Photos of Roadside Wildflowers: Nature Walk in the Ozarks

Passionflowers (also known as Maypops) are one of my favorites.

When I walk down the country gravel roads, I see these growing in vines along the sides. Every time I see a passionflower I just have to take a picture of it, nevermind that I must have one hundred or more pictures of them already.

I think I like this flower so much because it's not content to be a typical flower. It can't just have white flower petals. I call it the Lady Gaga of flowers. In addition to normal flower petals, it wears a feathery purple hat with yellow stamens.

The passionflower was named by Spanish missionaries to America. To them, the passionflower told the story of the Crucifixion. They believed the stigmata represented the three nails that held Jesus to the cross, and the five anthers represented the five wounds he received to his flesh at the Crucifixion. They even found deity in the leaves. They believed the spear-shaped leaves represented the spear tip that was used to pierce Jesus' side.

They are a common flower with a common name, but when I look out across fields and I see nothing but yellow, it brings a smile to my face.

Susan joins me every step along the way of my strolls. She grows on the sides of the road, fills entire fields, and grows deep in the woods if she can find enough sunshine.

These flowers are as tall as Queen Anne's Lace, but Susan and Anne get along just fine. They complement each other perfectly. Anne's lacy white gives contrast to Susan's bright sunny yellows.

The stalks of these flowers are covered with thick hairs to keep the ants away from the blossom. This allows the bees to pollinate without the pesky ants. I haven't gotten close enough to photograph the bees visiting Susan. I don't plan to either. I will adore Susan from afar.

Taking photographs of wildflowers is just one of my hobbies. I love to discover and photograph beautiful things. When I visit Missouri, I search out flowers, barns, old mills, basically anything that speaks to me and tells me a story.

Flowers tell me that beauty is everywhere, you just have to be willing to look for it. Each and every flower has its own flavor and personality. From a Lady Gaga passionflower to the regal and refined Queen Anne's Lace, they all contribute to the larger society of wildflowers by being diverse but complimentary.

It's kind of how our world should be. We're all unique. We all have peculiar quirks and look different, yet we can all contribute to our human society and make our little part of the world a more beautiful place.