This month's theme for the Canadian Homeschool Blogging Team is to write five posts about something Canadian!
I am choosing to focus on Canadian Nature Study. My family and I loved observing nature, whether it is in our own backyard or when we visit a park or nature trail.
Over the years I have written many blog posts about nature study and at times it has been part of our homeschool routine. Nature has been part of our lives and has brought a lot of wonder and enjoyment to us.
Over the course of the five posts, I will be sharing with you some of my favourites from my blog archives, with a focus for each post on a particular field of nature study.
Part Two: Birds
Part Three: Seasons
Part Four: Insects
Part Five: Ideas to Spend More Time in Nature
My first focus for Canadian Nature Study is Wildflowers.
Wildflowers don't know about country borders, so some of these might be found in parts of the Eastern United States too! Since we have lived in Ontario and now Prince Edward Island, I have included wildflowers from both areas.
So many wildflowers are seen as weeds but I have always enjoyed looking at them and trying to identify them! My husband has learned over the years to indulge me and not destroy every single one...
The Common Buttercup is bright yellow and has generally five flower petals. These are found in fields, meadows, and often around suburban lawns too. There is a little game children often play with these, which is to put a flower under the chin of a friend to see if they like butter. The flower is so bright that the yellow is often reflected on the chin!
We have seen the buttercup flowers in Ontario and Prince Edward Island.
You can see more photos of buttercups at this post: Wildflowers :: Common Buttercups
Devil's Paintbrush, also called Orange Hawkweek is a favourite of mine with its vibrant deep orange composite wildflower. It is listed as an alien plant in the Peterson field guide, which means it is "foreign, but successfully established in our area by man, or as an escape". I didn't notice this one in Ontario, but have seen it in different parts of Prince Edward Island.
I have two more photos of this beautiful orange wildflower at this post: PEI Wildflowers :: Orange.
Lupines are everywhere on the island. They can be pink, purple, or white. They are often seen by the side of the road. We love the story of Miss Rumphius which mentions lupines!
You can see more photos and a bit about the book I just mentioned at this post: PEI Wildflowers :: Lupines and this one : Lupines :: Wildflowers.
Lastly, the Common Dandelion can be found in Ontario and PEI. I think they are wonderful and useful, but many just see them as an annoying weed. You can eat dandelion leaves in a salad. The yellow flowers can be used to and the roots can also be harvested and used as well. They are pretty amazing!
A fun thing to do for all ages once the flower has gone to the fluffy white seedballs is to make a wish while blowing on it!
You can see more dandelions posts from my archives: Catching My Eye (bottom of post) and Spring Nature Study ~ Wildflowers ~ Dandelions
I will be writing four more posts focusing on Canadian Nature during this month of July, as part of the monthly posts for the Canadian Homeschool Blogging Team.
I am choosing to focus on Canadian Nature Study. My family and I loved observing nature, whether it is in our own backyard or when we visit a park or nature trail.
Over the years I have written many blog posts about nature study and at times it has been part of our homeschool routine. Nature has been part of our lives and has brought a lot of wonder and enjoyment to us.
Over the course of the five posts, I will be sharing with you some of my favourites from my blog archives, with a focus for each post on a particular field of nature study.
Part Two: Birds
Part Three: Seasons
Part Four: Insects
Part Five: Ideas to Spend More Time in Nature
My first focus for Canadian Nature Study is Wildflowers.
Wildflowers don't know about country borders, so some of these might be found in parts of the Eastern United States too! Since we have lived in Ontario and now Prince Edward Island, I have included wildflowers from both areas.
So many wildflowers are seen as weeds but I have always enjoyed looking at them and trying to identify them! My husband has learned over the years to indulge me and not destroy every single one...
The Common Buttercup is bright yellow and has generally five flower petals. These are found in fields, meadows, and often around suburban lawns too. There is a little game children often play with these, which is to put a flower under the chin of a friend to see if they like butter. The flower is so bright that the yellow is often reflected on the chin!
We have seen the buttercup flowers in Ontario and Prince Edward Island.
 |
| Common Buttercup |
Devil's Paintbrush, also called Orange Hawkweek is a favourite of mine with its vibrant deep orange composite wildflower. It is listed as an alien plant in the Peterson field guide, which means it is "foreign, but successfully established in our area by man, or as an escape". I didn't notice this one in Ontario, but have seen it in different parts of Prince Edward Island.
 |
| Devil's Paintbrush |
I have two more photos of this beautiful orange wildflower at this post: PEI Wildflowers :: Orange.
Lupines are everywhere on the island. They can be pink, purple, or white. They are often seen by the side of the road. We love the story of Miss Rumphius which mentions lupines!
 |
| Lupines |
You can see more photos and a bit about the book I just mentioned at this post: PEI Wildflowers :: Lupines and this one : Lupines :: Wildflowers.
Lastly, the Common Dandelion can be found in Ontario and PEI. I think they are wonderful and useful, but many just see them as an annoying weed. You can eat dandelion leaves in a salad. The yellow flowers can be used to and the roots can also be harvested and used as well. They are pretty amazing!
A fun thing to do for all ages once the flower has gone to the fluffy white seedballs is to make a wish while blowing on it!
 |
| Dandelion Close Up |
 |
| Dandelion close up again! |
You can see more dandelions posts from my archives: Catching My Eye (bottom of post) and Spring Nature Study ~ Wildflowers ~ Dandelions
I will be writing four more posts focusing on Canadian Nature during this month of July, as part of the monthly posts for the Canadian Homeschool Blogging Team.
Your macro photos are AMAZING! And what a fantastic natures study topic. Prince Edward Island is absolutely brimming with wildflowers to enjoy this time of year. I'm looking forward to your next nature study posts :-)
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