The Paul Bunyan Trail on the southeast corner of Lake Bemidji affords easy access to view wildflowers. Whether walking, running, skateboarding or bicycling, going too fast will cause you to miss some of the area's best wildflowers.

Blooming wildflowers provide a burst of color, attracting pollinators such as bees and butterflies, which are responsible for one in every three bites of food we eat. The seeds offer food for birds and small mammals and their presence can improve soil health, prevent erosion and improve water quality.

Identifying wildflowers in the spring can be difficult because they are all green. One of the earliest to show off is the Penstemon, a plant with a tall single stem of gray-green leaves that changes to a row of trumpet-like pale purple flowers.

By mid-June, wild roses, purple flag iris, and the smaller white wood anemone can be found. Clusters of the showy lady's slipper pop up in a few spots right along the trail. The lady slipper, of course, is our state flower and therefore protected, so look but don’t touch it.

Goat’s beard is another easily identified wildflower. It grows one to three feet tall with often a single yellow flower head that turns to face the sun. It opens up on sunny mornings and closes by noon. Once the flower has done its job, the seed head looks like a giant fluffy dandelion globe.

In early July you can find false Solomon's seal, hawkweed, prairie cinquefoil and by mid-July, common milkweed, swamp milkweed and purple prairie clover. This year, wild bergamot and bee balm have exploded and are showing up in more and more places along the trail.

It has clusters of lavender flowers like ragged pompoms that bloom atop 2-5 foot stems. Wild bergamot is a Native American herb in the mint family and like many wildflowers, has medicinal purposes. The whole of the plant above the ground is edible and can be used in salads and as a garnish.

In late July, goldenrod, hoary vervain and black-eyed Susan are starting to bloom. Many people often confuse golden rod and ragweed and blame both for their allergic reactions, however, ragweed is the culprit and not goldenrod. Even though they both bloom at roughly the same time, they are completely different plants.

Goldenrod is a perennial and ragweed is an annual, plus there are major differences in structure and leaf shape. The hoary vervain is an important source of nectar for butterflies. Black-eyed Susan blooms when other summer perennials begin to fade so this plant is a sign that fall is around the corner.

If you see a wildflower and think you’d like to have it in your garden, don’t try to transplant it. If you dig it up, you will most likely bring something else with it that could be poisonous or invasive, plus it likely won’t survive.

Check your local garden center or nursery catalogs for a good source that will tolerate our northern Minnesota climate. Plant some seeds, watch them grow and you will be fascinated by just how many different insects, birds and animals come to visit.

Take photos of wildflowers that you find interesting, making sure your photo includes the shape and arrangement of the leaves. This will help you identify who’s who. There are excellent apps, websites and books that will help in identification.

Some of the easiest wildflowers to identify along the trail are mullein, yarrow, tansy, butter-and-eggs, purple coneflower and rudbeckia. We are so fortunate to have the Paul Bunyan Trail just out our backdoor. So, get out there and enjoy what nature gives us at no charge and with no maintenance.

These local garden articles will reach you each week throughout the gardening season, but gardening information can be found year-round by clicking on "Yard and Garden” at the University of Minnesota Extension website, www.extension.umn.edu, or by visiting our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Beltramicountymastergardeners.

Local Master Gardeners will respond to questions via voicemail. Call (218) 444-7916 and leave your name, number and question.