Q. I’m creating a wildflower path through my woods and need some suggestions for wildflowers that will be easy care. Any suggestions?
A. The key to a wildflower path is Right Plant Right Place. Almost all wildflowers return reliably, but only if they are planted in exactly the situations that suits them.
Buy yourself a wildflower guide and match up your soil and moisture conditions, tree-root issues and wind and sun information with the descriptions in the book. I would recommend as a good resource “The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers.” Clearly photographed wildflowers are listed by flower shape and color, and it is easy to find any that might interest you with descriptions of growth habit and habitat also described.
You also should stroll the paths at the Chattanooga Nature Center and Arboretum, also named Reflection Riding, at the foot of Lookout Mountain. There you can see your favorites happily growing in the conditions you should have or be willing to create. They have a native plant sale and you can request a schedule for those sales.
Many of our wildflowers are called “spring ephemerals” because they really do disappear after their spring bloom. Mark their locations carefully, so you don’t plant on top of these beauties.