Taking a short bike ride along the East Branch Reservoir in Brewster, NY, Juana and I hit the jackpot of wildflowers over a short 3.5 mile stretch of bike path. They are lovely but many, unfortunately, quite invasive. I also needed to reach well into my reference material as nearly half were unknown to me by name.
Fleabane: This North American native looks just like a daisy but isn’t. This aster relative is rumored to repel fleas, gnats and other bugs when dried but there is little proof of that ability.
Narrowleaf Hawksbeard: This dandilion-lookalike is fairly invasive and part of the Crepis genus. It comes from Europe and has been found throughout North America.
Common daisy: Between the mugwort and other weeds a thick grouping of daisies is a welcome change.
Flax: Native to Algeria, this colorful flower finds itself scattered all along the bike path.
Lupine: Along a drainage channel, this favorite of mine populates the upper berm. Lovely.
Dame’s Rocket: This phlox look-alike is quickly becoming recognized for its invasive nature throughout North America.
Ragged Robin: This increasingly rare native wildflower is a favorite of many pollinators. It does well in wet, boggy areas, which is where we found it.
Leafy Spurge: Another lovely albeit invasive plant. It is a particular problem in pastures and grasslands.
Pepperweed: Another fun invasive that used to be only in the Western U.S. but now can be found throughout the country.
Columbine: It was easy to miss this delicate flower as it appears to float above us, extending out of a sheer cliff of rock.
By the way, it is entirely possible that I have misidentified some of these plants. 😮
