Dalmation toadflax is a nasty weed (but pretty) and does nothing in the valley (except get eaten by cows who have eaten all the native plants and be a herbal cure and all), but what happens when it tries really, really hard to be native, and, well, evolves and everything?
That’s a beautiful pink this one is putting on. But what is a self-respecting plant to do but blend in with the local real estate environment? Realtors, like any other species, mark their territory, so you can see exactly where the boundaries are.
Toadflax wanted in, that’s all. And that’s the thing: when an invasive species evolves a unique adaptation (with the help of some herbicides and a realtor who loves pink), isn’t it an indigenous species? Whatever the answer, this one has done very well with what she has been given. I suggest we listen!
Categories: Earth, Gaia, Grasslands, invasive species, Nature Photography, Spirit
Okanagan Okanogan 
Haha, super!
To my opinion, evolution needs such personalities like the pinky tinker flower to cope with the human forces of destruction.
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It’s a bold step she’s taking, for sure. I wish her well with it!
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At the rate us humans are destroying great habitats for natives, I guess we’d better start liking the invasives… 😕😒😥
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Sadly, in this town most people have no idea at all what a native species looks like, or what an invasive one is. The popular walking trail above my house has only a few native individuals, yet is considered a walk in a natural world. Weeds, everywhere. At least this one is turning pink. I wonder what else is going to evolve under the pressures we apply.
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So true!
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After all, self fertile cherries were created in this valley by shocking developing cherry buds with radiation and freezing. That’s how the plants responded. GMO has got nothing on evolution, it seems.
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