Some folks have expressed concern about the tall white flowers bursting out everywhere – along the road, the edges of the woods, and quite possibly your garden.  It’s not hemlock (which  blooms in the spring).  It’s “White Crownbeard,” Verbesina Virginica, which is often used as a garden flower, but, as you can see, grows wild (and quite extensively) in the region.  It’s also known as Frostweed, Iceplant, Iceweed, Virginia Crownbeard, Indian Tobacco, Richweed, and Squawweed.  Butterflies absolutely love it, so if you love butterflies, having some Crownbeard in the garden will  help attract them.
   Why is it called Frostweed?  Check out my third photo for the answer!  At the first hard frost, the stems of this plant will rupture at the base and put forth ribbons of ice crystals, sometimes called frost flowers or frost ribbons.  (It has even been called rabbit ice or rabbit butter; don’t ask me why.) Once that has happened, your Crownbeard stand will be truly “done” for the season—but no worries, it will pop back again next year as healthy as ever, as this is a hardy perennial.  
   See some neat time-lapse photography of the crystals forming at http://www.forrestmims.org/gallery.html.