The wild Black-Eyed Susans are starting to peek from (but not yet peak in) in our fallow fields, where they’ll flourish until September. The proud group shown below was staring into the sun yesterday amid other emerging field flora.
There are at least 30 species of North American Black-Eyed Susans, all apparently sunflowers of the Rudbecki genus; these are R. hirta, I think. However, the common name of these natives seems inapt. They don’t have black eyes; their center discs are dark brown. Furthermore, no Susan ever had black eyes; human eyes come with colored “irises,” a word derived from the Greek words colorful and rainbow.
Leighton Archive Image
These flowers’ common name apparently was inspired by the early 18th Century English ballad “Sweet William’s Farewell to Black-Eyed Susan.” Sweet William was departing for war and tearful Susan appeared by surprise on his ship to say goodbye. I guess that she had dark brown eyes and the light wasn’t too good; how she got on a warship is a mystery. (Brooklin, Maine)