Daisy Fleabane...The Welcome Friend

   I have a hard time calling anything a weed until it proves that it is destructive to the gardens, pets or people.  In fact, wildflowers have made their way into the Small Gardens and are about as welcome as any other plants.  In fact, it is a well known fact that some have been dug from roadsides, marshes or creek beds to be planted in the gardens.  Who in the world would do that?  Me!  I figure they are happy additions to the gardens as wildflowers add points of interest and they bloom with wild abandon whenever they please.  Wildflowers are not particularly bound to any set season like the over-meddled with seeds we plant. This morning as I was out picking broccoli, some gorgeous flowers were the first thing that I noticed in the garden. Daisy Fleabane!  Ahh, my good friend, it is grand to see you and I hope the freeze tonight does you no harm.  The fleabane was sort of crammed in a nook with some lilies, chives and wood sorrel.  Obviously, they all get along well and have no quarrel growing together in the same garden. I have no quarrel with any of them so they all stay.

  Daisy Fleabane by most folks' standards is a weed and has no place in their pristine gardens.  The plant would be ripped from the ground and destroyed.  This is not the smartest thing as these blooms are some of the first to open in the early spring and provide life-giving pollen and nectar for many pollinators.  Those very pollinators are the ones that visit our food plots and, without them, our crops will not produce.  I smiled when I saw my helpful wildflower friends and had to whisper a "Thanks!  Job well done, Little Plant!"  Folks, leave a few of the early blooming wildflowers as a gift to our ever-dwindling bee population.  Without the bees...we won't be here.

Wind, Bees and Flowers!

  The area was supposed to get a lot of rain last night and today.  Areas around us did...we did not.  We got wind. Tonight, thankfully, thunder rolls and showers come and go.  I am ready for a good soaking rain on the gardens.  If this happens, a couple of hundred little plants will be set in their "growing" spots in the morning.  The cauliflower, cabbage and broccoli plants really need to be spaced a bit further apart than I had sowed the seeds but it would have been pointless to transplant them during the drought.  So...we (the plants and I) wait on the rain.

  This morning, I headed to the pier to check the skiff and any fishing gear.  The winds were picking up a bit so it is better to take care of things before it gets too rough.  It was on that quick dash that I had to stop and watch a bee.  Yep, even during iffy weather, I watch the critters.  At the end of the pier, there is a lovely groundsel bush with its poofy white blossoms.  Right in the midst of the bush, there was a single goldenrod branch. I had stopped to admire the beautiful "floral arrangement" when I noticed another goldenrod branch had tilted over the end of the pier.  That was where I found my lovely, little friend.  The bee was hunkered down among the flowers to escape the wind.  While the blooms gave the bee something to grasp, it was still having a wild ride.  The whole thing was bouncing around with each gust.  At one point, the wind lulled and I was able to photograph the bee.  The bee, however, had a different idea.  After just one picture, it up and flew to the oak tree and nestled in among the lichens.  There, it would be safe from the whipping winds.  And I headed back up the hill to the Little Bayou House.

Wildflower Walks

   Not being able to get out and push the mower has its perks aside from the obvious...letting someone else do the work.  A newfound love of wildflowers has occurred.  Yep, let that well manicured lawn go and let the wildflowers flourish!  Sure...most folks call them weeds but, as it currently is, they are wildflowers and I am happy with them.  

  Moseying down by the marsh edge in the early morning gives me the opportunity to view some of the blooms that will close during the heat of the day.  Both the spiderwort and evening primroses are long faded by the time most folks are even out of bed.  Only early risers can witness the beauty of such blooms!  Down next to the pier, there is one patch of  "seabeach" evening primrose that blooms regardless of the weather and any time of the year.  The one exception is they do not bloom during the heat of the day.  The plant prefers the cool, dampness of the night.  Let that sun rise high in the sky and the blooms tightly close.  I don't blame them.  I have the same preference.  I figure that my wildflower walks are the best way to greet the day.

A New Crop?

   The canebrake cleaning chore got a bit sidetracked today as I decided it was better to trim up the Small Gardens a bit.  Son was not able to help me so pulling bamboo can wait.  As I was trimming around the shrubs and citrus trees, I came across the most beautiful patch of lyre-leaf sage.  Yep, that "weed" that grows along roadsides in just about every place imaginable has decided that the space under the peach trees is a nice place to live.  I knew the plants were there and usually have them mowed by this time but one thing or another got in the way.  Now, I have a "grove" of purple blooms!  Lovely, lovely purple blooms are everywhere

  No, I did not have the heart to mow them today.  I figured since I use the roots in tisanes, it cannot be all bad to let the plants go to seed and multiply.  If ever the need arises that I wish for a cup of lyre-leaf root tisane, I shall have plenty to dig.  So...those are not weeds!  That is my new "garden" and it is growing well!  Ok...so I promise to not be so lackadaisical and get to mowing again...maybe tomorrow...maybe Monday...maybe after the blooms fade.  

I Am A Wildflower!

  It is my habit to walk around the place early in the morning, then again, in the late afternoon.  This helps me to get my day started then set goals for the next day's chores.  This afternoon, I came across the prettiest, little flowers that one could imagine.  "Nothing but weeds" is how most folks look at them but I see the beauty of life in each petal.  One of the goals for tomorrow involves digging the clump of grass and planting these beauties in one of the gardens.  If left where they are, I would surely forget and cut them the next time I am mowing.

  There is one thing that often sticks in my brain when I hear folks say something about "weeds" and their distaste for them.  Folks, we are all weeds.  None of us are any more likely to be that perfect "garden specimen" than the so-called weeds.  Think about that one.  We all have the opportunity to bloom and be lovely.  There is no reason to look down upon anyone.  I tend to think that "I am a wildflower...not a weed!"  Just my thoughts.  

Replenishing the "Sea of Purple"

   For several years in a row, hurricanes and tropical storms battered the Bayou.  The cleanup was hard work but with steady toiling, most would be done before the next round of storms.  It is something we have to deal with if we wish to stay on this land.  I love my little bayou and the surrounding woods enough to endure whatever is thrown at me.  Only once in my entire life of living in the area have I ever had second thoughts about staying in the Little Bayou House and, by that time, it was too late to leave.  Hurricane Katrina was a force to be reckoned with on her terms.  While we were dealt a severe blow, we persevered.  And to those who rode through Hurricane Camille and claimed it was "the storm of the century", Katrina proved just how wrong that judgement was.  It was far worse.  I can say that...I rode through both.  

  One of the downsides of doing hurricane cleanup is that you really do not have the opportunity to fret over what is lost even after the storm.  When plowing through the mountains of debris, it seems highly pointless to worry over a small plant or garden area.  You just want the debris gone.  So, gardens and even wildflowers disappear.  After the latest storms, this bothered me a lot.  I missed the natural look of the place.  So...I headed back to higher ground behind the house and did a bit of scrounging.  There, the plants survived.  I was elated and dug many to refurbish the pathways.

  Of my finds, the woods violets are favorites. I dug several clumps but was careful not to purge the places where they grew naturally.  The plants flourished in their new home and are gracing the place with the beauty of their blooms.  Never have there been so many lovely purple blossoms scattered about the hillside!  This all reminds me so much of the old farm place where Pop had violets growing by the acre.  Between his old shed/workshop and the chicken house, thousands of violets were left to grow to wild abandon.  He kept the place mowed except when he saw the violets starting to bud.  Then, he let them bloom and reseed themselves.  There were so many blooms that this area could actually be seen by cars passing in front of the property.  Many people would stop to ask what was blooming.  Pop was always happy to share information and a few plants.  

  Just yesterday, a sweet friend brought up the memory of Pop and his violets even though he has been gone for some thirty years.  She was a teacher at the local elementary school and took the road past the farm to work every day.  Stephanie said that when the violets bloomed and word got out at the school, a lot of teachers rerouted their trips home so they could view the "Sea of Purple" growing in the backyard of the old farm.  How sweet that she remembered and how sweet that she shared the memory with me.  The thought made the violets blooming on the path so much more precious.  I am glad I was able to replant after the storms.  Hopefully, we will have a few years of calm so the violets can take hold and fill the yard and I can have my own "Sea of Purple".

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!

