This post will share some of our favorite resources for identifying wildflowers in your area and includes both helpful apps and books that are sure to educate and inspire.

This post contains affiliate links. All opinions remain my own.

I called upon my friend Emily who is a flower enthusiast and budding flower entrepreneur (follow her lovely Instagram here!) to help me write this post. These are the tools she and other flower lovers like her use to identify flowers both while out and about and at home after a hike.

How to Identify Wildflowers with Apps

That Garden App is the go-to app on Emily’s phone. It is simple to use. Take a photo plant or butterfly, and the app brings up a list of possibilities. You confirm your matches, and the app saves all your photos so you can look back to see what you identified last week or month. And, this app opens a search page for the plant where you can learn more. This app is free and is endlessly helpful for quickly identifying the plant in front of you.

Garden Answers is another helpful app. Similar to That Garden App, it creates a photo album with results of your plant searches and helps you identify quickly the plant or flower you are seeing.

There are lots of flowers or plant ID apps out there and they all do about the same thing. Get a free one as an app is a preliminary stage in plant ID and the real investigation happens at home, with a good book. A beverage to enjoy while reading is optional but encouraged.

TIP: If you have a general idea of the flower you are trying to identify (based on an app or your own previous knowledge) you can use the books mentioned to refine your definition. In one sense, the app can be used “in the field” and the book (heavier and not as portable perhaps) can be used to narrow down your results after your trek.

How to Identify Wildflowers with Books

One book that is very helpful is the “Field Book of Western Wildflowers” It is organized by family (like rose, peony, dogwood, etc) and it has detailed illustrations and a thorough description to help you decide the family and name of flower you are enjoying.

 

“Western Garden Book” by Sunset is not only for identifying wildflowers but is a very in depth resource covering cultivation, flower identification, planting zones, growing information, water & sun information, and more. It discusses wildflowers, trees, plants, shrubs, fertilizer, lawn information, planting instructions, weed advice, etc. This is the book for a Dear Reader who has a green thumb and wants to learn more about gardening as well as plant identification. It is weighty, has beautiful photographs, and is a wealth of information.

The National Geographic Pocket Guide to Wildflowers is easy to take along on your hike or picnic, has beautiful photos, and is very thorough as well. This would make a great gift for a friend and is the way you could identify a flower if you have no cell service, no storage with which to take a photo (me, 90% of the time), or a dead phone (me, 50% of the time). Sometimes technology fails us, but this little book won’t.

 

California Foraging is for the Wildflower reader who is interested in nibbling on the edibles afield. This resource is indispensable for identifying plants that are safe to eat. If you aren’t in California, get a book that is specific to your area.

 

Before you pick some wildflowers to arrange and enjoy at home, check to see if they are protected. Sometimes wildflowers are better left to grow undisturbed and in any case, snap a photo and share it on Instagram using the hashtag #thedomesticwildflower so we can see it!

If the flowers on your jaunt are more likely to be planted by man rather than the man upstairs, The Little Guides: Flowers is my favorite resource. It was given to me by my dear friend Abby years ago. She’s the one who said to me a little over a year ago, “let me build you a blog!” and I said yes and here we are. How funny it is that she gave me this way, way before I ever dreamed of having a blog called The Domestic Wildflower, back when she and I shared membership in a scholarship program, several Chico apartments, a trip to Europe, and years of friendship. She’s also a great book chooser 🙂 Grab yours by clicking the link below!

 

For bouquets of wild plants that you are sure are safe and legal to collect, find what you think is beautiful and arrange it however you would like. I wrote a post here about wiring wild plants to wreaths and arranging them in metal buckets that I think you’d enjoy. Check it out!

How to Plant Your Own Grasses

If you are interested in diving into planting grasses, check out this gorgeous infographic shared from https://agreenhand.com/how-to-grow-grass-fast/ !

Please share in the comments below which resources you love for identifying plants in your area!

If you loved this post, you should read how I made homemade lilac syrup here.

This post will share an inspiring little collection of essays, those that have been the best loved on the blog, and how to get your hands on the ebook.

It is currently February, and we have had a wet, long winter by all accounts. It is kind of dreary out, I’m sick of sweeping up the dust from the wood stove, and I’m really missing fresh tomatoes and strawberries.

I’ve written many encouraging essays for this blog and for other sites that had absolutely nothing to do with canning, sewing, or the like. When I started this blog it was when I had a one-year-old and a three-year-old, and I needed a creative outlet that I could do silently when they were napping. The sewing machine was too loud, cleaning also was too loud, and I found that a wave of words flowed forth every day at nap time. It felt so good to write whatever was on my heart and since you can’t encourage a toddler to be potty trained or inspire them to eat their veggies, I had to inspire you Wildflowers, I guess.

I compiled into an ebook all the essays that have been best-loved, pinned and re-pinned, and shared all over.

Get the ebook here! 

Yes! I Want Instant Access!

