Good Neighbors

In mid-October, in the mowed grass edging the Greenway trail on either side, tiny umbels of Queen Anne's Lace flower just a couple inches off the ground. These scrappy immigrants from Europe insist on thriving under the most adverse conditions: poor soil, blazing sun, constant mowing, you name it. Their bright white, flat-topped clusters of flowers, soft to the touch, can be seen almost anywhere from mid-summer into fall.

When the Greenway is beginning to tuck itself in for the winter, the once-lush greenery crisping to a dry brown, these late bloomers offer one last source of sustenance to our pollinator friends. Most of the native prairie plants have gone to seed, save a few gray-headed coneflowers struggling to squeeze in one last bloom past their prime. As scarcity creeps into the landscape the Queen Anne's Lace and the Red Clover--both non-native and widespread--bear a closer look to discover who is taking advantage of their floral bounty before winter sweeps in.

Easy to spot or the varieties of syrphid flies, with shiny yellow and black striped abdomens. They have stubby antennae and very large eyes that usually touch at the top of their heads. Then there are the tiny bees, with longer antennae and smaller eyes on the sides of their heads, with hairier legs and bodies. And any number of even tinier insects barely visible with the naked eye.

It's a clear demonstration of how important flowers are in the landscape, even non-natives. With a lawn full of perfect turf, these little fellas would have nothing to eat. Those yards whose owners shun pesticides, however, offer a much-needed refuge for pollinators and other insects. Those weeds--Queen Anne's Lace, clover, dandelions--are beautiful to a hungry bee.

It's not just about the pollinators. For more information on being a good neighbor visit https://goodneighboriowa.org/.