A Missouri wildflower we shouldn’t take for granted

Now that summer is officially here, splashes of yellow naturally dot the highways and byways throughout Missouri.

It’s a sight I welcome more and more with each passing year.

Those splashes of yellow I am referring to are Rudbeckia Hirta, better known as Black-Eyed Susan. 

This floral delight is a common Missouri native wildflower, but it is my opinion they are far from common. They are unique in many ways. 

Personally, I have always gotten a kick out of the fact this wildflower shares a name with my mother Susan. 

Since her passing in 2019, my affection for the Black-Eyed Susan has grown by leaps and bounds.