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Thursday, August 23, 2012

Iowa ID #1

I love the area we live in. It is sooo beautiful. The ringing insects, tall grasses, flowers etc. I’ve wanted to be able to identify more of the things that I live around, and have decided to start a series of posts cataloging my newfound (and probably old-found) knowledge! :)

Mullein (pronounced muhl-uhn)

Pete and Jasp, Mullein 022

This plant is biennial (meaning it lives for two years) and flowers in it’s second year starting in June and continuing into late summer. It can grow anywhere from 2 to 8 feet tall. This one near our mailbox is pretty good sized. Mulleins belong to the figwort family, which makes them sound a bit like they belong in a Charles Dickens novel or something. :)

Pete and Jasp, Mullein 024

See the little, fuzzy center? I like that. :) They remind me of African Violets because of their shape, but especially because their petals shimmer in the sunlight! :)

I also might add that mullein can be used in dried flower arrangements. :)

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