Now is a great time to view Ozark Mountain wildflowers. With all the recent rain the wildflowers are really showing off this year. Our area of the Ozark Mountains has been particularly lucky with the blooming of all the wildflowers.
We are lucky in this part of Arkansas because the roadways have wide enough right-of-ways that the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department can include them in their wildflower program. This is a program that strives to “help reduce long-term maintenance costs, enhance, roadside wildlife habitat, provide an attractive roadside environment, and preserve native plant populations” according to their website. You can read all about the program here.
One of the Ozark Mountain Wildflowers that have become particularly abundant in our area is the Purple Coneflowers. They are growing in clusters all along Arkansas Highway 14 between Yellville and Omaha. This drive has some beautiful scenery where you can look out over the valleys and see for miles. The abundance of wildflowers adds even more to the natural beauty of the area.
The Narrow Leaf Sunflower is another of the abundant Ozark Mountain wildflowers you will see adding color to the landscape this time of year. You will usually see them growing in clusters along the roadside and along fence rows.
You will see plenty of these striking flowers with white petals around a yellow center. They love the sun so they grow prolifically along the roadsides where they receive abundant sunshine.
Although the Asiatic Dayflower is not usually found along the roadside, they are blooming right now. These flowers prefer the environment along wood lines and inside the forest from where I have been seeing them. The striking blue color of the petals is hard to miss. They are easy to spot when they are in the area.
You can also see plenty of the large white flowers known as Queen Anne’s Lace. These grow in abundance along the roadsides and they are in full bloom right now. Where these white clusters grow with other flowers there can be a striking contrast between the many different colors and species of flowers. You can also make tasty jelly from the blooms. You can find out how to make Queen Ann’s Lace Jelly here.
If you love scenic drives and wildflowers now is a good time to drive through the Ozarks and see the Ozark Mountain Wildflowers in full bloom. They complement the amazing scenery and make it even more amazing if that is possible. Plan your visit to the Ozarks and view this awesome spectacle of nature for yourself. The flowers are really putting on a show for you.