When Paulette Aho sent in today's photos, her accompanying note said, "Summer is just flying by and the wildflowers are gorgeous. These photos of the Orange Hawkweed were taken off the ATV trail near Toivola."

It wasn't until recent years, that I knew this orange flower was called an Orange Hawkweed, because growing up, we all called them Indian Paintbrushes. I'm not sure why, but guessing that someone identified them as such and from there on it stuck as the name of that flower. I understand I'm not alone in thinking that, so is it a misidentification just here in the U.P.?

Pleasant pix!

"To see a World in a Grain of Sand
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower,
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour."
(William Blake)

I have always liked to see fields full of the orange and yellow flowers. They are on my "favorites' list. We always called them devils paintbrush. Not sure how that change happened between the Copper Country and my house.

These pictures are outstanding. I was
walking around my yard taking the beauty
of my flowers in. How I wish summer could
last longer. Why not last for 6 months?
Sigh! Once again, beautiful.

I almost always learn something new here. I had
some beautiful pictures of this orange flower from
a couple of year ago taken along Mandan Road. They
were all covered in orange fuzz, probably pollen.
It came off and colored your fingers orange. Maybe
this is where the "paintbrush" reference
originated? I never knew their name, Orange
Hawkweed or Indian Paintbrush. Looking them up
just now I see they are part of the Daisy family.

Absolutely beautiful!

My entire life I have heard the Orange Hawkweed referred to as
Indian Paintbrush. It would be hard to change that, but I better tell
that to my grandkids since they learned to call those flowers Indian
Paintbrush from me.

Nice pictures! I'm in Petoskey this morning, dropping off Ms. Vicki to spend the weekend with sister Norma. I'm taking today off and blasting to the KEWEENAW!!! Marquette first of course, then heading U.P.!! A quick couple of days to get my fix!! I can't sleep, it's like Christmas when I was a kid, lol I'll check back in from God's Country-OUT!

"Gotta hear the steelbelt's hummin on the asphalt"

Steve Earle

Hope you have a most excellent time in the U.P., Uncle Chuck!

Sounds like a plan, UC...enjoy!

Hi
Uncle Chuck, I'm not sure where you are coming from, but the temperatures in the UP, especially the Keweenaw, should be a lot cooler than downstate. My mom & I are going to Cheboygan this weekend to flee the mid 90's temperatures in Jackson & Ann Arbor, respectively.

As to the flower name, there can be more than one common name for a plant or animal (for example cougar/puma/mountain lion). The scientific name doesn't change, and if anybody needs that level of accuracy, that can be used. But I doubt any of us are publishing journal articles.

I always liked to see these in the meadows across Michigan. They are edible and apparently have a number of medicinal uses. However I just learned that they are an invasive species that causes issues for the native ecosystems. How disappointing.


http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/terrestrialplants/herbaceous/orangehawkweed.html