Janet Brien's photos with the keyword: Linaceae

I found this darling Wild Blue Flax blossom peeking out from a tuft of grass out in our front lawn area and I was so delighted because I didn't realize they grew this early in the season. I have seen them from June to August, but apparently they begin blooming in April! These delicate beauties are one of my favorites, growing on their long, slender stems. Wild Blue Flax is also known as Prairie Flax, Western Blue Flax, or just Blue Flax for short, is found west of the Mississippi. Its proper name, Linum Lewisii , comes from Meriwether Lewis of the Lewis & Clark Expedition! Blue Flax grows about 2 feet tall in dry meadows and ridge tops, from sea level to 3000 feet. These small flowers measure about 1/2" in diameter when open, and are pale blue or lavender in color, though apparently they can be white as well. These delicately striped flowers last just one day! If you would like to know more about Wild Blue Flax, Wiki has a great page here: Wiki: Wild Blue Flax (Linum lewisii)

These flowers are such delicate beauties, I never tire of staring in wonder at their lovely faces. Each blossom lives but one day, but each plant yields many flowers on their extremely strong stems! The usefulness of this plant's strong fibers has been recorded back as far as 30,000 BC!!!! If you would like to know more about this remarkable and useful plant, Wiki has a super page about it here: Wikipedia: Flax

Today I was determined to get across our meadow and into the lower forest to see if the wild sweet peas were in bloom. Alas...I was making my way across the field when I saw the beautiful faces of blue flax flowers staring up at the morning sun and I knew I'd found my subject for my 365! These tiny flowers are about 1/2" across and they live for just one day! The fibers taken from stems of these plants are 2-3 times stronger than cotton and flax is used to make cloth, paper, and its seeds are made into oil! Such a beautiful flower, such an incredibly useful plant! Martin Luther King, Jr. (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an American clergyman, activist, and leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He is best known for his role in the advancement of civil rights using nonviolent civil disobedience. King has become a national icon in the history of American progressivism. Wikipedia: Martin Luther King, Jr.