THE YELLOWTOP is one of the earliest blooming wildflowers in southern Louisiana each spring. They’re so early-blooming, in fact, they start blooming in winter. This recently harvested cane field has been yellow since December.
I just learned tonight that yellowtops are a main food source for crawfish in the Basin. The wildflowers come up early and get covered by spring floodwaters, then they’re eaten by crawfish as they rot underwater. Also known as butterweed.
I’ve always been drawn to these flowers. I can remember picking them from the ditches on the way home from kindergarten for my mom. Perhaps I’m part crawfish.