Wildflowers | Wildflower Portrait Locations Around Pittsburgh

From the time the snow melts until the leaves start to turn gold in the fall, one of the most requested locations for portraits are wildflower locations.  The combination of this common request and my own interest in growing things has caused me to pay more attention to my surroundings and to keep track of the different wildflowers that cycle in our area.

What wildflowers do we have in western PA?

Spring flowers

Early spring is actually not a great time of year to look for wildflowers.  There are some spots in the area that have tulips and daffodils, but not much else.  For spring color, you’ll want to watch the trees.  While we might not be DC, Pittsburgh has a number of cherry trees that show off their pretty pink blossoms each spring.  You can also find dogwoods and magnolias in spots around the city.

Summer blooms

After spring’s flowering trees fade, you’ll start seeing daisies, crown vetch, and dame’s rockets pop up along the hillsides.  Dame’s rockets are those tall purple flowers that look like phlox that you find in garden centers and seem to appear out of nowhere.  That’s when I know that summer is here (or almost here).  Honeysuckle will also start to bloom (and smell heavenly).  

As summer moves on, you’ll see more and more flowers pop up-goldenrod, black eyed Susans, Queen Anne’s lace, and my favorite, the Joe Pye weed.  Joe Pye weed has tall stems, usually around 5 feet tall, with big balls of dusty rose-pink blossoms.  I loved them so much, I had to add them to my garden.

Those flowers tend to stretch into late summer and early autumn, and they continue to add pretty color and texture as they fade.
Now, where to find your best wildflower locations?

Spring trees can be a bit hard to catch because the bloom times can vary by weeks depending on location.  Pitt campus has some beautiful magnolia trees by the student union.  I’ve found they’re a perfect backdrop for spring grad portraits.  Downtown, along the Three Rivers Heritage Trail and on the northside, you can find some cherry trees.  I haven’t had a chance to catch them in bloom yet, but one of Pittsburgh’s great city photographers catches them every year.  North Park is my favorite place to watch the trees.  The county has worked to plant a number of flowering trees near the boathouse and at other spots around the park.  They already have some mature ones, and I can’t wait to see how these additional ones will look in the coming years.

Wildflower Location 1: North Park Meadow

My favorite wildflower locations are in North Park Meadow at the intersection of Babcock Blvd and Ingomar Rd, and at Hartwood Acres behind the amphitheater.  North Park is interesting in that it has a big grassy hill rising in the center with a flower meadow all around it.  It also gets amazing sunsets.  The best time for flowers here is mid to the end of July. 

Wildflower Location 2: Hartwood Acres

Hartwood is beautiful because the meadow is surrounded by a line of woods.  You get this bright field of flowers contrasted by a dark line of trees in the background.  And on Sundays in the summer, you can enjoy live music from Hartwood’s free concerts in the park series.

But this isn’t the only flower spot at Hartwood.  If you’re hoping for less wild and more tame flowers, then you have to stop at the gardens by the mansion at Hartwood.  Lavender, coneflowers, and many more blooms in the gated garden with a grassy path down the center.  It’s a favorite spot, especially for seniors.

But Hartwood and North Park aren’t the only spots for flowers around Pittsburgh.  For more gardens and less flower fields, you’ll want to visit Schenley (and Phipps), Frick, and Mellon parks.  Phipps is full of flowers inside and out.  You can also wander down into Panther Hollow and see more wildflowers.  The Frick Environmental Center is a beautiful spot in Frick Park that has tall grasses, flowers as well as stone paths and fountains.  Mellon Park is another favorite flower location with walled gardens and plenty of colorful flowers throughout the spring and summer.

 

Pittsburgh Botanic Gardens

And if you’re still searching for a spot that has both open areas of wildflowers with gardens, like Mellon, you’ll want to consider The Pittsburgh Botanic Gardens.  There’s a lotus pond in the woods with a wooden bridge, a field of tall grasses, stone walls, gazebos and more.  I’ve explored it a few times with and without clients, and I always find new spots to enjoy.

 

Unlike the other gardens mentioned here, the Botanic Gardens require us to schedule ahead of time and pay a small admission fee, a worthwhile expense to keep this park beautiful.

Hopefully, this has helped answer all of your wildflower questions! When you’re ready to book your next session, contact me, and you’ll be able to look over my full location guide with all my favorite spots as well as pros and cons for each location.  It’s a client favorite and so helpful when planning your session.