Not all the beautiful Ohio blooms arrive in the spring. As summer heats up across northern Ohio, we’re starting to see the resurgence of the gorgeous wildflowers that call our property home. For those with an interest in summer wildflowers, here are a few of the species common to Northeastern Ohio and often found along the trails here at our Holmes County Inn.
Purple Cress
A beautiful purple perennial, the Purple Cress is a favorite among all sorts of bees and butterflies, flowering around here late in May and lasting through the summer. They are short and blend in with the other greenery along the trail but have a nice, soft petal and fuzzy stem.
Wild Geranium
One of the more prolific of the Geranium family, these wildflowers have five purple, wedge-shaped petals and large flowering stems that jut up from the middle cup. They’re really beautiful when you catch a large patch of them.
Mayapple
The Mayapple is a fascinating wildflower that spans the northeastern states to the coast. It’s primary stem grows high into two twin leaves that resemble umbrellas for the delicate bloom that forms below, at the split in the stalk. The flower is usually yellow and blooms in early May (hence the name).
Cutleaf Toothwort
Despite the odd name, these wildflowers are more common and another beautiful summer purple. These flowers sprout in multiple 3-leaf blooms around a strong central stalk. They have 3 wide leaf branches that extend from the base around the ground, making them look like they sprout up from bundles of ferns in the meadow.
Spotted Jewelweed
For a slightly bolder and different color in the Ohio summer fields and forests, these Jewelweeds are a fiery orange and a favorite among hummingbirds for the bright colors and sweet nectar. The stem juices are said to relieve itching from poison ivy and has been used to treat fungal contaminations like athlete’s foot. They are the most exotic wildflower we see in this area throughout the summer.
All these and more make this stretch of land bold and beautiful this time of year. Combined with the animal wildlife, our little Holmes County Bed & Breakfast is quite a tranquil habitat for getting back to Mother Nature.