Chicory flowers bloom, providing a road with a periwinkle trim.
Along the edges of roads where lawnmowers have neglected to mow are plants that provide respite from pavement and manicured lawns. Flowers bloom. In fact, they prosper. Flower sightings include asters, sunflowers, daisies, goldenrods, cone flowers, and other perennials. People are not the only ones who enjoy the flowering plants; other forms of wildlife from crickets to butterflies and frogs to birds take advantage of these oases.
Roadsidia is what I call these specimens. I first heard the name, a playful take on scientific nomenclature, from a florist who spoke fondly about chicory and Queen Anne’s lace. These are flowers that are found thriving on roadsides. They are not typically the focus of bouquets picked up from a store but in bouquets arranged by wildflower connoisseurs or anyone who feels compelled to wander to a ditch to pick some blooms and plop them into a mason jar at home. Or the flowers are simply left alone and supply commuters with enjoyment whenever the road is traveled upon.
Displays of Roadsidia in North America showcase a blend of native and non-native species. Plants, such as the aforementioned chicory and Queen Anne’s lace, can have roots in Africa, Asia, or Europe. They do exceedingly well and are usually welcomed. But some non-natives are considered downright invasive, causing more harm than their beauty warrants. Purple loosestrife comes to mind. This Eurasian plant causes disruption in North American ecosystems by choking out native plants and altering waterways.
Sunflowers come in all shapes and sizes and are native to the Americas. As Roadsidia specimens, they are often abuzz with pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and moths.
A wide variety of pollinators can be found frequenting Roadsidia. The much-beloved monarch butterflies are almost instantly recognizable as they flutter about the flowers. They are migrating to central Mexico at this time and appreciate these pit stops. Instead of keeping grassy patches and stretches between roads mowed, some local highway systems allow Roadsidia, including essential milkweeds, to flourish, adding beautiful color and attracting wildlife. Traveling on these roads is a magical experience as butterflies fly around, visiting the flowers and lifting off into the air onto a highway of their own.
As summer begins its transition into autumn, Roadsidia blooms in all of its magnificence. I will enjoy these flowers and the buzz of wildlife activity surrounding them for as long as they are here. Their charm and value are notably intertwined, making otherwise unassuming spaces precious.