Common Flower Gems - Classification # 12 - White Campion/Bladder Campion/Grave Flower/Flower of the Dead (Silene latifolia)

I spotted this white 5 petal flower during my daily walk in the park. I noticed the inflated calyx which quickly helped me identify it afterwards. Apparently in England these flowers are often seen at grave sites hence its other name Grave Flower.

Check out this Wiki link to learn more about the Bladder Campion

Bloom 2015 - Blue Bachelors Button/Cornflower (Centaurea Montana)

Life Cycle: Annual

Uses: Ornamental, Borders, Cut Flowers

Sun: Full Sun

Soil: Neutral-Alkaline

Water: Lightly

Spread: 10-12 Inches

Bloom Duration: 8 Weeks

Height: 30 Inches

This vibrant blue really broke up the fiery color theme I had with my golden Marigolds, yellow Zinnia, and Crimson Rambler. 

Photo of some wild mixed white and purple cornflowers I came across

I saw a wild mixed white and pink cornflower variation while strolling through my local park the other day. Leaf shape does looks a bit different compared to the one I'm growing so it might a different plant altogether. Very similar characteristics so I'll call it a bachelor's button find. 

Bloom 2015 - Pansy (Viola tricolor)

Life Cycle: Annual 

Uses: Beds, Container 

Sun: Full Sun, Part Sun 

Height: 6  inches

Spread: 8-10  inches

Sowing Method: Indoor Sow 

Bloom Duration: 12  weeks

These pansies were really a break from all the yellow/orange colors from my sunflower, zinnia, and marigolds. These small flowers reminded me of my impatiens which I have the urge to grow again. I noticed theres a black Pansy variety and I think I'll try growing some of those soon.

Common Flower Gems - Classification #10 Low False Bindweed (Calystegia spithamaea)

I found this low growing white and funnel shaped flower in the Jersey Area near my job. At first I thought it was just some field bindweed but upon closer inspection I noticed it was growing straight up from the ground without any twisting vines but a low erect stalk. A pretty interesting find and a common flower gem indeed. 

Bloom 2014 - Sweet Alyssum/Sweet Alison (Lobularia_maritima)

Life Cycle: Annual

Uses: Beds, Containers

Sun: Full Sun/Part Sun

Soil: Slightly Acidic or Alkaline

Water: Lightly

Spread: 5 - 8 Inches

Bloom Duration: 12 Weeks

Height: 4 Inches

My last bloom of the 2014 season, Carpet of Snow variety Sweet Alyssum! I waited the entirety of Spring and Summer 2014, but my slow growing Alyssum finally bloomed this week in Autumn. I won't go as far as saying it was worth the wait in regards to its tiny blooms, but it was a nice surprise to see it finally especially after witnessing some of my flowers dying off. Although some regard this plant as an easy to grow flower, I've encountered numerous problems throughout its slow growth ranging from over-watering and wilting from the Summer heat, so its a relief to see the fruits of my labor. Looking back, I've had some great success growing my indoor plants this year and had fun discovering the local plant life and wildflowers in my area. Can't wait till next year!

Common Flower Gems - Classification # 8 - Daisy Fleabane (Erigeron strigosus)

This one was actually trickier to identify than I originally thought. This lovely white and gold daisy flower can be found worldwide and is commonly known as Daisy fleabane because it was once thought to repel fleas, and not the ox-eye daisy, which is a much larger flower. 

A colony of Daisy Fleabane on the sidewalk.

Despite all the tall grass, I spotted these partly hidden daisies without even trying

Common Flower Gems - Classification # 7 - Chicory (Cichorium intybus)

This scraggly-looking plant is a sure sign of Spring

I spotted this Chicory flower species all over my neighborhood including parking lots, lawns, roadsides, and park areas. This is a personal favorite of mine because it resembles a Dandelion but has a variety of colors and shades as opposed to only yellow. Its also completely edible and is used as a coffee substitute. Blue shades are the most common but there are also white, purple, and pink varieties. I've yet to encounter one but I will be sure to be on the look out.

I found a rare pink/purplish version but this is as close as I could get...thanks fence.

Here are some images of White and Blue Chicory. (Proxy Image)

Common Flower Gems - Classification # 5 Dandelion (Taraxacum)

White Dandelion puffs are composed of hundreds of seed heads which are often carried as far as 5 miles from their origin!

I pulled some info online about Dandelions so I urged you to learn more about this common flower gem that is native to Eurasia and North and South America. Every year Americans spend millions on lawn pesticides to have uniform lawns of non-native grasses, and we use 30% of the country’s water supply to keep them green. The dandelion is the only flower that represents the 3 celestial bodies of the sun, moon and stars. The yellow flower resembles the sun, the puff ball resembles the moon and the dispersing seeds resemble the stars.