Grass Flowers

   I often find tiny flowers in the grass around the hillside.  Since I am not one that has to have the perfectly manicured lawn, I leave them grow where they may.  In fact, I love them.  Often these are what my mom called "Little Blue Eyes".  She was not far off from the actual common name which is blue-eyed grass.  The plant is only about 4 inches tall and the bloom is as tiny as a pea!  They are lovely, little things!  Years ago, I photographed the blue-eyed grasses as often as I found them.

  Yesterday while out in the back of the property near the creek bed, I noticed a tiny yellow flower.  Yep, I am quickly down on my knees photographing the wee bloom.  As I inspected the flower, I realized that it was almost identical to the blue-eyed grass bloom yet it was yellow!  I guess there truly is a first time for everything since I have never seen a yellow-eyed grass!  It called for a bit of research and, yes, it is called yellow-eyed grass and is kin to the blue-eyed grass.  How about that??

  I am seriously thinking of transplanting a few of both types into a pot or some small pan to have a miniature plant garden. There are so many wonderful wildflowers that go unseen simply because we are in such a hurry to get where we are going that we never take the time to really look at things.  Maybe life here on the Bayou just moves at a slower pace than other places or maybe I just do not fit in with the fast moving crowd.  I observe.  I take the time to really see things.  It is great.  Try it sometime.  You may be amazed at what all you have been missing.

Wildflowers, Momie and Memories

   So the yard work continues as I have decided to rework the entire thing.  Perhaps spending so much time confined to the Small Gardens while I healed has made me grow weary of the hodgepodge arrangement.  I am now doing a much more (not) organized hodgepodge arrangement.  Seriously, my gardens will never be tidy and well-manicured.  Personally, when I see yards like that, I cannot help but think of how bored I would be.  I need the surprise of what may be just around the next corner.  So, I am busying myself creating "corners". 

  While putting the finishing touches on a weird piece of yard art made from hurricane donated wood, I was pleasantly surprised to see tiny wood sorrel blooms peeking out from beneath the chives.   While most folks see these as weeds, I find their unique way of popping up in unexpected places quite appealing.  Wood sorrel was one of Mark's grandmother's favorite flowers and she kept a large concrete urn of them on her tiny porch.  Even though she never did a thing to care for them since she was unable to venture outside, they bloomed profusely all spring and summer.  Whenever I would take the kids to visit her, she would always mention her lovely flowers.  

  It is sort of funny how things stick with you and memories come hopping out with a simple view.  The wood sorrel blooms brought a flood of memories of happy times spent with "Momie".  She and I got along famously perhaps due to our love of simple things.  I sure miss her.  Thank you, sweet little wildflowers for brightening my day with happy memories.

Little White Violet

   Before the rains set in for the next few days, I rose early to do outside chores.  It was just after daybreak that you could find me in the gardens.  It was a morning of rushing around preparing everything for the torrential downpours and strong winds that were predicted to slam us.  The Bayou sees all sorts of weather but, here lately, it seems we are getting more than our share of wind.  This system has us all on alert for the possibility of tornadoes.  Still, gardens do not wait on weather nor laziness.  So, chores were hurriedly done in hopes for the best.

  At one point, my tasks took me to the citrus trees.  It was there that I found my tiny bright spot of the morning.  Underneath one of the satsuma trees was a wee white violet!  Oh, my!  I had to fall upon my knees to cherish this moment as it is not often that I come across the white violets.  Mom always used to love these tiny flowers and often told how they were "rare" finds.  I am not sure if that is even a thing but it is "rare" that I find them here on the Bayou.

  After photographing the bloom (which was difficult because the rains had started), I gently touched the petals and thanked the little plant for bringing such happiness and many memories.  It does not take much, folks.  Happiness can, indeed, be found in the little things.

Bees Do Sleep

   The Bayou area is full of surprising finds.  With nearly every hike about the place, something new catches my eye and causes the wheels in the old brain to start whirling round and round.  With each new discovery, there comes a thousand questions.  What?  Where?  Why? When?  And the big one...How? How is usually spread out into a bajillion segments.  It makes life interesting and keeps the brain working.  

