Tim
Wells: It seems to me that the same plants that are weeds in a lawn are wildflowers in a meadow. I
think that the main difference between a meadow and a lawn is how they are cut. Lawns are cut regularly to keep them short. Meadows are typically burned or mowed once a year in the late fall or early spring. I second Dale's suggestion of letting the meadow develop on it's own perhaps with the addition of a wildflower seed mix. I really like species that are already growing in the area: They are already locally adapted to the climate, soils, bugs, animals, and other plants. If it were me, I'd visit the
local wildlands, roadsides, vacant lots, and parks and collect seeds, plants, or
roots to add to the field. Collecting throughout the year will bring in a blend of spring, summer, and fall flowers.