A few weeks ago my son and I were able to leave the flatland and head up to the mountains.  While we were there we did some traveling along the Blue Ridge Parkwayand were able to stop at one of my favorite pullovers, Big Spy Mountain Overlook.  I do not stop for the view, but for a chance to wander through the small meadow.  

On this trip the meadow was full of wildflowers and full of insect  activity.  Probably the most popular plant, as far as the insects were concerned, was the Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), but the Beebalm (Asclepias syriaca) and Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida) were not being ignored.  What surprised me was the presence of three European flowers that have naturalized along the Blue Ridge, and some would say are a bit invasive.  There was the little thistle-like flower Spotted Knapweed (Centaurea maculosa), a giant Dandelion of a plant called Western Salsify (Tragopogon dubius) and the very common Queen Anne's Lace (Daucus carota). 

Even with the pushy Europeans, it was a lovely spot to spend some time on a warm July day in the Blue Ridge.