29-JUL-2009
Black-Eyed Susan
This is one of my all-time favorite wildflowers. It has large blossoms with rich colors. It's also the favorite for a lot of other people. It's frequently planted in home and business flower gardens.
27-JUN-2009
Daisy
The Daisy is another popular wildflower that is enjoyed in the ditches and fields - and also in home flower gardens. They're often companions to the Black-Eyed Susans.
01-AUG-2009
Milkweed
The milkweed is an incredible plant. Everyone knows it's the staple for Monarch Butterflies. There are different species of milkweed. The western milkweed is smaller and has thinner leaves. The Michigan variety is a hearty plant, sometimes growing to over 5 feet tall. The blossoms are small and lovely. The fragrance is light and sweet. The plant serves as a boarding house for a wide variety of insects. There are several beetles that can be commonly found on milkweed. During one visit, I counted 6 different kinds of bees and wasps that were collecting nectar and pollen. Butterflies and moths also love the milkweed.
The milkweed produces a seed pod that is filled with hundreds of seeds with shiny, silky parachutes that catch the wind to carry the seed away.
24-JUL-2009
Spotted Knapweed
Some people think of this plant as a thistle. It does have prickly stems. Natives say this plant is an indicator of poor soil.
