Roadside Wildflowers - April 29
Bluets & Pussytoes
You might never notice either of these two wildflowers while driving. Unless you catch the white haze on the ground created by large colonies of either you would never know they were there.
Bluets
- Houstonia caerulea
I found this single Bluet just off the road and from there you could see small clusters of these little beauties scattered all over the front yard. Well you could see white spots but if you knew what you were looking at you could tell they were Bluets.
Bluets often form large colonies or several small clumps over a large open areas. Hard grazed rocky cow pastures are often a good place to check out. I see them where competition is sparse and low growing or kept short by mowing or browsing. They prefer dry areas where competition has a hard time getting established.
I take great pride in my Bluets. They are the sign of a truly bad lawn.
Bad Lawn Buddies
Field Pussytoes - Antennaria neglecta
Pussytoes like dry fields as much as Bluets. They spread by runners forming colonies and are often found together in the same fields wth Bluets. Pussytoes seem to prefer the poor very dry soil where little else will grow. But really it’s the lack of competition that allows them to hold on in the worst conditions. Pussytoes like being pampered as much as any garden perennial. Give them a home in a rock garden and they’ll thrive.
What more can I say?
Oh Yea. They’re cute and fuzzy and you can step on them.
April 29th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
Ha. Is there anything better after a long day then to step on a cute, unassuming little plant, and it won’t care? If only love worked like that.
April 29th, 2008 at 11:37 pm
Had to laugh at Benjamin’s comment… if only.
I just love the name… Bluet… sounds so … small and …. blue! What a postively adorable flower and I admire its tenacity.
Meems @ Hoe&Shovel
May 1st, 2008 at 7:36 am
Not sure about you folks, some want to find these innocent, cute flowers to stomp on them and others, well, they just want to find them to adore.
Tell ya what, if I see’em, I’ll walk around and let the competition continue — my money is on the bluets and pussytoes.
Great post!
May 1st, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Can you believe I actually planted pussy toes in my perennial garden years ago because I thought the name was so darn CUTE ? DUH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey .. Mr. Wiseacre .. I just bought another astilbe .. I blame these moments on you when I explain them to my husband .. you can mention me to your wife if need be .. it is a long walk over to Kingston ! LOL
Ok .. enough silly banter .. down to business .. Astilbe ‘Perkeo” .. do ya’ have that one sir ??? LOL
Probably .. but just say so quietly ?
Joy
May 2nd, 2008 at 8:59 am
HI Wiseacre,
I have pussytoes in my garden, but they are a different variety. They have smaller leaves and form a dense mat … quite slow growing. I’ve never stepped on them, but I will when they appear. We’re several weeks away from them blooming.