Sweet Joe Pye

With the decline of small field farmers, this hay field is no longer mowed.  It has overgrown with . . . 

 

Eutrochium purpureum

 

. . . Sweet Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum).  

 

Up close with Joe:

 

Flower head

Each flower head has many florets.  The nectar rich flowers are enjoyed by bees, bumble bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.  The scent of sweet vanilla is wonderful.

 

 

 

Cereal eating ants

 

Ants on cereal

 

 Ants clamber all over the sugary sweetened corn cereal that is placed near their nest.