open-field flowers

At some point in late spring, right after the jack-in-the-pulpits bloom, the open-field flowers start to bloom: daisies, clover, salsify, vetch, and thistles, and these false sunflowers. For some naturalists, summer begins when the open-field flowers start to out number the woodland flowers. We are long past the transition from spring to summer, and these open-field have been decorating our roadsides for weeks. Today I finally stopped the car and grabbed this motley handful–all the prettier for being motley imho.

false sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides)