It was a cold and damp day in March when I hiked around the Lakeside Daisy State Nature Preserve. I hiked the 19 acres of barren limestone bedrock of the Marblehead Quarry and didn’t have difficulty finding the beautiful plant, named Hymenoxys herbaea.
Thousands grew from the seemingly hostile environment, amongst vernal pools and rocky ground. Each basal rosette of leaves produces a single 6 inch high, leafless stalk topped with a solitary flower. They all tend to bloom simultaneously, dotting the barren landscape with yellow. 
The petals are double notched. I hold this one gently to take a photo in the wind.
Variations of white and yellow designs were found
Vernal pools were found on the 19-acre site
RARE WILDFLOWERS CAN BE SAVED!
A solitary worn path meandered through the preserve
Lakeside Daisy with nearly all-yellow petals
Click HERE for information about the Lakeside Daisy Nature Preserve and directions to get there.
Robert Morton, M.Ed., Ed.S. writes about the natural world and promotes converting America's 25,000,000 lawns into wildlife-friendly spaces...one lawn at a time! Do you have a Website, WebBlog, personal story or project, photos or articles to share on this site about how you created or protected a wildlife-friendly space? Please contact us at the secure Bpath Mail Form. We'd enjoy hearing from you!
