Monday, April 12, 2010

Living Color






One of the lovely things about Spring is that there are all sorts of lovely things growing up around my house that I didn't even have to plant. These little purple things are a volunteer tulip-type thing that actually just grew up right out of the lawn, although I'm not sure how you get an accidental bulb flower. But lovely, regardless.

Also purple in the backyard right now are violets. They are EVERYWHERE, literally a weed. I've actually had to dig them out of the plots I want to garden because I know they will crowd out any plants I put in there. Growing up in Tucson, we had a scraggly violet patch that, against all odds, came back year after year with its cheerful little purple blossoms. I love having it back here, and welcome it as a weed to fill in the cracks in the sidewalk!

The next two pictures I consider a study in urban botany. I think the chain link sets off the flowers pretty dramatically! Walking around the neighborhood lately, I've decided that my favorite flowers are daffodils, so I was thrilled last year when these popped up in the spring and flowered! They came back this year, and I am glad they did. Also, obviously, there are some tulips back there too. I really love the color on these ones. I'm not sure who planted these guys, there's only one of each plant, and they're back by the alley, where not many people, aside from myself, can enjoy them. I dunno, whatevs. :) I'm happy about the situation.

Whenever I see tulips, daffodils, and the like, I have to restrain myself from telling the nearest hapless individual about monocots, and how they differ from dicots. (See, it's an issue of numbers of petals and stamens. And leaves. But enough of that.) I don't know why that stuff stuck with me so clearly from grade school, through high school, and into college and beyond. That and categorizing leaves based on shape. What a nerd, sheesh...

I will post more on my own plants soon, but these lovelies have been a part of my joy for the past week, so I thought I'd share :).

1 comment:

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