My dad converted part of his back yard to a little re-constructed prairie patch. At the time a few people were planting prairie plants, but not many. I did not know anyone else with a back yard prairie. He started with a mix of seeds–several species of wild flowers, which was state of the art at that time. Then he added seeds he collected from a number of other places–small prairie remnants scattered across Iowa.
Several decades later I planted a reconstructed prairie on a small patch of land we own. I was able to use a high quality diverse mix of local ecotype seeds (seeds collected a short distance from where I live), because by that time more people were doing it.
When the folks sold their house to enter the nursing home we thought the prairie would be destroyed, so I did a little salvage and dug up some of his plants.
I am pretty sure this came from his prairie. I don’t think my mix had Michigan lily.
I don’t recall seeing this flower in my prairie until this year.
So now, about three years since he passed, I have this gift from Dad.
Nice gift.
A beautiful gift, indeed. What a nice way to remember and be reminded of your Dad!