  My hikes, as a norm, start before dawn and then wind up when the sun rises above the pines.  That is when the outdoor chores begin.  This morning, Mark went fishing so I wandered about the place.  At one point, I stopped to admire the goldenrod that was in full bloom.  Goldenrod is one of those misjudged plants.  People give it a bad rap thinking it causes their allergies.   I have given up trying to explain that ragweed is the culprit as no one wishes to ever admit they may be wrong.  Oh, well, so be it.  But, I like the goldenrod and wish it would bloom year round instead of just the fall.  It seems that the bumblebees wish it would, too.  Early this morning, a tiny bumblebee was found asleep nestled down in the downy soft blooms.  Obviously, the little bee had been busy last night and decided to sleep the night away in the bloom.  It chose a full cluster that would completely surround it.  This would camouflage it from any predators.  Once it awakes, it does not have far to go before it has breakfast!

  Bees, butterflies and other insects do, indeed, sleep.  Bees and wasps that make hives usually head back inside for the night but solitary bees sleep where they find shelter.  Flowers provide that nicely.  Butterflies choose a thicket and then hang upside down among the leaves.  Just as an added note here, the cutesy butterfly houses are not a good idea.  Butterflies prefer bushes not houses.  While it may look adorable, you are more likely to attract wasps than butterflies.  Red wasps love to build their nests in these things.  (That spoken by the voice of experience.) Yep, I was given a butterfly house.  Yep, every year red wasps have claimed the house.  Nope, nary a butterfly has even looked at the adorable little house. 

  The next time you are out at the crack of dawn, check the insides of flowers.  You may find loads of little friends are using them as their beds.  During rainy times, be sure to look inside of lilies.  The cup shape provides a nice shelter for our insect friends!  Bees DO sleep!  

Southern Sundrops

   I have a strong interest in night-blooming plants.  Perhaps this is because I prefer nighttime over the daylight hours or maybe it is because I find it curious that there are so many lovely flowers that very few people ever see.  Not many folks go traipsing about marshes, swamps and woods by the light of the moon.  In the gardens, there are the usual night-bloomers that are cultivated to become showpieces but, out in the wild, there are those that are equally as lovely.  It just so happens that, since I leave the place sort of "wild and woolly", wildflowers often make their way into the gardens.  I noticed a rather weedy looking plant growing next to the gatepost a couple of weeks back and was curious as to what it was.  It had sprouted up right next to a couple of wild Goldenrod that were allowed to stay so why not let this plant have a chance to prove itself, as well?  

  Since my days begin long before daylight, the first blooms on the "invader" were noticed as I headed to the pier.  A mental note was made to photograph the blooms on my way back to the Little Bayou House after fishing.  That did not happen as the blooms were withered by the sunlight.  I would have to try again.  Then, along came (wannabe) Hurricane Sally and the plant was forgotten for a few days.  This morning as I went to check on how the boat was fairing with the storm, the blooms were gorgeous!  Even with the occasional gusty winds, the plant stood strong and proud!  Yellow blooms were waving in the breezes and dripping with raindrops but I got my photos!  

  The Evening Primrose is a native plant that pops up anywhere that birds drop the seeds.  The bright yellow blooms open quickly at dusk and will wither equally as fast just after dawn.  The nectar is a food source for many moths and the seed capsules are sought by birds.  For humans the greatest use is as Evening Primrose Oil which is being studied as a possible healing aid for some conditions such as arthritis...(that would be nice!).  

  For now, the plant is welcome to stay where it is.  Eventually, it will be moved to a more convenient place as it sort of blocks the gateway.  Having useful and beautiful plants is what gardening is all about and to have another night-bloomer is an added plus.  

Why I Like A Weedy Garden!

  During the spring, I pretty much keep the garden weed-free. I get a bit overzealous and want everything neat and tidy.  Nary a weed grows in the tomatoes...for a while, at least.  Then I get a bit lackadaisical and pretty soon, hunting for tomatoes is exciting!  It is like a hiking through a rain forest with plants towering overhead, vines wrapping around the ankles and...well, you get the idea.  It is pretty bad. Then about midsummer, I do away with most everything and start over again.  The gardens are cleared and it looks nice for a bit.

