Tools to take to the Rail Trail

Railtrail Flowers by common name list

Railtrail Flowers by botanical names list

Full Midland County Rail Trail Map

Rail Trail 6-11 mile map

Rail Trail Mile 1-6 mile map

Helpful Flower Identification Sites

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Good source; search by name or family.

Wildflower Identification in NE and N-Central US & adjacent Canada
Search for wildflowers by various criteria; no browsing, only search.

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service – Plants Database
Good source; search by name; shows US map where plants are present; can list all species for a genus.

Wildflowers of the United States – MI
Good pictures & info.; organized by family; can browse MI wildflowers by color.

University of Michigan Herbarium – Michigan Flora
Search by name, genus, family; shows state counties where found.

Michigan Native Plant Producers Association
Nurseries selling native plants; invasive species list.

US Forest Service – Wildflower Links

Wildflower Association of Michigan

Wildflowers of Illinois
Detailed descriptions of wildflowers with good pictures.

University of Illinois Extension Index of Wildflowers
Detailed index of flowers found in Illinois. Search by color, bloom time, soil and light conditions.

Wildflowers from the trails of western PA
Browse by color, family & other; has magnifying glass to view flower details (many PA flowers are in MI also).

Minnesota Wildflowers
Field guide to flowers found in Minnesota. Includes detailed county by county inventory and identification of invasive species.

Helpful References

“A Field Guide to Wildflowers: Northeastern and North-Central North America (Peterson Field Guides)” – Roger Tory Peterson & Margaret McKenney

“Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide” – Lawrence Newcomb

“National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers – Eastern Region” – revising author: John W. Thieret, original authors: William A. Niering, Nancy C. Olmstead

“National Wildlife Federation Field Guide to Wildflowers of North America” – David M. Brandenburg

“What’s Doin’ the Bloomin’?” – A guide to Wildflowers of the Upper Great Lakes Regions, Eastern Canada and Northeastern USA – Clayton R. Oslund

“Landscaping with Native Plants of Michigan” – Lynn M. Steiner

Newsletters 

Wildflowers in Midland County Parks, Vol 1, Number 1, April 2017

Wildflowers in Midland County, Vol 2, Number 1, March 2018