Morning Yellow

A Little Note

The Photo:

Yellow Salsify (Tragopogon dubius*)–A member of the Aster family
The green bracts below the petals extend beyond the flower head.

The Thought:

The Aster family is well-represented in our region. We have arrowleaf balsamroot, bachelor button [cornflower], thistles, fleabane, and more.

I love these yellow sunflowers, that seem to grow here and there, not in large bunches. They are found across North America, and, in Washington, mostly east of our Cascade Mountains. Originally, they are from southern and central Europe.

You can tell these are “goatsbeard” from its relative, meadow salsify, by the green bracts below the petals— in yellow salsify, they grow beyond the flower head. These flowers like our dryer climate.

Native Americans ate the roots, cooked, and the basal leaves can be eaten.

I love their bright yellow petals and dazzling, dancing center. Look for them in the early morning, for in the afternoon, they may close.

Poetry

Morning Yellow

Catch me in mornings
dancing in first light, for by
afternoon, I close
to rest— hiding from sight; so
wake with me in morning’s bright.

Sheri Edwards
05.26.24 146.365.24
Poetry/Photography
Yellow Salsify