I'm pretty sure that is a BundleFlower ... Or BundleFlower seed pods. (:
Desmanthus.

Here is a link that might be useful: DesmanthusBundleFlower-Description and Photos

This post was edited by Soleil.Blume.Hooke on Tue, Aug 6, 13 at 14:33

That looks like the same seedpod set up! How cute little white puffs! I wonder if it's terribly invasive...

at the link ....this is how you do it .. add 'invasive' to the suggested latin name ... but note on the link above.. that there are a multitude of species ...

you probably need to insure the species...

however.. based on your pic.. and what looks like a not very well tended garden [though i could be wrong] ... perhaps the fact that it popped up out of nowhere.. would indicate to me... that it is invading that bed .... and if next year.. grass starts disappearing.. and 50 more of these show up.. you have your answer ....

in my garden.. i would not wait to find out how many seed sprouted.. as i did not plant it.. it would be pulled as a weed ... before seed dispersal time ...

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: link

Oh, no, It's growing by the railroad tracks by my work place. They just sort of let it do whatever, I've found wild-potato vines and trumpet vines, and now these suckers.

It looks like it's a native prairie flower according to the conservation department, but it doesn't say how invasive it is.