Blue Invader

When it comes to wildflowers, I seem to have an unerring eye. If it’s pretty and attracts my eye, it turns out to an invasive species. Today’s pretty blue flower turns out to be no exception to that rule. It’s an Asiatic dayflower, and I found it along the edge of the forest, along a seasonal stream. Dayflowers really do last just a day, disintegrating into a gelatinous mass after their single day in the sun. Part of the reason for this flower’s appearance in places where I wouldn’t expect to find invasive species is that the plant is quite resistant to herbicides, including Roundup. Apparently, it especially likes no-till corn and soybean fields, which may explain its original source in my area, though it can be found pretty much anywhere from Texas east.


One of these days, if I ever have the time, I should do a detailed inventory of every plant I can find around the cabin. I would be interested to learn how many species eventually turn out to be invasive or introduced, though I’m afraid the answer to that question would only depress me.



I'm still waiting for the promised cold front to arrive. This is the cold front that was originally predicted to arrive Monday night. Now it's supposed to get here on Friday. I'm at the point where I'll believe it when I see it, though the sun was red this morning, which at least suggests stormy weather ahead. I am desperate for fall.