If ebooks aren’t your thing (they weren’t mine until my youngest started noticing that my lamp was on to read a paperback- now I have to read on my phone, much to my dismay) I would be so honored if you’d share this post with your friends on Facebook (hallelujah for a break from political shares!) Pinterest (my fave!) or otherwise.

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Thank you, readers, for helping me make this blog my favorite way to spend nap time.

The cover image for this ebook is of me of course, and I’m wearing the back interest tank I made for this sewing post. It’s one of my favorites 🙂 Thanks to Della of Circle Bar Photography for always making my projects look way more polished than they really are. She’s the best.

Here’s to springtime is right around the corner, Wildflowers!

Tips for Buying Vintage Silver Jewelry

This post will share expert tips for buying high-quality vintage silver jewelry that you can enjoy for a lifetime.

As luck would have it, I’m allergic to nickel which is the metal that most inexpensive jewelry is made from. That means that my whole life, I’ve ‘had’ to wear jewelry that is real silver or gold (of course, I could have gone without adornment, but what fun is that?). As luck would also have it, my husband has been and continues to be a pretty darn good shopper when it comes to gift giving and has given me a wide range of baubles, both new and vintage, over the years. If I have to while away some time scrolling the internet while waiting at the DMV, it won’t be on Facebook; it will be pouring over the gorgeous Instagram boutique accounts featuring vintage silver jewelry, rad vintage cowboy boots, and other treasures from yesteryear that are both beautiful and functional.

I decided to interview my favorite boutique owners, since they buy silver all day, every day, what a girl should look for when scoring their own silver heirlooms. Both Goodbuy Girls and Three Wolves Trading have delivered high quality, as-described vintage goods, had great customer service, fast shipping, and have a wide range of items I think you Wildflowers would love.

Here’s what the experts say to look for when buying your own vintage silver:

If possible, talk to the seller. Ask about the origin of the item and how they came to own it in the first place. Ask about the age of the piece and if it has been repaired or cleaned.

Check for a stamp that says “sterling” or “.925” or a maker’s stamp. These stamps can be very valuable in dating and assigning a value to an item. It is important to remember that for Native American pieces, many weren’t signed until the ’60s or 70’s so if it is lacking a signature, that probably just means it is older, which would likely increase its value. Furthermore, if an item is “coin silver” or lower grade sterling, that is still a high-quality metal that will stand the test of time. Don’t shy away from a piece just because it doesn’t have a stamp. Stamps are helpful, but not definitive. You can use white cloth, like a piece of white flannel, for example, to rub the piece. If a black smudge appears, the item at hand is real silver because silver oxidizes, or turns black (like your apple slice that turns brown) when exposed to oxygen.

The Navaho and Zuni tribes are known for a jewelry style called “needlepoint and cluster work” (no embroidery hoops here). Navaho designs tend to have bigger stones and heavier than Zuni pieces which tend to be the most intricate. Very fine Native American silver jewelry was made between the late 1800 and the late 1970s. This site has a ton more information on tribe specific hallmarks and styles.

 

 

Look for signs of wear and tear. Vintage silver should look worn, not super shiny. If it is really shiny, ask the seller if it has been cleaned. If it hasn’t, it may be newer.

Terms to look out for and avoid at all costs include “resin turquoise” (a faux, made in China plastic stone), and “nickel silver” which indicates it has zero real silver. If the item is very lightweight, especially a large item like a cuff, or if it is very shiny, it is most likely a knockoff. More information can be found here.

Compare prices. Check the price of the item against similar pieces of the same size and style. If it seems too good to be true, then it probably is, and if it is way more expensive than comparable pieces, you might be being swindled.

Ask for the weight. The more silver in a piece, the heavier it will be. A lighter piece doesn’t necessarily mean it is lower quality, it just might be a lighter style, and the silver therein can still be of high quality. If you can hold the item in your hand, do, and notice how it feels and compare it to other items.

Check for cracks, loose stones, or warping. Cracks need to be repaired in order for the item to be worn safely. If the stones are loose, check to see if the bezel is covering (holding) the stone completely. Sometimes, especially with Native American pieces, the backing behind the stone can expand or contract, depending on the conditions the item was stored in, so just be sure the stone will stay put. It may need to have work done in order for it to be wearable.

And finally, to directly quote sweet Shea of Three Wolves,

“Go big or go home!  Have fun! Vintage silver jewelry is some of the most beautiful artwork there is out there. Find a piece or several that speak to you. And lastly, by God, WEAR THEM! Jewelry was made to be worn and shown off. You spent the money, so you might as well get your money’s worth! There’s nothing more depressing than a gorgeous vintage squash blossom sitting in a box somewhere in someone’s attic or the back of their closet! Rock your vintage pieces everyday!”

Now that’s some advice I can get behind!  

Follow these Instagram boutiques: Three Wolves Trading and Goodbuy Girls and buy with confidence. That’s where all my allowance money goes and when my daughter asks if she can wear my pieces someday, I can say honestly, yes <3

This post will share the best tools, resources, and courses for the person on your list that desire a handmade and homemade life, both inside and outside the home.

