Wildflowers blooming in the woods

I will be leaving soon on a 10-day trip to a place I've always wanted to visit - the Pacific Northwest (Portland). Everybody keeps telling me that I will not want to return home. That is probably true - a climate where heat and humidity are rare, liberal politics prevail and uber-religious people are the minority - that sounds like paradise to me. But, sometimes you just have to live and endure with what you've got.

As enticing as Portland sounds and I'm sure it will be, I was on the property where I grew up yesterday and thought to myself, "The Alabama woods are pretty darn beautiful!" Sure, the heat, chiggers and ticks are a constant battle but I really love this property. Sadly, I've never paid much attention to the flora that inhabit these woods until recently. I am astounded by the number of wildflowers that are blooming. 

The Indian Pink (Spigelia marilandica) seems to be the most prolific at the moment. It is everywhere on the property.  

Also prolific is the Bellflower (Campanula americana) - at least this is what I think it is - it is all over the place as well.  No complaints however!

Blephilia ciliata (Downy Woodmint)

 

Wild Petunia (Ruella caroliniensis)

Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta).

And here are a few wildflowers that I don't know the identify of - if you have any ideas, please let me know.

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The creek

 
Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy