Looks beautiful doesn’t it? This is what most of our property looks like right now. Another shot of this gorgeous wildflower up close is below.
Unfortunately, after researching this beauty I have found it to be a killer. Really. This appears to be butterweed, Packera glabella, a member of the Asteraceae family and North American native wildflower. According to an article I found on Davesgarden.com, this is toxic to grazing animals such as our future sheep and goats. On the bright side, male mosquitoes love it. Ugh.
An eradication plan is in order. I expect we will have to mow it down this fall and possibly use a pasture friendly herbicide. Then we will plant grasses such as orchardgrass, bluegrass, fescue, as well as a few legumes such as alfalfa or clover. We have a lot of work cut out for us.