  Fall, however, sees a whole new bunch of weeds popping up everywhere.  Goldenrod shoots up six feet high, Ageratum mound over in thick clumps, Blackeyed Susan Daisies sway with the breeze and Oxeye Daisies fill in wherever there is space.  The garden never looks prettier than with all of these wildflowers that others call weeds.  At least, I think it is pretty.  Where others see weeds, I see...butterfly magnets!

  Right now, the Monarch Butterflies are starting their migration through the area.  They need a place to stop for a few moments to gather nourishment to continue their flight.  My weedy garden offers a variety of delectable treats for the butterflies, moths, honeybees, bumblebees and any other pollen seeking critters.  The beauty is not only in the blossoms but what is attracted.  Yep, I love my weedy garden!

Gardens of Yellow

 One of my favorite things about fall is the wildflowers that dot the hillside and marshes.  It breaks my heart to cut grass during this time of year simply because so many pretty flowers sprout up and bloom where I need to mow.  I have become fully tempted to strew seeds over the entire yard and call it a wildflower garden!  Life would be easier as I would not have to push the lawnmower for several months!  

  I have a bad habit of letting the gardens go to ruin during the late summer so by fall, things are a bit overgrown.  Last year, three goldenrod plants grew in the chive garden so this year, there are goldenrod plants everywhere!  While I think they are beautiful and wish for more, others do not see the allure. When explaining my love, I list three things.  First, bees love them!  The blooms are literally covered with honeybees and bumblebees!  Second, they add a bit of "fall" color to the drab gardens.  Yes, this is color that towers over my head but it is color, just the same.  Third, if I call them wildflowers, I do not have to explain why I have not weeded the gardens! (See, there is some method to my madness!)

  Goldenrod is one of those plants that has gotten a bad rap simply because another plant looks similar.  Ragweed is the actual culprit that causes so many allergies.  It is highly rare that goldenrod causes the watery eyes and sneezing attacks.  Ragweed is the one to blame for that, my friends.  

  This morning, the goldenrod swayed gently in the north breeze.  It was simply lovely and the garden was abuzz with bees and other pollen-seeking insects.  Then came the rains and my gardens received some much needed water but the goldenrod was sagging,  The blooms were heavy with water causing the stalks to bend close to the ground.  It appears that I probably should clear the gardens now.  I am glad I was able to enjoy the colors when I had the chance.


                                                                                                                   

Momie and the Wood sorrel

  This time of year, the tiny purple blooms of the oxalis or wood sorrels brighten every nook and cranny of the Bayou.   At one time, there were a very few of the plants growing here and those were weak, thin plants. Since the plants were pretty,  I babied those until they became healthy, strong plants.  Each year, the plants were covered with blooms which made me smile.  At the time, I had no idea that the plant was edible.  I just liked the looks of it and loved the fact that it was one of the first plants to bloom in the spring and continued to bloom throughout the summer.  It fast became one of my "domesticated" wildflowers and whenever I found it in the gardens, I let it grow.  Others deem it as a weed but, here, weeds can sometimes be welcome.

  This morning while I was out doing some trimming, I was careful to leave the larger patches of wood sorrel.  One thing that I discovered about using the weed-eater, is that it is a mindless job.  As long as you keep the thumb on the trigger and feet clear of the twine, things go relatively well.  Since it does not take a lot of brain power, my mind takes the opportunity to wander a bit.  This morning's brain ambling took me back to Mark's grandmother's place.  This dear lady took me as one of her own and shared a good many things with me.  We had a lot in common. One funny little thing was that we both loved the wood sorrels.  On either side of her door, she had a large concrete urn.  These urns were filled with the oxalis plants and she babied them as I did the wild ones.  The wood sorrel was her pride and joy.  Only Momie (the family's name for her) could get away with having "weeds" in her garden boxes.  No one dared say anything about it as she could and would take them down off their high horses right quick.  In other words, "Don't mess with our wood sorrel!"

  Now every time I see the first blooms of the season, I think of this dear lady and our friendship.  We remained close until her death years ago.  The fact that a memory can be triggered by the sight of a tiny wildflower just means to me that she is still with me and always will be.  Kindred spirits...so to speak.

