What you have is a female of the grasshopper family, it does not quite look like a Katydid or a Locust. The long protuberance is the ovapositor, used to lay eggs.
For wildflowers, you might want to pick up the Reader's Digest Guide North American Wildlife. You should be able to find a cheap used copy on Half.com.
For birds, we prefer the National Geographic Guide to the Birds of North America. You can also get that on Half.com.
We haven't yet found a good guide to insects. Will let you know when we find one!
Your photos are very nice.
