Day 173: June 21st – Hues of the hot fields

Hot, hot and hotter

       The temperatures have escalated since yesterday when they were merely in the low 90s.  Today, the high will reach 98 with a heat index making it feel more like 110 degrees.  A few birds were active at the farm today, but they had enough sense to remain in the dense cover of vegetation where the shade offered some degree of relief. 

       The flowers of the meadows seem to thrive in this heat, however, and the colors of the blossoms were enough to match the most brilliant of landscape paintings.  Yellows, orange, purples, white, blue and green all sprinkled throughout the grasslands and some cases so dense as to appear like the artist had simply doused the canvas in oils.

       You can’t always tell a book by its cover, however.  One of the most deeply hued botanicals is the Spotted knapweed.  It’s deep pink to purple flowers don’t convey the damage these wildflowers or more appropriately weeds can do to native species.  The roots of the knapweed go deep and suck up moisture so quickly that they deprive the surrounding native plants of the much needed water.  These flowers do not apparently taste anywhere near as good as they look, and browsers are more prone to feed on the native species and leave the knapweed alone.  As if all this were not enough, the plant roots release a toxin which stunts the growth of the neighboring plants, all but assuring the knapweed a position of “top dog” in this plant community.

       Another strong contender for the most beautiful flower in the field is the Yellow toadflax, more commonly known as “Butter and eggs” (right).  It is also a weed, thriving in disturbed areas where there is good drainage.  A field edge and roadside such as we find at Kenridge Farm is ideal for the success of this plant.

       Another smaller but no less colorful wildflower found in similar habitat is the Birds foot trefoil.  Once these beautiful yellow flowers go to seed, the pods are held out on narrow stalks, the entire cluster resembling a bird’s foot.

       Last on today’s list of richly hued wildflowers is the Crown vetch, a light purple and blue flower which grows in a crown-shaped cluster.  As is the case with the knapweed, as pretty as this flower is, it is aggressive and spreads with abandon to choke out neighboring native plants. 

        So, as hot as it is today, and as quiet as the birds remain in this heat, the colors of the fields and meadows make getting out and perspiring a little all worth while.  Everything good comes at a price, and when you can see and appreciate these wildflowers in nature, the price of a little discomfort is well worth the rewards.