The Bane of Fleas

Well, not really. North America’s Common Fleabane, or erigeron philadelphicus, will not repel fleas, whether you dry it, burn it, or steep it in hot water. It is, nonetheless, a striking flower, its bold yellow disks wreathed in narrow, pale pink rays, and it is thriving by the river now. Fleabane. I just like the way it sounds. Slugs, squirrel tails, wet socks…and fleabane. Say it one more time and it might be an enchantment.