Orange Hawkweed

As if some little Arctic flower,
Upon the polar hem,
Went wandering down the latitudes,
Until it puzzled came
To continents of summer,
To firmaments of sun,
To strange, bright crowds of flowers,
And birds of foreign tongue!
I say, as if this little flower
To Eden wandered in —
What then? Why, nothing, only,
Your inference therefrom!


Transplanted (X), by Emily Dickinson


Well I'm afraid this is one of those flowers often considered invasive which I really like anyway. The information sheet I found stated "Avoid building roads where you don't want this weed." For some reason we didn't see many in the yard last year, so I'm glad to see them back in bloom. I was surprised to learn that, although their leaves are nutritious, their trichomes limit herbivory. Mostly because that didn't make any sense when I first read it. I guess herbivores don't like to eat hairy things? So I'm safe from rabbits. Whew!