Winter Weeds

"From October to April, the dried flower stalks, withered leaves, and seedpods give some clues as to the plants’ identity." -Discover Nature in Winter



Nature study doesn't have to stop in the winter, nor does it have to take a long time. Just take a 10-minute walk to an area in which weeds have been allowed to grow up and left through the winter.

Collect a variety of seeds from weeds in your local area and sketch them in your nature journal.

We love our Winter Weed Finder book for identification of plants in winter. (We love the whole series.) It is surprising to learn that sometimes plants are easier to identify in their winter dried state!

"I told the children to split open a (milkweed) pod ."What do you feel inside? I asked them.
"Oh, it's lovely, so soft and silky." spoke Emily, almost in a whisper.
Don split one open and holding it high in front of him, waved it energetically back and forth until a cloud of milkweed seeds floated about his head. "Let's draw these!"
Then I asked them what the outside of the pod felt like.
It's bumpy," said Don, running his fingers over it. I advised that they could show the rough texture by drawing in the little bumps."-Pocketful of Pinecones, Karen Andreola

 Gather a few varieties of weeds and display them in a vase.
Or, isn't this Fall-Winter Weeds Collection Board fantastic?