Last Fall, I "stole" some seeds from a neighbor's 4 O'Clock. Started them over the winter indoors. Babied them until they were big enough to plant. Been watering and feeding it just like the rest of the plants. Been noticing little buds and have been patiently waiting for them to open. today, I mulched around it and noticed some flowers. Not a 4 O'clock at all!! There must have been a weed growing amongst it. It's what Hubby calls "chicken weed" or something like that. We have it all over the place and it's a really tough weed! Naturally I yanked it out of the ground and tossed it in the pasture. My brother even made the comment "I was wondering why you were taking such care of that weed."! Well... 2 good things came out of it. #1. I now know that my brother won't even touch or question what I'm doing in my part of the yard. #2. Since I have that perfect good hole and mulch just sitting there... I get to pick out a new plant for that spot!
That's the kind of thing that happens to me when I purloin seeds. Ian was getting at me last year when I babied along what I thought were Toad Lily seeds only to find out that they were actually Toadflax. However I've decided to keep them as their flowers are really quite attractive. I've added them to the part of my garden where I grow wildflowers. Hopefully you'll find some 4 o'clock seeds this year that you can plant.
I am growing four oclocks from seed and have grown them in the past.. They kind of look like beans when they first come up. I put my seedlings in a new spot I hope they like it.. They tend to reseed if their happy..
Eileen... it wouldn't have been so bad if it had been a "good plant"... but babying along a nasty weed all this time?!!? Netty... I'll continued to "rob" seeds... I just have to make sure of what I'm taking from now on! Cindjo.... I've been debating on whether or not to put some 4 o'clocks there or not. I do like them. But this gives me the chance to get anything I want. That's the least I could do for myself after such an embarrassing thing!
What a good lil story, Cheryl. I can chuckle at things like that. Making the best out of a bad situation is an art. Well done, you.
You know, most any gardener will share seeds if asked and there is no need to purloin them. Anyone who wants plants from garden gets some. I always a lot for sharing. I thought the 4 O'clock seeds look a lot like peppercorns.
Nightowl... I did ask if I could have the seeds... "after" the fact! Guess that'll teach me to mind my manners, huh?
Cheryl honey, I have an abundance of seeds I will send you, under the guise of being 4 o'clock seeds! Considering what your flower beds look like, your neighbor ought to have been very proud that you wanted some seed. It's kind of like sending seed to Kew Gardens or the National Arboretum!
I have loved alsorts of weeds, until I realise what they are, then of course I explain that it was an experiment, or I was growing them to use on the compost heap, or feed the guinea pigs. hehehehehehe.
Cheryl, I also have lots of weeds I would be happy to give you... But you could have some real flowers too.
