
- ODNR: Ohio Wildflowers — a photo gallery.
- ODNR: The Science of Spring Wildflowers
- ODNR: Spring’s Bounty of Wildflowers
- ODNR: Photographing Wildflowers
- ODNR: Spring Wildflower Season Ending as Summer Nears
- Buckeye Botanist: Guide to the Trillium of Ohio
- Buckeye Botanist: A Guide to the Milkweeds of Ohio
- Buckeye Botanist: Spectacular Spring Orchids
More on Wildflowers
Rhododendron Maximum in Bloom
Mountain Laurel in Bloom at Shallenberger
Milford Center Prairie State Natural Area
Ohio Summer Flowers at Gallagher Fen
I am in Trumbull County. Do you know of any Lady’s Slippers near me? If so, where and when should are the best times to visit? Thanks for your help.
Becky, I’m afraid I haven’t been in that part of the state while spring wildflowers are blooming. I did check the dates when I have photographed it. I have photos of pink lady’s slippers that I took during the first week of May. Around that time I saw yellow lady’s slippers in bud, but they hadn’t fully blossomed yet. And I have photos from the first week of June of showy lady’s slipper.
Resources that you might want to check:
Beautiful photos! I’ve always wanted to see the pink orchid…
Karen, thank you! We’re thinking of going to a preserve this weekend that has Showy Lady Slipper’s orchids. They are also pink and lovely.
Beautiful!
Thanks, Ron!