Late evening sun brings out the details of this Annual Sunflower (Helianthus anuus). I consider annual plants in the Chicago area to be non-native and therefore unable to survive Chicago’s frigid winters. The Annual Sunflower, however, is a prairie native and a hardy survivor. Copyright 2020 Pamela BreitbergAnnual Sunflowers are quite tall, up to nine feet tall, so attract attention naturally. Read this article. I learned reading this article that there are long-tongued and short-tongued bees?! Long-tongued bees prefer the Annual Sunflower. This plant was part of a restored prairie section next to the Linne Woods, Chicago Forest Preserve just north of Chicago. Copyright 2020 Pamela BreitbergThe images today are some from 2007 when prairies and woodlands were a major focus of my lens. The evening light is the perfect time to capture the details and mood of the prairie and its plants. Copyright 2020 Pamela BreitbergA portrait of a plant’s flower can be more revealing when it’s environment is included. Here the Annual Sunflower seems to be looking over it’s prairie home. Copyright 2020 Pamela Breitberg
