Tuesday, March 25, 2008

On saving random plants from the lawnmower...

I admit to being a bit crazy when it comes to plants. If I see something coming up in the lawn that looks like it will be torn to shreds by the evil blades of the mower, I perform a plant rescue. I dig it up, ever-so-carefully, and find a nice place in a flower bed for it. I have come across some interesting specimens this way.

Last month I came across what I thought MIGHT be a small columbine in the lawn - but the leaves didn't look quite right and the little plant had tuberous roots. I thought, well, it might be something interesting, and so I moved it to a small shady area under the Windmill palm. I went out to check on it today and what did I find? Well, I will be darned if it isn't a native Wind-flower. How exciting! (Ok, well I think it is exciting anyway)I just love it when fun things pop up in my yard. That is exactly how I ended up with gagillions of Pink Evening Primrose. One randomly appeared in my front bed, I left it alone and now they are everywhere!

Wind-flower (Anemone heterophylla):



A collection of Pink Evening Primrose:



Pink Guara:

16 comments:

Annie in Austin said...

I also like the ten-petalled anemone, Lee17.

I transplanted some to the edges of the yard but we mow high so they come back in the lawn.

The gaura can grow, but after pink evening primrose bullied its way around an Illinois friend's borders we were pre-warned about its powers!

Annie at the Transplantable Rose

Priscilla George said...

What an interesting little rescue. I have an evening primrose that has nicely filled a pot. I love the pink evening primroses. Was the guara a rescue too? I would love to have one of those pop up around here so I could rescue it.

Lee17 said...

Annie,

Yep, I sure did notice that those primrose spread like crazy! I don't really mind though...they are so pretty.

Lee17 said...

Vanillalotus ,

No, the Guara wasn't a rescue - it just happened to bloom today and I snapped a picture of it. I do see them spring up in ditches around here though, so keep your eyes peeled!

Anonymous said...

I did exactly the same thing a couple of years ago, discovered a ten-petalled anemone in the yard. I'm always afraid to dig things up so I just mowed around it. It's come back for a couple of years now.

If you want any baby blue eyes, I'll have plenty of seeds this year. They are a cheap and easy way to fill in the garden.

Anonymous said...

What great blossoms you have already. I guess that's the difference between zone 9 and 7! :)

Sue Swift said...

I have a house which is usually let, and when I go back the tenants have rarely kept up the garden and plants have self seeded everywhere - including in the lawn. Half my gardening time goes on carefully digging things out and moving them to a better place - I can't bear to throw anything away.

Ralph said...

The only thing I ever find in my lawn is the ocasional dandelion.

Unknown said...

I don't think you're crazy! I'd do the same thing if something popped up in our grass. There's a patch of forget me nots out near the back birch trees which Longsuffering Spouse is NOT allowed to mow until they finish flowering.
Your blog is fun, Lee; I'm especially fond of you bloggers in warm areas while the snow continues to come down here.

Lee17 said...

mss,

Free seeds? Who can turn down free seeds? If you want to send me some, I would gladly receive them ;)

Lee17 said...

Lance,

Yep, it seems like we always have something in bloom down here!

Lee17 said...

Sue,

I can't bear to throw anything away either. This really presents a problem, because my garden is so small! Where to put things...where to put things..

Lee17 said...

Ralph,

You know, when I was little, I would run around and pick all the dandelion flowers before my dad mowed them over ;)

Lee17 said...

Jodi,

Ha! I just posted about how I wouldn't let my significant other mow the front lawn for weeks while it was full of bluebonnets ;)

Lori said...

So that's a windflower! I noticed the same plant in my lawn, but as far as I can tell, it hasn't bloomed yet. I'll have to keep an eye on it. :)

Lee17 said...

Lori,

Yes! Isn't it fabulous? I am keeping my eyes peeled for more ;)