Just hit 50 different native wildflowers ID'd in my backyard this year

I started keeping a little journal back in March when the crocuses popped up, and I honestly didn't think I'd get past maybe 20 species. But yesterday I found a patch of rough blazing star I'd never noticed before, tucked behind the old compost pile. That brought me to exactly 50, which felt like a big deal for a small suburban lot that I thought was just grass and weeds. It's crazy how much was already growing here, I just wasn't looking close enough. My neighbor thinks I'm weird for crawling around with a magnifying glass, but whatever. Has anyone else been surprised by how many species they find in one small area?

2 comments

2 Comments

mark6761mo agoMost Upvoted

Wait, are you sure it's rough blazing star and not dense blazing star? Those two look SUPER similar and I've mixed them up before, but rough has those little hairs on the stem that you can feel if you rub it.

tara_mitchell1mo ago

That "little hairs on the stem" thing reminds me of the time I spent an hour IDing plants on a hike and later found out I'd been taking pictures of the same weed the whole time. My buddy finally pointed out I was crouching over a patch of ragweed, not the rare flower I thought I'd found. So yeah, trust the touch test over your eyes, but also maybe double check you're not just staring at the same plant twice.