I spotted these ghostly wildflowers during my wanderings in the mountains. They are tiny white parasites. They look like fungi, but are really non-photosynthetic plants. Indian Pipes do not contain chlorophyll, so they must mooch off fungi that mooch off of tree roots. They are waxy white and do look ghostly.
Monotropa uniflora
There were many groups of Monotropa uniflora in the shade under some trees. They grow where the fungus and tree roots grow that supporr them. I am glad I spotted these unusual wildflowers.
Does this sound like a shrub you could love? I have grown two small trees/shrubs of Poncirius trifoliata from seeds. I purloined the fruit from a Chinese bitter orange tree during a trip to Charleston years ago.
It’s the thorns that got me.
I did not covet it for its fruit nor its blooms. It was its thorns that captivated me.
Poncirius trifoliata thorns
Here is a little tree that can take care of itself. No forager is going to steal its fruit!
I know it can be invasive. I know it is a touch-me-not plant. I do not care if it ever blooms or produces fuzzy, little bitter oranges. I would never make marmalade anyway!
Poncirius: A plant not to be petted.Not invasive since no fruit…yet.
I love it because it has unmistakable, impenetrable, unapologetic bounderies. This plant screams DO NOT MESS WITH ME!
This is not a case of altruism. It is an example of my mindlessness…again. Head one place; hand somewhere else.
We moved the Century Plants back to their favorite spots on the wall. They love the heat from underneath.
Two Centurys
I put on gloves to prune off dead leaves. These plants need sun and very little water. The only time I touch them is to trim old leaves and remove pups.
Mama agave and pup
When they stayed inside I clipped off the spikes. They are big enough to leave out, so they may go in the ground this fall. These bloom only once in a lifetime. I hope I live to see the giant flower stalks.
Century plants
I put sticks with balls on the ends to prevent passers-by from running into the mean spikes at the end of each leaf.
I needed one more stick. I took off my gloves to search, but did not put them back on. OUCH! The sap is poisonous.
Red but not swollen.
I think I heard a whisper from one of the agaves. It sounded like ” Touche!”
I may be a weakened and injured warrior, but I still have a fighting heart for my green babies. It is past time for Deer Protection Phase II. That means that fence rings were put around all deer delicacies to protect the emerging foliage, but no stakes were in place to hang the rings.
Three rings ready for bloom stalks to rise.
My family tried to intervene with deer deterants, but the herd is so big now, they were undeterred. When we moved here there were no deer or squirrels and very few people. Things have changed drastically in the past decade.
Any fence or stake is put in the defense.Rings hanging and fences blocking walkways
I have been hiking and hauling up and down the hills for hours. Stakes were placed for Mr. Flower to hammer in, since I should not stomp them in as usual. My body is now too expensive to be used as a gardening tool.
I must admit that I automatically stomped several in before I caught myself. I was pleased to get away with this move without an ambulance ride following. I hope my two PT people, Rick and Jeff, do not read this.
I also use tomato cages and a hanging fence ring. Things start looking a bit messy this time of year, due to my using any old thing on hand to inconvenience our hungry herd.
HEAVY Tomato cage and fence ring
They eat daylily and Asiatic lily buds before they open. They behead all sedums be it new foliage or blooms. This year I was shocked to find an entire Tiger lily topped off. They usually leave the tigers alone.
Beheaded Tiger lilies. Bummer
I am pleased that my hips, knees and shoulder allowed me to work all day. I am sure they will not allow me to sleep tonight as punishment.
I hope all this will save my blooms. I am too old to battle a big herd of hungry deer, but I am not out of the fight yet!
My bank is where the wild things grow. I do not fight the weeds over there. It let plants battle it out on the bank. Only the fittest thrive across the drive.
A weed and some passion
Two of my favorites are this wild purple passion vine we call Maypop. The orange is butterfly weed. I love this combination of color.
Maypop
I watch this bank for butterflies all summer long. It is a well-remembered spot for my flying friends.
Butterflies and deer love it.
I highly recommend a wild spot in your garden. It is a place I enjoy without all the maintenance. I do not fight weeds nor deer over here.
floweralley 