BLACK-EYED SUSAN; Rudbeckia hirta

BLOOMING PERIOD: June – October

HABITAT: Fields, prairies, open woods, roadsides, disturbed soils

DESCRIPTION: This plant is a member of the aster family, Asteraceae, and the name stems from the dark, brownpurple centers of its daisy-like flower heads. The flowers are a brilliant golden yellow that is an added splash of color to any habitat it grows in, including your home garden. Butterflies, bees, and a variety of insects are attracted to the flowers for the nectar. Like Purple Coneflower, the seeds are enjoyed by songbirds in the fall, so seed heads should be left standing over the winter months.

AMERICAN WHITE WATER-LILY; Nymphaea odorata

BLOOMING PERIOD: June – September

HABITAT: Wetland areas with slow-moving or still water such as ponds or marshes

DESCRIPTION: A very showy member of the water lily family, the white water-lily is a lovely plant to admire as you walk a boardwalk over a wetland or paddle a boat around a lake. This plant floats on top of the water and can form dense colonies, sometimes completely covering the water’s surface with flat, round leaves. The flowers are large, fragrant, and can either be white or pink. “Nymphaea” is derived from the attractive flower’s similarities to the mythological Greek nymphs, which are beautiful supernatural female beings thought to inhabit glades and springs.

OBEDIENT PLANT; Physostegia virginiana

BLOOMING PERIOD: August – Early November

HABITAT: Prairies, thickets, opening in woodland areas, and moist meadows

DESCRIPTION: This spectacular late-blooming plant earns its name because of its ability for a person to gently nudge the blossoms in either direction as if it is obeying you. Its showy blooms, ranging from white to rosy pink or lavender, appear between the onset of summer and fall wildflowers, feeding pollinators steadily for as long as eight weeks. The tubular flowers are attractive to bumblebees, who are its primary pollinator, seemingly designed to fit neatly into the entire flower. Hummingbirds and butterflies are also attracted to the plant.