Last(ing) Wildflowers

This was the first year we grew only native plants on our 100-acre farm. Our expectations were low: It takes several years for the natives to establish themselves, and in the meantime, the weeds that herbicides used to keep at bay are having a, well, field day. But mixed in with the foxtail and horse weed and pigweed are thousands of “good” plants, including black- and brown-eyed Susans, blue vervain, butterfly milkweed, Illinois bundle flower, and New England asters, each of which graced us by blooming this year.

It is October now, and the foxtail has died back to a carpet of pale gold. I walked through our restored prairie today to pick one last bouquet. And here it is.