The drive to work is just rife with wildflowers and as the seasons change, so do they. During Summer we get some of the following:
Black Cohosh: people dig the roots and sell them by the pound. Reportedly it is used to treat menopause and may be effective in the treatment of prostate cancer. Of course no conclusive evidence exists and side effects are numerous. In no way do I promote its use for anything but to make pretty white flowers to look at. The foliage also provide a nice ground cover, but it does prefer shaded areas of the yard being a forest type flower.
Sweet peas: these are toxic and should never be eaten or even put in your mouth.
Black eyed Suzies: These have got to be among my most favorite wild flower. But I can't pick them because they make me break out. Still very fine to look at as they grown in thick patches all along the road.
Queen Anne's Lace: The name comes from the legend that Queen Anne pricked her finger while she was sewing and a drop of her blood fell on the lace. Note the blood red bloom in the very center...anyway, this is of the carrot family and Romans used to eat it as a root, uhm, who knows what they called it then... American colonists boiled the tap root to add to wine as a treat as it is second only to beets for its sugar content. Sometimes the Irish, Hindus, and Jews use it to sweeten puddings and other foods.
Some sort of thistle-like flower I can't identify and an unknown Salvia variety, maybe Azura. The thistle thing also comes in lavender.
