Black-Eyed Susans

One of the most cheerful flowers in the summertime is the Black-Eyed Susan, Rudbeckia hirta. The spectacular flowers I have photographed here are in a garden along a sidewalk in the small town nearby. A slightly less spectacular variety of this flower can frequently be seen in spots along roadsides in this area, too.

Can you spy the ant in the above photo? 😁

Black-Eyed Susans are in the sunflower family. The roots of the plant have some medicinal benefits, and were used by Native Americans for colds, flu, infection, swelling, and as a poultice for snake bite.

The plants were originally native to the Eastern and Central regions of the US, but have been naturalized in other areas of the North American continent. Today, these pretty flowers can be found in all 48 contiguous states of the US as well as all 10 Canadian provinces.