Cheery little rings of bright yellow pea flowers with vertical red stripes decorate roadsides, parking lots, and anywhere else they can gain a foothold. These were blooming by a parking lot in Robinson Township.
For a description of the species, see the Lotus corniculatus reference page.
Crown Vetch has become a nuisance invader in many areas, but its bicolor flowers are always a cheerful sight. It was a popular erosion-control planting, and the Pennsylvania Turnpike especially made frequent use of it. These plants were blooming on a roadside in Robinson Township.
For a description of the species, see the Securigera varia reference page.
It grows in every lawn, but unless you are obsessive about your grass, there is little to object to in this little weed. It is very easy to mow, it never grows very tall even without mowing, and it does the soil good. These flower heads were blooming in a lawn in Beechview.
Also called “Perennial Sweet Pea,” this is a gorgeous and rampant vine that can take over a hillside, but it rewards us with these sweet-pea flowers over a long blooming season. These were photographed on June 8 in Beechview.
For a fuller description, see the Lathyrus latifolius reference page.
Alsike clover is not nearly as common as Red Clover (Trifolium pratense) or White Clover (Trifolium repens). It does look rather like a cross between the two; Linnaeus thought it was, which is why it is saddled with the species name hybridum. The bicolored flower heads make this a very decorative plant. This patch was blooming May 30 in South Side Park.
For a more detailed description, see the Trifolium hybridum reference page.
