Ox-Eye Daisy

In the summer pasture along a rocky hillside is an area that the daisies just love. From late May through early June each year, they bloom their little hearts out.

Did you know that the daisy is not a native to the United States?  The came along from Europe with immigrants who planted them in their gardens, and at some point the daisies wanted freedom, to see the country, so they ran away – packed their stuff in their handkerchiefs, tied it to a pole and hit the road. And now they live the wild life with the wind in their petals.

You can find them in pastures, along roadsides and railroads, and in empty lots in America, Australia, and New Zealand. And in our pasture, they’ve found the perfect home – cows don’t eat daisies because of their bitter taste. Horses, sheep, and goats eat them, but cows are more finicky.

Native Americans dried the flowers, stems and roots, and then made a tea they used as an eyewash and for soothing chapped hands.

And of course, who hasn’t used the flower for the “He loves me, he loves me not” game?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[ad name=”Google Adsense”]