The changing wildflowers of the countryside marked the passing seasons on the farm. As summer turned to fall and rural children went back to their one-room country schools, many of the wildflower blossoms had all but disappeared where they walked.

The bright yellow colors of late summer Black-Eyed Susans and Sunflowers lingered in the grassy ditches and along the fence rows. Some of the delicate white flowers of Queen Anne’s Lace still moved in the breeze near the last of the roadside blue chicory blossoms. Changes in the weather, the turn of the calendar and school bells marked the end of another summer.

Farm children of the early 1900s walked back and forth to their schoolhouses along dirt roads and in grassy ditches where wildflowers grew. While they herded cows in the summertime, there was also time to watch the changes in nature as they walked with the animals.

There was always something interesting to see. Some of the flowers bloomed early in the season and others later. Certain ones always grew near moisture and shade, while others were in open areas and full sun.

Wildflowers continue to bloom each spring and summer in the country ditches where the children in Growing Seasons herded the family’s dairy cows and walked to and from school. These are some of the wildflowers that continue to grow where they walked and played.

How many can you name?