One of the first wildflowers to emerge in early spring with delicate, white 1-2 inch flowers with yellow centers that are visited by the first pollinating insects. After bloom, the distinctive large, deeply-lobed foliage adds a distinctive texture to the woodland garden.

A summer-blooming wildflower in the milkweed family that is an important host to the monarch butterfly. Mid-summer blooming, orange flower clusters attract many species of butterflies and pollinating insects. Must have sunny, dry soil to thrive. Excellent dry garden plant or naturalized in a dry meadow. Deer-resistant foliage.

Provides vital sources of pollen and nectar for bees and other insects in the late summer and fall throughout North America. Canada goldenrod can be used for revegetation of disturbed areas, for mine spoil reclamation, and soil stabilization.

Small, white flowers with yellow centers brighten the spring landscape and attract pollinating insects. Low, evergreen tripled-leaved rosettes carpet the ground. In July, lots of juicy red berries cover the plants. Edible to wildlife and people. Makes a great ground cover or meadow plant.

The fruit of this plant are used to improve the complexion. The leaves should be crushed and then applied as a face mask.

Considered a pioneer species and not long-lived, Common Elderberry performs best with low competition from other woody plants and in full sun to light shade. Birds love the fruits and it's a battle of wits to harvest them before the birds get them all, and before the rock-hard seeds become too large. Timed right, it makes great pie, among other things. It blooms much later than the related Red-berried Elder (Sambucus racemosa), which is more common as a woodland understory shrub, has more pyramidal flower clusters, orange-brown pith in 2-year-old branches, and, as the common name suggests, has bright red berries. Its berries are inedible and mature when Common Elderberry is just starting to bloom. Sambucus canadensis is often listed as synonym Sambucus nigra subsp. canadensis, considered by some to be a European counterpart and by others as the accepted name, with S. canadensis the synonym. The debate goes on. There may be several varieties of S. canadensis—information is rather sketchy and, again, there does not appear to be a consensus—but var. canadensis, characterized by hairs on the leaflet veins but not the surface.

Nora Thompson Dean recalled that her father made toy squirt guns out of elderberry stems for her and her brothers when they were children. Freddie Washington mentioned that elderberries were employed to make a dye used in coloring basket splints.

Blooming in late summer with pale pink, tiered flower clusters and gray-green foliage. This plant makes a dramatic garden display and attracts an interesting array of pollinating insects. Foliage can be used for tea. A biennial species, but will self-sow if happy in its location. Deer-proof.

The leaves are used as a headache cure. The leaves are crushed and placed in a small pan of cold water . The wet leaves are then placed in a rag and applied on the head as a compress. Note - There were two kinds used, but not Mentha. It should be Monarda.

A bright golden-yellow meadow coneflower with a black center that blooms from mid-summer to fall. It attracts numerous butterflies when in bloom, and birds to its seed heads. Thrives in poor, dry soils. Will bloom the first year from seed; easy to establish in waste areas. A good urban plant for sunny dry locations.

Yarrow has flat-topped or dome-shaped clusters of small white flowers that bloom from April to October. An attractive, hardy perennial, yarrow can reach about 3 feet in height. Its aromatic, fine, feathery-cut leaves give the plant a soft, fern-like appearance. Yarrow attracts butterflies, bees and other insects, making it a nice addition to a pollinator garden. This species can become weedy, however, since it spreads readily and tolerates disturbance.
        Numerous tribes in North America used yarrow for a variety of ailments. The crushed plant was applied to wounds and burns. The dried leaves were used as a tea to soothe colds, fever, and headache. Yarrow beer has been brewed in Europe since the middle ages. The Chinese considered yarrow plants to be good luck. Even Lewis and Clark were acquainted with yarrow. It was collected during the Lewis and Clark Expedition while they were camped near Kamiah, Idaho in May 1806.

Yarrow tea will stop excess menstrual flow. The roots of the plant are pounded with a stone, after which the macerated roots are boiled to produce the medicinal tea.

Dramatic, large summer-blooming plant excellent for borders, rain gardens, and meadows. Deep purple flowers attract pollinating insects and butterflies. Deer-resistant foliage.

Low, dark green foliage with numerous white-to-pale-lavender flowers blooms in early summer attracting pollinating insects and hummingbirds. Must have well drained soil. A short-lived perennial but will reseed if happy. Excellent for stone walls and rock gardens.

In midsummer, tall spikes of deep red flowers cover the plant and attract hummingbirds and butterflies. A dramatic plant for moist gardens and wet areas in sun or shade. A short-lived perennial that will reseed readily if happy.

Cardinal flower was believed to be a love charm that would help the Delaware win the hand of a lover. It was kept and prayed over so it could work its magic… The root is first cleaned and then touched all over the body. Nora Thompson Dean commented, "Old ladies use it a love charm. They usually talk to it and offer tobacco to it in secret.’ All ages can use it as a love charm.

An early-blooming spring ephemeral with deep pink star-shaped flowers held above a rosette of low green foliage. Flowers attract early pollinators. Deer-resistant. Plants go dormant in late summer.

A fall-blooming meadow aster with bright purple or pink flowers and yellow centers. Dark green foliage can be cut back in mid-summer to control height. Flowers supply abundant nectar for late-season bees and butterflies. Foliage important for many species in their larval stages. Excellent garden and landscape plant with late season interest.

In mid-summer, distinctive lavender flowers bloom atop fragrant blue-green foliage, attracting butterflies, bees and hummingbirds. Plant is aggressive in a small garden but is a great choice in a bed of its own or in a meadow. Leaves make a pleasant tea.

A lovely goldenrod for shady gardens and landscapes. In October, delicate arching stems are covered with tiny yellow flower clusters that attract fall pollinators. A clump-forming species that is very well-behaved and deserving of a place in shady gardens. Deer-proof.

A fragrant summer-blooming meadow wildflower that is crucial to the life cycle of the monarch butterfly. Pink globe-shaped flower clusters provide nectar for many species of bees and butterflies. Plant spreads by underground runners and is most suited to meadows and roadsides, as it is challenging to control in a garden.

Milkweed is gathered in the spring when about one foot tall. At this height it is still tender. Freddie Washington explained that there are four kinds of milkweed, three of which are not fit to eat . The edible sort blooms in June.