This post may contain affiliate links. I’d never recommended something to you that I wouldn’t suggest to my best friend. 

Small batch canning is a canning recipe book that is devoted to smaller sized recipes which are perfect for smaller sized families, kitchens, appetites, and jars. Canning has a reputation for being a task suited for preserving pounds upon pounds of produce, for some unnamed disaster, in preparation for a time when the access to fresh foods is limited. While canning can be useful in a prepper’s home, that is NOT the only application. Canning is just right for preserving just a few cups of berries, or a few pounds of veggies, in small jars that are quick to process, easy to store, and lovely to gift. I intend to tackle this notion of canning being an activity only for those preparing for the zombie apocalypse in another post, but for now, give the preserver (aspiring or acting) in your life this book.

In order to apply these recipes, the novice preserver on your gift list needs the Start Canning ECourse. It is 14 videos that SHOW in a way a cookbook cannot the process of canning. It also addresses safety and equipment concerns and your happy recipient will be part of a supportive, private Facebook group where they can meet other canners and get their questions answered.

Weck jars are fancy canning jars. They, like regular mason jars, can be used for general food storage but can be canned using the removable rubber flange and separate lid. The general consensus among experienced preservers is that these jars aren’t harder to use than mason jars; they are just different. The lend a European air to your preserves are indeed beautiful, and I especially like their small size options.

If you have a budding gardener on your list, this ebook promises to build beautiful gardens and healthy soil. What gardener wouldn’t want that?

Want to give the gift of backyard chickens and farm fresh eggs? This course, Feed Your Hens Right, looks amazing to say the least and would be an ideal accompaniment. This is a video course ALL about what to feed your chickens at every stage of life, created by a chicken expert. There are 6 modules plus 4 bonus modules that will teach a newbie how to care for their birds like an expert. The reviews of this course are glowing, and I can see why.

If your homestead aspirations include getting goats, this ebook will give you all the background info you need on Nigerian Dwarf goats, which are every bit as cute as they sound. It is written by an expert and gives important considerations for potential goat owners to think through before acquiring these sweet animals.  

I love everything about this dinner rolls course; Kalisha (the bread making expert) removes everything I hate about making bread from the equation. There’s no kneading, no waiting, and she teaches you how to make delicious dinner rolls quickly. This course is perfect for any level of home cook, even a novice.

If the person on your list is just plain sick of not knowing what to cook for supper and could use a structured, expert guide, give the gift of stress-free dinner time. Get this meal planning course and give sanity to your loved one.

If you want a gift that will incorporate your littles, this ebook by Garden and Grace Homestead shares recipes that are perfect for kids and your homegrown lifestyle.

If you want to learn all the things about a homestead kitchen, the Homestead Honey has you covered in this super- thorough ecourse with modules like fermenting, foraging, seasonal produce + meal planning, and more.

 

The Homestead Honey also has an ebook that is perfectly gift-able- the Backyard Pizza Oven EBook will give the gift of everyone’s favorite dish, but homemade and with a crispy chewy crust.

 

The Made From Scratch book by Melissa K. Norris encourages the reader to return to a simpler way of life in our homes, hearts, and minds. Who doesn’t need a little more simplification in their lives?

 

Ferment Your Veggies is a gorgeous compendium of counter fermentation knowledge written by a lifelong fermenter that I had the pleasure of meeting in person. I attending her workshop and can say without reservation that this lady can ferment like nobody’s business. She’s very well versed on all matters of safety in regards to fermentation, and the book covers that, equipment options, and recipes galore. It’s sauerkraut squared, Wildflowers. Ask Santa and you won’t be sorry.

 

If the person on your gift list desires some in-depth counter culture fermentation instruction, this course looks amazing. Learn how to make sauerkraut, kombucha, sourdough bread, and more in beautiful video lessons.

 

This natural soap making course teaches you how to make soap that is full of ingredients you can say, that won’t irritate sensitive skin (goodbye eczema!) or trigger chemical sensitivities. You can also learn how to make shampoo bars and milk soaps in this course.

 

If you have a comfortable crocheter on your gift list, this Etsy shop has many patterns for sale. If someone I knew gave me a couple new patterns and offered to watch my kids for a Saturday morning, I’d be one cup of coffee away from Heaven. I love this particular shop’s patterns because they are fashionable and easy to follow.

 

This Etsy shop features both knitting and crochet patterns and is my absolute favorite for a little girl and boy designs. Think hoods that mimic foxes, dinosaurs, bears, unicorns, and more. I made a red cape using one of these patterns for my daughter…and she wouldn’t wear it. Give a selection of these patterns for this holiday season for a mom yarn lover in your life.

 

My favorite footwear, for probably 9 months of the year, is these boots. They are well made, are insulated, and good for anything muddy. Anything.

 

What other tools, courses, books, or other things should be on this list? Let me know in the comment section below, Wildflowers!