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An expanse of purple attracted my attention to the lower field recently.
While I’d taken some photographs from a distance, I was persuaded that I should go for a closer look.
On the way down, ox-eye daisies.
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As far as I can remember, I am not sensitive to goldenrod which is just as well, since we have fields full of it coming into bloom.
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Spotted knapweed, another of our invaders.
It’s purple and pretty but this wasn’t what I was looking for.
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It’s not far to the bottom field, but it is a little precarious because the ground is rough and full of tangled grasses and weeds as well as chipmunk and groundhog holes.
So I was paying attention to my feet, which is how I noticed these tiny flowers.
Deptford pinks.
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Normally I avoid walking in the long grass because of ticks.
Grant had cleared a path, but the flowers I wanted to see were some way beyond, surrounded by thick grass more than 5 feet tall.
Following a deer track, I plunged in, banishing memories of tick fever.
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The flowers have mostly turned to seed but the pods are purple, no doubt why the colour prevails.
The flowers are not dissimilar to knapweed and belong in the same family but these are very much taller.
Field thistles.
Though I did not attempt to walk among them, I didn’t see any thorns which I associate with thistles.
In my previous garden I had some grand thistles but they were vicious!
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What with the heat and my concern about ticks, I didn’t loiter.
Pausing briefly to check on the maple tree we transplanted two years ago, I made my way back up the slope.
The maple had looked sad last Fall, but it seems to have got a new lease on life so I tapped its trunk fondly:
“Good job!” I said.
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Before winter, we’ll need to transplant the hazelnut tree.
Four years ago I acquired it from Arbor Day in exchange for a small donation.
It came through the mail with two or three others and they were barely more than sad little sticks, so we didn’t expect much.
This one battled on after the others didn’t make it.
Then last summer it was devoured by Japanese beetles, but since Spring it has more than doubled in size.
So it deserves a decent plot.
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Plodding back up to the house, I came upon pretty viper’s bugloss.
Otherwise known simply as blueweed.
It too is invasive!
Perhaps I’ll invite it to invade the flowerbeds.
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This morning had another surprise to offer. On my way to the groundhog hole, I gasped:
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Deer have always chewed on the roses of Sharon but they came though Spring intact and lately I’d noticed buds. However, I wasn’t expecting blooms just yet.
As you can see, there are lots of buds.
Ants may be this year’s challenge!
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There are four other bushes that look equally promising. I stopped to give them each my congratulations and offer encouragement.
My words may be meaningless but I believe plants feel vibrations from us.
Anyway, it feels right.
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And finally, this dainty little flower.
White campion.
Another new arrival.
I love your garden magic post, Carolyn! All in your garden is beautiful and happy! Well done!
Joanna
What a wonderful selection of plants, whether they be invaders or not!
The black cloud in the top photo looks very ominous! Glad to see the little tree survived.
Best wishes, Pete.
Lovely daisies! It’s one of my favourite wild flowers – usually the first to show their pretty little faces at the beginning of our Spring. Your field thistles are beautiful … actually, I really enjoyed the stroll through your (big) garden, everything is beautiful and colourful. I think you are doing quite well with how your garden turned out!
I’m amazed that you know all the names of these lovely flowers.
I’ve never heard of half of them like the ox-eye daisy, or the pretty viper’s bugloss – is it really a weed?
Are your ticks deadly like our Australian ones?
I look plants up on PlantNet.com. So many of those pretty ones are “weeds” and many classed as invasive. Two years ago I was hospitalised by a tick but I was lucky that antibiotics took care of it. You can get Lyme disease which is not good. I try to avoid them!
Ah, I’ll have to do the same, thanks for the tip.
We have loads of invasive weeds, plants, insects, and animals in Oz. Once they’re in, you just can’t get rid of them…
Oh no, that’s pretty awful!
I’ve heard that a tick bite in the UK can transmit Lyme disease but didn’t realise it’s same in the US.