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Black Eyed Susan

Irvine Nature Center

All Marylanders know their state flower: the lovely and prolific wildflower, the black-eyed susan.

Designated our state flower in 1918, black-eyed susans are native to North America, and thrive east of the Rocky Mountains. They are one of the most popular wildflowers grown in our country and tend to blanket open fields, often surprising walkers, runners and drivers with their golden-yellow beauty.

W. Brooks Paternotte took the helm of Irvine Nature Center as executive director in July 2013 and immediately began building on the strong 35-year foundation. Brooks is a Baltimore native who was a teacher, coach, advisor, dean and Head of the Middle School during his 13 years at Boys’ Latin School in Baltimore. He is also an instructor and ambassador of the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and is a Leave No Trace Master, as well as an avid outdoorsman and a features writer for FlyLife Magazine.