Shelby Lanark Wildflower Meadow Guide
This little patch of park is being restored by neighbors into a seasonal native wildflower meadow—more blooms, more habitat, and a lot more life than a weed patch. Take a look at what’s growing, use the sprout identifier to spot seedlings, and please help us protect the baby plants by staying on paths and leaving flowers where they are.
What’s growing
California poppy
Blooms February-September
TIDY TIPS
Blooms February-July
LACY PHACELIA
Blooms March–May
Tricolor gilia
Blooms March–May
GLOBE GILIA
Blooms April-August
ELEGANT clarkia
Blooms April–September
Baby Wildflower Identifier
Don't pull us!
Can you find the wildflower seedlings?
Look closely and you’ll see tiny wildflowers coming up. Once they have a few young leaves, they start to look distinct — even before flowers arrive in spring. Until then, they’re busy getting taller, stronger, and building roots.
Friendly rule for this meadow: If you’re not sure whether something is a seedling or a weed, leave it.
California poppy
TIDY TIPS
LACY PHACELIA
Tricolor gilia
GLOBE GILIA
ELEGANT clarkia
Timeline
Next Up
- Weeding continues. The practical goal is to give the seedlings and wildflowers enough light to outgrow nearby weeds, rather than remove weeds entirely.
- Watering. The higher heat and lack of rain in January has required us to give the meadow supplemental water a few times.
January 21
First blooms have arrived!
The little January heatwave has tricked a few of our flowers into blooming a hair on the early side. The first plant to open up its flowers was...tidy tips! We had thought the tidy tips didn't like this soil and did not see any of their seedlings—but turns out they were there all along. We also see some phacelias getting ready to show off.
December 21
Rains are here! Expect a big growth boost in the coming weeks.
After providing supplemental water last week to keep the seedlings from drying out, we're thrilled to see big rain in the forecast! The flowers will get a growth boost—and yes, so will the weeds. But the good news? Our seedlings are getting more defined by the day and are now growing taller than the weeds we hand-trim back down. Circled in orange is California poppy, in blue is tricolor gilia, and in purple is lacy phacelia.
Early December
Seedlings have sprouted!
Can you find them? Check out the baby wildflower identifier to learn what they look like as they break the soil’s surface.
November 20
Seeds are spread before the big rain storm
After an initial culling of some weeds, we spread out a few pounds of native wildflower seeds. Before each rain (until about January), we’ll re-seed the area to fill gaps and improve coverage.
Mid November
The beginning—a weed patch
These invasive, non-native plants provide little habitat, minimal beauty, and include problematic species like burr clover and foxtails which are a danger to pets.
How to help
Want to support the meadow? Amazing! The best help is the kind that protects seedlings.
- Please stick to the sidewalk or rocks. Seedlings are easy to crush right now if stepped on.
- Please let flowers be once they bloom. Leaving them helps reseeding and provides habitat.
Seeds & Resources
Looking for native seeds and plants? Theodore Payne Foundation has a great selection.
Please choose locally native seed. Many “wildflower mixes” sold online include non-native species that can spread aggressively here.
