We're reaching into the archives for today's #BenInNature update presented by our friends at ...

May 8, 2021

We're reaching into the archives for today's #BenInNature update presented by our friends at Carter Bank & Trust! The following post was originally published on June 21, 2020.

Even folks who aren't interested in wildflowers can likely identify black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta). While this member of the sunflower family is native to eastern and central North America, it can be found in all 48 contiguous states and every Canadian Province!

If you like butterflies and other pollinators around your home, black-eyed Susans are a great attractant. They're also the host plant for a handful of caterpillars, such as the silvery checkerspot, the gorgone checkerspot and the bordered patch.

The black-eyed Susan is a pretty forgiving plant. They bloom from late spring/early summer until the first frost, they tolerate heat, drought, and full sun, and they generally aren't attractive to deer. If you have a brown thumb instead of a green one, the black-eyed Susan is the flower for you!

ABOUT #BenInNature
Social distancing can be difficult, but it presents a great opportunity to become reacquainted with nature. In this series of posts, Administrator of Science Ben Williams ventures outdoors to record a snapshot of the unique sights that can be found in the natural world. New updates are posted Monday - Friday, with previous posts highlighted on the weekends. This series of posts is made possible thanks to the support of VMNH Corporate Partner Carter Bank & Trust (www.cbtcares.com).

NATURE PHOTO IDENTIFICATIONS
If you discover something in nature that you would like help identifying, be sure to message us right here on Facebook with a picture (please include location and date of picture) and we'll have our experts help you identify it!