25 July 2025
A rather large plant is growing in the gravel at the Pitt peregrine nest. Though the peregrines generally ignore it I felt compelled to find out what it is and when it started growing.
Harsh sunlight in the snapshots made it hard to see until its small leaves cast shadows on 10 July. At first it grew slowly. Then rain on 16 July prompted a growth spurt.
Yesterday I had a hunch about its identity so I scanned the snapshot into the Picture This plant identification app. I was right. It’s corn! (also called maize)
Plants like this grow at peregrine nest sites because the seeds arrive in the crops of birds the adults feed to their nestlings. My guess is that this seed/kernel arrived in late May when the youngsters spent time picking apart the leftovers. Eventually the seed germinated.
Fortunately corn is an annual plant so it will die at the end of the growing season. How tall will it be then?
UPDATE PHOTO on 5 AUG 2025!
Please give us updated pictures!
Now we just HAVE to know!
As high as an elephant’s eye
I knew it! I recognized it from the front picture. My husband grew up on a 99 acre farm. Yes…99. I asked them why they didn’t buy the one more acre!! Anyhow. I saw lot of corn coming up in my day. I love the picture and the fact that it is growing.