Field Of Dreams

The old farm fields are incredibly productive with native and not, things growing so rapidly it appears to me to be later than early June.

Milkweed is always a standout.

Asclepias syriaca has stout stems, thick leaves that are lighter underneath, and milky sap when any part is torn. A favorite of the Monarch Butterfly in its larval stage. Native.

Three weeks ago I figured this to be another type of Milkweed, growing right across the path from a patch of milkweed.

But then it grew upper branches and looser flower heads. This is either Hemp Dogbane, Apocynum androsaemifolium or Indian Hemp, Apocynum cannabinum. I'm leaning toward the cannabinum.

I noticed the hemp held water droplets on its leaf after a rain, but the milkweed did not. The hemp does have a similar milky sap when broken.

Yellow Wood Sorrel, Oxalis stricta -one of those North American natives that also exists in Europe and Asia.

This one's called Swallowwort, cause it'll swallow anything in its path.

I thought Swallowwort was a nightshade, but it is not: Cynanchum nigrum.

This one's called Smooth Bedstraw.

Don't confuse it with Carpetweed - Smooth Bedstraw, Galium mollugo has squared stems. Then there's the native Catchweed Bedstraw, which this is not.

I think Red Sorrel is really good-looking in a field of grass.

Even close up, Rumex acetosella has it going on, but still it is a weed.

Red Clover, Trifolium pratense

Arenaria spp., chickweed -but which?

Ahh, spitwort! No, well you knew that. Spittle Bug actually excretes this out its anus, then hangs out in there.

Sparrow Vetch or Slender Vetch, Vicia tetrasperma, has tiny, but visible flowers.

Sparrow Vetch's leaves and tendrils say it's in the family of Peas.

Identifying these are a vetching problem. Vicia spp., Vetch.

Achillea millefolium or Common Yarrow

No weed at all, but in the field.

The fruit of the Red Cedar, Juniperus virginiana.

A mustard or lettuce of some kind...

A pea for sure, wisteria probably, what kind?