Skip to main content

Photos: Saturday in Le Roy and Stafford

By Howard B. Owens

You know, if I'm driving out in Genesee County somewhere, I'm looking for barns and other interesting photographic opportunities.

The barn above is on Randall Road in Morgansville.

This flower (Anybody know what it's called?) was in the field across from the barn.

More pictures after the jump:

Another flower in need of identification.

A rusting Pontiac off Selden Road, Le Roy.

It's views like these, I think, that help you appreciate just how sublimely beautiful Genesee County really is. This was taken on Selden Road, Le Roy.

Amy Vlack

I believe the white flower is a weed called "Queen Anne's Lace." The red one is "Staghorn Sumac."

I have one of the Kite Man's kites too.

I love all of the nature pictures you post. Thanks.

Jul 11, 2010, 1:30am Permalink
C. M. Barons

Queen Ann's Lace- an invasive species often called wild carrot because of its edible root. It has a native cousin that is found in the western United States. Swallowtail Butterflies and bees are attracted to Queen Ann's Lace, but its ability to crowd out native species such as White Milkweed (essential to Monarch Butterflies that feed on it exclusively), Sweet Goldenrod, Hoary Mountainmint and White snakeroot place it on the list of noxious weeds. It populates dry prairies, abandoned fields, waste places, and road sides. It is a threat to recovering grasslands. A native of Europe and Asia it is pervasive throughout the U.S. The plant was used as a contraceptive in Ancient Greece. Studies indicate its seeds contain terpenoids that block progesterone synthesis and prevent egg implantation in the uterus.

Jul 11, 2010, 1:37am Permalink
C. M. Barons

Correct, Amy. The Staghorn Sumac berries can be brewed as a lemony tea. Trappers used to soak their traps in the same brew to lose the human scent.

Jul 11, 2010, 1:40am Permalink
Dave Olsen

I had to look up "progesterone synthesis", and although I don't get it completely, I get the gist & that's probably all i'll ever understand. Which I'm fine with. Biology was hard for me. But how did the ancient Greeks figure that one out? Do we even want to know how it was applied?

Jul 11, 2010, 8:46am Permalink

Authentically Local