wild wednesday — golden banner

By Andy Ames

Happy first day of summer! Thanks to our recent rains we are off to a banner wildflower season. I am sure you have seen meadows full of irises, wallflowers, Penstemons, and especially Golden banner. These brilliant yellow members of the pea family thrive in cool, moist areas. While an early bloomer, Golden banner grows in patches and is still prolific in many areas. Like other peas, they spread via roots and tendrils — thin, threadlike strands that also support and allow the plant to climb. The flower is composed of a keel, wings, and its namesake banner. As stunning as they are to us, many other species find them attractive, too. Spend a few moments in a flower patch and you will be amazed at what you will find.

Golden banners have been particularly prolific this year.

Golden banner rely on bumblebees for pollination.

The weight of a bumblebee allows it to lower the flower’s keel to access its pollen. (The keel petal is mostly hidden by the wing pedals, with the banner petal above).

Flower crab spiders can change color from yellow to white depending on the flower they are residing. I usually find them on yarrow and blanketflowers. This one found a Golden Banner an excellent place to secure a meal.

A Nuttall’s Blister beetle finds the petals tasty.