Two More Lovelies!

   Growing up on the farm, Pop had little use for "weeds".  His gardens were kept impeccably clear of anything but the plants he intended to grow for crops.  As kids, it was our job to help weed the fields.  Not that I complained about that job as it gave Pop and me plenty of time together.  He and I would set out with our hoes at dawn and spend an hour or so wandering the fields chopping out weeds as we went.  I often wonder what he would think of my style gardening.  There are plenty of "weeds" growing right alongside of the vegetable plants.  It is not that I keep a messy garden but rather that I am finding out that a lot of those "pesky" plants are actually useful.  As I grow older, I have more time to delve into the folk remedies of days past.  Many of what I was taught were useless plants actually have a lot of possibilities as a food source or as medicine.  Others are just too pretty to be yanked ruthlessly from the ground.  Ok...so maybe I do have a messy garden but I prefer to call it "wild".  

  Today, I finally found the names of two of my "mystery" plants.  One has been growing around here forever but the other must have been donated to us by a recent tropical system.  Seeds do wash in from other parts with storms causing me to find some rather delightful plants but also some that I could do without.  One of my finds was tentatively identified as Florida Tasselflower (Emilia Fosberii).  I found this volunteer plant in a cleared spot on my brother's land.  Yep, it is now being cared for with love.  The plant is in a pot in the greenhouse and growing well.  The pretty reddish-orange flowers just keep coming and I am in hopes that some of the seeds will sprout this spring. 

  

  Like I said the other plant has been here as long as I can remember but I never knew what to call it other than "the little yellow flower".  Today as I was perusing the internet, the same bloom was found!  This is False Hawksbeard (Youngia japonica) as near as I can tell.  The tiny plant springs up in the oddest places.  The one I photographed is growing between the planks of pathway to the pier.  This one, too, will be dug and placed in a pot or maybe just the seeds will be saved.

  Both of the plants are edible and have possible medicinal properties which is all good but I mainly love the blooms as they are adding a bit of color during the drab offseason.  The yellows and reds look mighty pretty dotted among the greens of the cabbages!  Folks, don't be so hasty to pull out those weeds.  Look at them more as pretty wildflowers than weeds!