Timothy
Timothy, (Phleum pratense), a perennial grass in North America brought to the New England states, unintentionally, by settlers in the late 1600s. Timothy (grass) is found in Marianna in fields and along roadways and is often lumped into the category of "weeds" by those who come upon it. Locals may also refer to it as "meadow cat's-tail" and herd's-grass". Herd's-grass got its name from John Herd who first cultivated it in 1711, in Maine (source-The Guardian).
Fast forward about 9 years, in 1720, the hay and pasture grass was named after Timothy Hanson, an American farmer who developed it as a commercial fodder crop. He had customers such as George Washington and Benjamin Franklin, apparently (source-Etsy Ranch).
In the early 19th century, George Sinclair, a Scottish gardener who worked for the Duke of Bedford, was commissioned to compare the agricultural standards of native grasses, which included Timothy grass. Sinclair's opinion of the grass was low, and he published the details in his work "Hortus Gramineus Woburnensis, in 1816.
Timothy grass produces flowers, but the flowers are very small and unnoticeable. Before it flowers, it can be dried for use as a filler in floral arrangements. But it's also a pretty display on its own. You can find this plant in the summer to early fall, making its dried spikes great in fall décor. But beware if you have allergies. The pollen from Timothy grass is known to cause severe allergies/hay fever.
Other grass types that grow in Marianna can be found HERE.
More on Timothy grass:
https://www.eattheweeds.com/can-we-eat-grass/
https://extension.psu.edu/timothy
