#naturalized

—√°`✴️ Gang... I'm genuinely liking how this is going...

It was first sold illegally in the Northeast in the 1940s as the “Hollywood finch,” and when sellers were threatened with prosecution for violating the Migratory Bird Act, the finches were released into the wild.

It was a disappointment these are giant ragweed and annual ragweed, but they're getting the same treatment as all these plants and I mean technically they're edible too (if I'm not allergic)

Native to South America, Sanchezia parvibracteata has become naturalized throughout the world. I came across what is essentially a hedge of this plant growing in the understory forest of a suburban community on Oahu. Fond of cooler, wetter locations, it was extremely happy there and is known to readily escape cultivation. This is one of the least dramatic plants I have photographed in UVIVF but the stigmas, anther, bracts, and stems at least provide a little glow and visual interest.

DEPTFORD PINK by pjshuleski https://flic.kr/p/2nTtozf

The ailanthus webworm (Atteva aurea), seen in the above photographs feeding on Joe Pye weed, is a master mimic.  When at rest, this small, brilliantly-patterned moth resembles a beetle. When in flight, it resembles a wasp. Atteva aurea is an example of a non-native but naturalized species that expanded its range northward from the Central American tropics after an invasive larval host plant - tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima) -  was introduced to North America in the mid-1800s. This lovely little moth poses no major problems for the native species in this area and is an effective pollinator - it’s also quite beautiful to look at.

A weed? Nah. Queen Anne’s lace (Daucus carota) is one of my favorite flowers. Here’s some from my garden.