Pineapple-Weed

Common Name: Pineapple-Weed
Latin Name: Matricaria discoidea

You may never notice this plant if it weren't for all the running track at schools, which seems to be the only place I ever see these growing except for cracks. The cool thing about this plant is that the name it has, has everything to do with the fact that it smells like Pineapple. Just pluck one of the flowers, squish it's head by rolling it with your fingers then smell the flower. It smells just like Pineapple. It's actually edible as well, but since you don't know anything about where the plant came from I wouldn't suggest eating it.

Blooms: May to September
(Picture taken June 27th 2005)

Field Pussytoes

Common Name: Field Pussytoes
Latin Name: Antennaria neglecta

It is a sight to see with your own eyes. I think of it as pussy-willow grass. They were found very early in spring when through my roaming I found myself in someone's backyard, which is where these were growing wild. This is from the Aster family.This plant is also known as Woman's Tobacco.

Blooms: May - June
(Picture taken May 9th 2006)

Creeping Bellflower

Common Name: Creeping Bellflower
Latin Name: Campanula rapunculoides

It is a beautiful Perennial plant, I found this along the Waterfront Trail in Ajax/Pickering and it's quite beautiful. This plant however chokes out other native plants, and spreads underground through runners. You can pick this plant as much as you want. It is not native to Canada, but it has become naturalized.

Blooms: July to August
(Picture taken July 13th 2006)

Bittersweet Nightshade

Common Name: Bittersweet Nightshade
Latin Name: Solanum dulcamara

Although pretty this flower may be, the flower and all parts of this plant are poisonous to people and animals. You may not realize that the Tomato, Potato and Tobacco are all from the Nightshade family.

Blooms: May to September.
(Picture taken June 19th, 2006)