Ah, the all American, Eurasian immigrant, beloved by children and many adults. The White Clover (Trifolium repens) is considered an agressive weed by landscapers and homeowners. Children love to make clover chains necklaces as a summer pasttime. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
One MUST lie down in the grass to relish the sweet beauty of the White Clover. I love this Americanized immigrant! Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
This is for you, Bee! I know how you (DON’T) love Violets. You know I don’t consider them weeds. We agree to disagree!
Macro image of the hardy Violet. I love them because as a child they were the only flowers in our yard my mother let us freely pick. Most consider it a weed. After all a weed is anything that is growing that one does not want in their garden. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
‘Tis the season of the ever loved/hated Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale). Loved by children. Hated by most adults; myself excluded now that I no longer have my own garden. A child’s eye level view of the Dandelion is the best! Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Close up view of the fun loving seedhead; enticing children of all ages to help spread the seads with a mighty puff of air. Though considered a weed, the Dandelion is edible in it’s entirety. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Considered a weed because the Dandelion is a prolific producer, flourishing almost anywhere. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
When a photo is of a painted plant is any of it real? This was on the side of a building on Las Olas Blvd in Ft. Lauderdale. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
The plant on the wall is art; the plants on the ground against the wall are real. However since it’s all captured digitally is any of this real?! Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
This bright bouquet was just growing in cracks in the sidewalk/curb area. I believe it’s actually not an official “weed” but a naturalized cluster of Bush Daisy (Gamolepis chrysanthemoides).
Most people see a puddle with a little weedy grass growing out of a crack in the sidewalk/pavement. When I walked past this spot I saw a miniature island paradise complete with sunshine peaking out of a few clouds in blue skies. I am ever the optimist. I look imaginatively at people and things.
Puddle or someone’s paradise? I must get out the microscope; but risk being run over. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
The Thistle is prolific, meaning “happy”, in Chicago’s Lincoln Park environment. Copyright 2017 Pamela Breitberg
Eastern Daisy Fleabane (Erigeron annuus) shows up voluntarily along paths and roadsides. The flowers are thumbnail sized and bloom in bouquet arrangements tempting passersby to capture their loveliness. Today I brought them home as images saved.
Portrait of Daily Fleabane. Copyright 2017 Pamela Breitberg
Nature’s bouquet. Copyright 2017 Pamela Breitberg
Chicory and Bee. Copyright 2017 Pamela Breitberg
The blue blooms of Chicory easily draw attention against the neutral grays of concrete. Copyright 2017 Pamela Breitberg
Chicory (Cichorium intybus) graces the walls edge along Lincoln Park’s lakefront pathway. I call this plant by its nickname, “Cornflower“. Typical of many plant names both Chicory and Cornflower identify several unique species. Chicory shown here is an invasive Eurasian weed. Its cheerful blue flower is a welcome sight along an otherwise gray-toned location.
Concrete barrier along Lake Michigan serves as a flood wall and walking path in Lincoln Park. Chicory blooms appear frequently along side this pathway. Copyright 2017 Pamela Breitberg
This is a member of the lovely vining Morning Glory family, opening its blossoms as the morning light highlights its beauty. However, this species is one of those non-native, Eurasian varieties that is a dreaded invasive visitor in American gardens. Known as Field Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) I enjoyed taking its portrait during a morning bike ride along a Lake Michigan pathway in Lincoln Park, far from any cultivated gardens. They appeared a fair distance from a prairie restoration area and were isolated from the golf course by a stone wall making their appearance more tolerable to the native purist. This Bind Weed did emulate its name wrapping around other vegetation proliferating this informal, unplanned area of horticulture.
Portrait of an invader (pretty but unfriendly). Copyright 2017 Pamela Breitberg
Catching the sunlight. Copyright 2017 Pamela Breitberg
Busy morning on the Bind Weed Morning Glory. Copyright 2017 Pamela Breitberg