The exposed soil under our side porch desperately needed something that wasn’t the worst sorts of weeds that were using the spot as a home base from which to launch their latest attack on the rest of the property.
More often in the shade than not, there was one thing I figured I could put there that would do well, but I found myself going through hoops to justify it.
As you can see from the image, I was right about the “do well” part. I transplanted these two starting to flower last fall, and as you can see there’s already a new member of the family to the left. Hopefully as they spread within the confines of that area, they will at the very least keep out the dreaded Lady’s Thumb I’ve been yanking out of there year after year.
There are patches of this flower in some spots you wouldn’t expect around here as well as in neighbor’s gardens. Some, unfortunately, live on the street edge of undeveloped wooded areas. It’s only unfortunate because they are not native and can be aggressive towards other under story plants–not quite a thug, but still persistent in trying to claim territory.
So in a weird way, I felt a bit less guilt digging them up to put them in a contained spot of their own in my garden. Ridiculous rationalizing, that it’s better for me to move them to somewhere I can keep an eye on them so they don’t overtake what’s natural around here. Yet this spot is surrounded by the foundation of the house and the driveway, and even if they dig deeply to spread beyond those borders, I can cull them as needed. Still not ideal, yet this is my one true folly in the garden–so be it.
The reason why I am indulging in this folly is because it’s the flower my maternal grandmother grew all around her Virgin Mary statue in her garden. So it’s a really nice memory jog too when I see them, as I still miss her. I should dig up a picture I have of my Nana in her garden, and scan it someday to share. Time will tell.
