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| Okay, another crazy newbie question. Is this at all possible?...
I've been gardening for 5 years now, and have finally figured some things out, but this is only my second season (first spring) with flower gardening, and this one left me scratching my head. Last year, I planted two 'Goblin' Blanket Flowers in a bed with other perennial flowers. The flowers are red and yellow and somewhat daisy-like (see link.) They thrived and I expected them to return this year. Since this is only the first spring after planting this bed of flowers, I am not sure how each plant will appear as it emerges, so it's taking me awhile to recognize which plants have returned, what are "volunteer" seedlings and what are just weeds. But, what I saw in the place of these plants is strange and seemingly impossible. In the EXACT spot of each blanket flower plant, I had a lot of foliage coming up. Not remembering what the blanket flower foliage looked like, I thought great, these plants have survived! I didn't look at them for a few days, and realized that what I had were dandelions. They are DEFINITELY, without a doubt, dandelions, and as I said, in the exact spot where I planted the blanket flowers last year. Each is a distinct and well-formed plant, and there is no other foliage mixed in with the dandelion foliage. There are also no other dandelions in this flower bed, or the rest of our large yard. My husband was adamant about my pulling these plants before they go to seed, so I yanked them up today. This only confirmed to me that they are in the same spots as the old plants, and there was no sign of the other plant emerging. Is this just some coincidence? Again, there are no other dandelions anywhere. What are the chances that seeds would float into our yard and land and germinate where these other plants were, and nowhere else? Is there some genetic connection between these two flowers, of which I am unaware? |
Here is a link that might be useful: Goblin Blanket Flowers
Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by nevermore44 (My Page) on Mon, Apr 23, 12 at 18:05
| No connection. Gaillardia can rot fairly easy if you had a wet winter... so it's not a huge surprise when they don't make it through a season. Many times, they will seed down though, so you can get a continual bed from one year to the next if you don't weed out the seedlings. I assume plants act as a catch for weed seeds in the air. So this is most likely what happened. I too get dandelions growing at the crown of my perennials. |
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| Sounds like what nevermore said, the dandelions were growing near the base of the gaillardia. So when the gaillardia died over the winter (which happens, they don't like winter wet), the dandelions took over, looking like the gaillardia transformed into a dandelion. I really hate it when weeds do that. I have to dig up the entire plant and pull out the weed before it takes over the plant and then the plant is stressed when it's replanted. Karen |
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- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Mon, Apr 23, 12 at 19:36
| my children.. liked to pick the dandy-lions.. and then walk to my favorite plants.. and while enjoying my faves .. blow the seeds into it.. idiots ken |
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| It has always been one of my complaints, and yes I know I have many, that weeds often choose to grow right at the base of my favorite plants. I don't know how many times I have taken out a plant trying to get rid of a weed. You have some contrary children, Ken :) Gave me a good laugh - til I noticed you used past tense. I assume they are still around, just older now? Gulp! :) |
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