Fun Facts :

• The dandelion flower opens to greet the morning and closes in the evening to go to sleep.
• Every part of the dandelion is useful: root, leaves, flower. It can be used for food, medicine and dye for coloring.
• Up until the 1800s people would pull grass out of their lawns to make room for dandelions and other useful “weeds” like chickweed, malva, and chamomile.
• The average American recognizes thousands of logos for commercial products, yet recognizes fewer than five plants that grow in his/her area. Dandelions are most likely one of those familiar plants.
• The name dandelion is taken from the French word “dent de lion” meaning lion’s tooth, referring to the coarsely-toothed leaves.
• Dandelions have one of the longest flowering seasons of any plant.

Yellow Dandelion head is composed of hundreds of florets

I've Over-watered my Alyssum! Oh no, poor Ally :(

Proxy image of an over-watered plant. Signs are curled leaves, light green color, and droopy stem.

My Alyssum, Ally, is showing signs of over-watering and is not looking good. Basically the symptoms are light green leaves, droopy stems, curled-up leaves, and moist soil. Seeing that Alyssums prefer dry soil and how much I water my plants, its no wonder this occurred. The general green rule of thumb is to water plants whenever the topsoil is dry to the touch. I'll hold back on the daily watering and pay more attention to the moisture in the container before adding more water from now on.

In an attempt to save the plant, I've transplanted the plant into a different container with a drainage hole, trimmed it to focus the root growth, and am keeping it away from direct sunlight to avoid transplant shock. I just hope its not too late and the roots haven't rotted away. I've planted some more seeds in case it doesn't survive the transplant.

* The Alyssum was actually able to bounce back and now looking pretty good. It was sagging because it was pretty top heavy so I decided to trim it back down and avoid over watering.

My First Bloom 2014 - Star Lily/Mountain Lily (Leucocrinum montanum)

Here's the online image I used to make my comparison

So this  unidentified plant has been around the house for years, blooms every Spring, and I never really knew what it was before today. After quite a bit of online image research and comparing photos, I am near certain this specimen is the Star Lily wildflower, known also the Mountain Lily. The only reason I can't be a hundred percent certain is because Wikipedia mentions this species is stemless but there are about 5 flowers budding or already bloomed on the stem in the image as you can see below. I'm going to guess it may have grow a stem because of the extra water its been receiving as a houseplant if it is in fact a Star lily. 

I originally believed this to be a star of Bethlehem flower but the features between the two didn't quite match.

This is a Native US species and will bloom randomly for weeks then suddenly stop during Spring.

Heres another shot of the Sand Lily as I prefer to call it. It has 6 white, star shaped petals,  yellow stamens, and thing long grass-like tepals or leaves

Common Flower Gems - Classification #2 Field Bindweed/Hedge Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis)

White Hedge Bindweed I spotted at a distance 

Due to common confusion among the two, I've included both Field Bindweed and Hedge Bindweed, its larger counterpart. At first glance, this perennial vine is strikingly similar to the Moonflower with its funnel shaped corolla and arrowhead shaped leaves. But don't be fooled, this impostor below is actually Hedge Bindweed, a common weed in many regions. Difficult to remove due to its deep root system and rhizomes, its rhizome or root stalk (ginger being a type of root stalk) will form more roots and create new plants whenever they are pulled out of the ground. Very difficult to get rid of once infestation is 

Here's some Hedge Bindweed in light pink for all you ladies out there! An amazing and stunning field flower.

There were lots of Hedge Bindweed because it was late June and growth was at its peak.

6/22/15

Recent Photo of Hedge Bindweed

6/22/15

Another recent photo of Hedge Bindweed

6/22/15

More Hedge Bindweed

Here is the similar White Field Bindweed which is confused for Hedge Bindweed. Its  flowers and foliage are smaller and it has two Bracht's behind the flowers instead of just one large one at the base of each flower.

Field Bindweed is smaller than Hedge Bindweed; hence the name lesser bindweed.

Each vine stem will produce about 1-3 flowers.

I spotted some more hedge bindweed near a parking lot fence around my neighborhood too!

Common Flower Gems - Classification #1 Queen Annes Lace/Wild Carrot (Daucus carota)

Spotted this little guy on top. Supposedly I've hear there's a rare oddity where a purple floret blooms at the center so I will be on the lookout and be sure to post if I spot one.

So I was taking a stroll in my local NY park and realized something...I pass by so many flowers all the time, some numerous times throughout my entire life, but I still don't know what they're called. So in an attempt to remedy that, I will be researching & classifying common flowers and weeds that you might also recognize in your neighborhood and post a few facts and descriptions about them.

Queen Anne's Lace is quite lovely and easy to grow. It prefers a sunny position and a well-drained neutral to alkaline soil. Considered an obnoxious weed by some, it can spread very quickly. But the same is said about dandelions and they are among some of my favorite, also edible flowers. Common flowers get a bad rap if you ask me. This flowers numerous small white flower clusters and tall droopy stalk give it the same grace and beauty of a beautiful white swan.

The roots of  Queen Anne's Lace are similar to carrots and are also edible but can be easily mistaken for poison Hemlock.

Remember those purple florets I mentioned earlier?I found some today! And they weren't all that elusive afterall because I found several today.

And just for the heck of it, its a purple Queen Anne's Lace! (Proxy Image)