Lately I’ve been trying to get better at identifying some of the local flora that I see on hikes, but it’s pretty slow going. I don’t exactly have a green thumb, so my exposure to trees and plants has mostly been a form of vague appreciation instead of knowing what they actually were. Thankfully, modern technology is a true game changer when it comes to plant identification.
Free Apps: Pl@ntNet or iNaturalist
Complete disclosure: I haven’t tried either of these apps yet, but I am excited to to use them in the future! They are both based on participation from the public to create a database and find answers. However, it is also important to remember that the quality of photo uploaded has a big impact on the identification rate. It’s so neat that there are entire communities where people are willing to share their knowledge about plants with those who are still learning! You may be wondering how I managed to ID my plants without these apps, and the truth is I bothered my friends who are much smarter than me to help me find the answer.
I love the bright colours of the Indian Paintbrush, and I think it’s one of the more easily identifiable plants where I live in northeast British Columbia. After all, this one got consensus answers when I asked my friends. The other hallmark wildflower of the region would probably be the Lupine plant, but I don’t think I saw one on this hike.
This plant was trickier for others to identify, but after getting the suggestions and doing a lot of Google searching and picture matching, I feel pretty confident that I have the right answer now. In contrast to the bright colours of the Paintbrush, I love dainty little white flowers too. Of course, white flowers are a lot more common, such as the white strawberry flowers, wild daisies, or even clover. However, it was this one that caught my eye due to the bunching and way it grows.
Anyways, when it comes to plant identification, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention checking out your local library or gardening club too! They likely have a selection of books about local plants in the non-fiction section, and would be a great addition to the basic information from the free plant apps. I’m hoping to ’study up’ on wildflowers this winter so that I can be better prepared for the hiking season next spring/summer.
Until next time, happy crafting!