Tour de Fleur: Forks of the River

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July Tour de Fleurers

Special thanks to all the folks that attended this month's Tour de Fleur along the Will Skelton Greenway at Forks of the River WMA. The fields of sunflowers did not disappoint. Spectacular once again this year! Although you might think you are in the province of Provence in the south of France, a sunny location made famous by the sunflower paintings of Vincent van Gogh, you're here in East Tennessee. Giant sunflowers are actually native to America. 

Hats off to Kathleen Gibi, with the City of Knoxville parks and rec, and Ellen Blasius with Knox County parks and rec for organizing the outing.

Along the way we also heard common yellowthroats, yellow-breasted chats, field sparrows and indigo buntings singing, as well as Robinson's, swamp and scissor-grinder cicadas "zeering" their buzzy songs in the trees. 

Ahhhh summer!

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)

Other wildflowers found along the way.

Common mullein

Sow thistle

Chicory 

Garden Coreopsis

Partridge pea

Horse nettle

Hedge nettle

Queen Anne's lace

White avens

Wood sorrel

St. John's wort

Crown-beard

Asian dayflower

Kathleen Gibi and Ellen Blasius

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