Celebrating Wildflowers

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In 1991 the USDA Forest Service began the Celebrating Wildflowers program. It encourages the public to learn about the native plants of the United States.

The site features regions of the country which can be explored. Click on the map or search by state or National Forest/Grassland to find the wildflowers that are indigenous to a specific region. North Carolina has wildflower viewing areas in the Nantahala National Forest, the Pisgah National Forest, and the Uwharrie National Forest listed on the site. By clicking on the highlighted trails, students will find in-depth information including a description of the trail, directions, important safety information, and more.

The site provides lesson plans and activity sheets for teachers to use in their classrooms. Students can play games, work on wildflower activities, and find wildflower vocabulary words in the “Just for Kids” section.

There is wonderful information on pollination. Without pollinators, the world would not have food to eat. Not only are there insect pollinators, but mammals as well. This section of the site explores the food web, pollinator conservation, and the environmental and cultural benefits of pollination.

Create a wildflower garden. This site shows you how. There are instructions for restoration and native landscaping, gardening for pollinators, and landscaping for wildlife. This section also has information on invasive species of plants.

Rounding out the site are interesting articles, photographs, and activities on native plants. Read about the plant of the week or the pollinator of the month. There are also photographs that can be downloaded to use as desktops for your computer.