Self Planted

It should come as no surprise that most of the plants growing in any garden are there as a result of no action by the gardener.  Feeding birds spill as many seeds as they eat.  Wind shakes free countless seeds.  Most of these self planted seeds produce weeds but sometimes genuine beauty is the result.  Foxgloves are widespread in our gardens but we planted none of them recently.  Location dictates that some are weeded out while others are treasured.  These are of an unusual color that was not accurately captured by the camera.  Growing on the edge of a stone path adjacent to a rich planting bed, these plants have found everything they need to flourish.

Recently we cleared a bed that had lain fallow for two years.  We needed a place to plant pie pumpkins and butternut squash.  These sunflowers were found here as a result of no action on our part and they will remain.  Years ago Becky operated a pet store that sold tons of a high quality bird seed purchased from Apple's Aviary.  Plants like these first appeared under our bird feeder.  They are robust and tall with many flowers on each plant.  We find them to be an excellent garden flower and allow them to grow if their presence will not interfere with chosen garden subjects.  More plants than needed hold this area and we will leave them mostly alone.  We did bring in chopped leaves to both smother new weeds and keep the soil rich and moist.  When the squash and pumpkin plants take over this area, the height of the sunflowers should allow them to grow and flower.

These pinks make seed by the millions.  They are allowed to grow largely unchecked in this bed in front of the house.  We are considering introducing them down by the road.  Seed heads will be cut at the appropriate time and simply placed on the ground.  This riot of color will follow the next year and every year after that.

A close up picture reveals both the flower's form and intense color.  Not bad for a pernicious weed.

A Perfect November Day

The weather forecast for today predicted a fantastic day.  A hard overnight frost was followed by clear skies and temperatures that reached well into the 50's.  This glorious afternoon was spent running fallen maple leaves through the lawn mower creating perfect garden mulch.  The bags of shredded leaves will be piled and covered with a tarp.  If all goes as planned, we will find fine, dry, aged, ph proper mulch for our basil planting next June.  How much better than that does it ever get?

Our original Gloriosa daisies were given to us many years ago by Elle, an elderly gardener that took us under her wing.  Many of her plants still grow in our gardens so we remember her fondly and often.  This last of the season flower looks rather stunning dressed with frost.

Foxglove has found many locations around the garden to send down roots.  We prefer to have it grow at the base of stone walls.  That type of location seems satisfactory to the plant as it reseeds wildly there.  A generous coating of frost highlights the texture of these leaves.

Cone flower has been a favorite of the lady of the garden forever.  It now grows here in unmanageable numbers.  We hate to discard living plants but a run through the compost pile happens to this plant rarely.  An end of the season flower still holding petals and a perfect seed head looks lovely with its frost overcoat beginning to melt in the morning sun.

If our overnight freeze was harsh enough to end nearly all of the tiny biting black bugs, this will have been a truly perfect  day.

Deadly Beauty

Common foxglove, Digitalis purpurea, is presently one of our garden stars.  Abundant pink flowers hanging from tall spikes catch and hold the eye.  This biennial has been with us so long that we cannot remember with certainty its original source.  We garden in the middle of old pasture land so shade here is only a dream.  Foxglove planted at the base of field stone walls finds daily periods of shade near the ground and ample moisture from nightly condensation on the walls. Sited favorably, it increases its presence here approaching weed status.

Our nightly walk about identified an area that needs weeding.  Plant identifier Becky pointed out young basal rosettes of foxglove that need to be moved next to the base of the stone wall rather than added to the compost bucket.  At their present size, they will transplant with ease and guarantee the continued presence of this attractive flower in our garden.  

Another advantage of placing these plants at the base of the stone wall is that foreground plants will hide the coming empty space when the spent flower spikes are pruned off.  The contrast between their present visual statement and the coming unsightly collection of tan seed pods and spent blossoms is stark.

Both the seeds and leaves of this plant contain a compound that affects the rate of heart beat.  Herbalists generally no longer use this plant medicinally since the dosage is hard to determine.  When our children were young we would not allow this plant in our gardens because of its poisoning potential.  Now my day always starts with tea made from garden grown leaves.  Mints are the most common ingredient but other plants are frequently added to the brew.  Many a mystery novelist uses this plant to off their victim.  Plants like this one are best kept separate from the tea herbs.  Mistakes can be made and it's best for everyone to remember that!