We live in Southeast Michigan. You might not know this, but this area is FULL of gorgeous parks. Those parks are full of gorgeous things likes big open lakes, beaches, and wildflowers.

Wildflowers have a season though and it’s important to plan ahead if you want to include them in your senior session. A lot of those flowers only have a 2-3 week window before they are totally gone. Below are the top hits and timelines for the most popular wildflowers.

Early May

Okay, it’s technically not a flower, but we have some gorgeous spring trees in Michigan. The blossoms are colorful and gorgeous. These can be white, purple, and pink. I swoon over these beauties.

Early to mid-June

This time of year has roses, daisies, and garden grown peonies. Easily overlooked but so gorgeous with a mix of colors.

End of June

Crownvetch is actually a pretty common flower that is easily overlooked. The last few weeks of June you can find it everywhere in roadside ditches to prevent soil erosion and can also be found in a few public parks. It’s a ground cover but often reaches a couple feet high. It’s like a warm hug in photos and gorgeous. Sometimes you can get lucky and find a few daisies in the area too.

Mid-July

Wild sunflowers that resemble tall black eyed susans. They grow along with purple bergamot, and the combination of the two can be really beautiful. These only have a 2 week window, so it is even more important to plan ahead!

End of July and August is actually kind of a dry time for wildflowers, but we can find some plants in small urban downtowns, like Fenton, Holly, Lake Orion, and Clarkston.

September

Goldenrod! Visually stunning and it can feel pretty magical. However, make sure you’re not allergic to it’s highly sniffly cousin ragweed…it grows right alongside it.

October

The goldenrod show is over, but of course we have the Fall color coming on. Early October can give you warmer weather, along with the vibrant red of vines and assorted shrubs. The fun magic of early October sessions is you can switch back into your pretty sundress for a green background in a different area!

End of October

Fall color in Michigan. Enough said. It’s gorgeous. Fair warning though—it can be rainy and cold during the photoshoot. It’s the one time of the year we might not reschedule due to a rainy drizzle. Because Fall color can disappear with a good wind, we take advantage of peak color when we get the chance. Don’t worry though, your photos are still going to be beautiful. I often think the cloudier the day in the Fall, the more colorful the trees look.

Winter

Don’t forget about our snowy winter. It’s often overlooked, but you can get SUCH unique photos from a winter session.