Ironweed‘s ungraceful name is quite unfortunate: it’s truly a lovely native plant, with delicate violet blooms that appear in late summer.
It’s also a favorite of pollinators and tough as nails, growing freely along roadsides or in any patch of land that hasn’t been recently fucked with by human hands—I found this one beside a parking lot.
I tend to avoid swampy areas of the Southeast, particularly in the warmer months—too many dangerous reptiles lurking about.
However, there are some lovely plants that come from the Southern wetlands, including the beautiful swamp hibiscus, which produces giant, colorful blooms from summer through autumn.
Thankfully, the plant can be grown outside swamps, too, so I don’t have to stumble across a gator to enjoy it.
I recently crossed paths with this lovely Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides) in a marshy forest glade.
As the dappled morning light danced across the leaves, I thanked the spirits of the earth for their continued support and provision.
May we be ever mindful of their grace and sacrifice.
