I went around my house today checking out all the wildflowers in bloom. Every since I started playing with a camera I have pretty much regulated myself to scenic photos. A big reason for that is because when you are taking long distance shots - detail isn’t quite as important as subject matter. That is not to say someone would want to look at an out of focus photo but it does leave a little room for error in the photo taking process. Believe me, I needed the room for error.
Today I tried my hand at some closeup photos and this post is the result of that. A couple of the flowers in this post I know and a couple I don’t so we may as well start with the ones I know.
This is Garlic Mustard. If I’m not badly mistaken this is the only time of the year it will be in bloom. Garlic mustard is an invasive plant species.
Next on the list is the all to familiar dandelion. They are currently blooming nearly everywhere you look in my backyard.
The next two plants I don’t know. The first one it seems like I should know. But at the moment the answer eludes me. I have no clue on the second flower.
This is probably the extent of the closeup photos you will see from me. Unless of course I get a camera more suited for closeups. 
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Adding -
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:01 pm
Denny,
Wildflowers aren’t my strong suit but my best guess for the first picture is Common Fleabane and for the bottom picture (this one is trickier because I can’t see it closer to examine it) I’m guessing it is either Wood Anemone or False Rue Anemone (or at least in the family Ranunculaceae). It may also be a young Early Saxifrage, I’d like to see it closer to be sure, but like I said, wildflowers aren’t my strong suit.
Matthew
P.S. Shirley just calls them “purty”!!!
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:26 pm
Thanks Matthew - “purty” will work for me.
Some of the most common wildflowers I know - but there are a multitude I don’t.
April 24th, 2008 at 8:17 am
A lot of my students are doing their wildflower collections right now. They agree with Matthew with the Fleabane and False Rue Anemone.
I have no clue, to be honest.
April 24th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
The bottom photo (suggested to be False Rue Anemone) has me a little worried. The petals and total flower structure would indicate that it is, but the leaves of the plant are a little different (or at least they appear different to me).
When I had my WV Wildflowers class in college, I had to learn over 200 wildflowers by sight, common name, genus & species, and family. In addition, each student had to do a specialized plant project and collect and catalog different specimens of a particular genus. As I recall my genus of specialization was Sonchus, so I learned more about the various hog thistles than any one person ever should !!! It was a 5-week summer course so you can imagine why my brain nearly exploded. Lots of memorization and utilizing the short-term memory. I’m sure I’ve forgot more of them than I’ll ever know again. That class nearly turned me against wildflowers!!
On top of this, the class ended on June 29th and our wedding was in July! Very hectic time, I’m surprised Shirley didn’t kill me for being inattentive to the final wedding plans (which were 2 years in the making).
Whew, I’m glad that whole time period is over!!
I’ll shut up now. I know, I’m rambling.
Matthew
April 24th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
I have a photo of the plant in its entirety. I’ll add it to this post shortly.
April 26th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
I love your pics of wildflowers….and your camera….what are you using?
April 27th, 2008 at 12:17 am
thanks Marian - Kodak Easyshare C613