Mystery of the Missing Butterflies

  Several times in the past few weeks, I have made mention of the weeds/wildflowers that I allow to pretty much take over the gardens.  Fall sees these plants put on their finest attire which gives the gardens a lovely splash of color.  Fall, also, sees the migration of butterflies that come to visit these very flowers....usually.

  As I was out with the old dog this afternoon, I made a very sad observation.  Although, the wildflowers are in full bloom, nary a monarch was sipping nectar.  The wild ageratum are usually the desired bloom for the orange butterflies.  These and the milkweeds seem to attract more monarchs than any other blooms in the gardens.  Today, however, I found only a few small fritillary butterflies and nothing else.  

  Are the monarchs simply running late this year or did they take an alternate route through the area?  I have no idea other than to say that none of my neighbors have seen the mass migration of previous years.  This, indeed, makes me sad. 

Weed...Wildflower...Weed...Wildflower...Whatever

  To some folks, every plant that that they did not specifically choose for the garden is a weed.  I guess I am just a tad different.  Sure, Cogon Grass does not belong in my tomato patch and morning glories will choke the life out of the zinnias but a wildflower now and again won't ruin the garden.  It all goes back to a childhood chore back on the farm. Weeding was one of my least favorite jobs to do.  In fact, I think it was one of the most distasteful chores ever!  Pop kept the fields immaculate. Nary a weed was to be found.  Most of the time, he tended the rows himself.  This was a huge task as he planted acres upon acres but, every morning hoe in hand, he would walk the fields and chop out each weed.  All was clean except for one row of onions...always the onions. Let one of his kids misbehave and it was his or her job to head to the field and weed that row of onions....always the onions!  (It is amazing that I love onions to this day because I did a LOT of weeding.)  Weeding was not terrible other than the rows seemed to be miles long and the gnats attacked in hoards and that usually it was a punishment.  So, a weed, now and again, in my garden is not deemed despicable.

  All of the talk of weeding and chores brings me to the lovely "wildflower" found blooming in the middle of the carrots. Actually, there were three plants and each were allowed to remain growing where they were.  I sort of like them as they add a certain whimsy to the garden.  I admit to planting flowers in with the veggies so a wildflower sort of blends right in with the others.  This wildflower/weed (depending on who is identifying the plant) is none other than fleabane.  There are several different types of fleabane and I think all of them grow right here on the Bayou.  Not that I am complaining since I think they are all gorgeous.  

  So...wildflower?  Weed?  Pull it?  Keep it?  Yep, it will stay.  Pop is probably shaking his head right now and thinking "Where did I go wrong with this one?  She needs to weed those carrots."  

Garden in the Wild

  Down behind the shed in the far corner of the property...right near the marsh edge, there is one spot that I leave growing to wild abandon.  It is here that there are a number of wildflowers that seem to spring up with each season.  Some, like the violets, bloom in early spring and are close to the ground.  Others like daisies and wild phlox tower on lanky stems and blow around with the Bay breezes.  Then, there are the skullcaps. This plant has a great tendency to lean to one side and wind up mostly on the ground.  Perhaps if I fertilized it, the plant would grow a sturdier stem and stand erect but, since this "garden" is one of wildflowers that seed themselves, I do little other than enjoy it.  

  The skullcaps are blooming now and have been for the past two months.  Their purple blossoms do not stand up well to the noonday heat.  It causes them to drop before their maturity.  Hopefully, enough blooms matured to seed stage early in spring so that the plant can reseed for next year.  Each bloom is a velvety soft purple cap that contrasts nicely with the green stalks and leaves.  It blends well with the Stokes' Asters that can often be found blooming next to it along the creek beds.  It seems that both plants love having soggy roots!

  Although skullcap is used as a medicinal herb, I have yet to try any. Supposedly, it can be used as a pain reliever, nervine and sleeping aid.  I am not sure just which of the many types of Scutellaria this is.  Some day, I might just get the urge to try a bit as a tisane....maybe.  When I am not positive of an identification, I am a bit leery.  Sipping a cup of tea made from just any plant is not the brightest idea.  I shall wait until a sure identity is made before drinking a cup but is sure is fun to know that there are so many different plants out that that offer possibilities!