You just have to love little wildflowers like Touch me nots. These are native wildflowers growing throughout most of the North American continent according to this USDA website noting its range. I find them easy to grow in my garden. A bit of shade, a bit of moisture and protection-and it is a sure bet these hummingbird magnets will make an appearance about this time each year. They cover a 20' x 6' foot area mixed in with some shrubs in my garden. All these seedlings are a delightful sight! Two years ago when we had the late freeze I lost most of the seedlings growing at that time, but a few near the bowling balls and under the picket fence survived and have been able to carry on the fun in my garden.When out walking in the woods you come upon some seedlings that look like the ones above it is very likely they are touch me nots. They are quite easy to transplant in this state into your garden for your very own touch me not garden.
Once summer is upon us, these tiny seedlings will quickly reach 3-4 feet in height and will cover themselves with orange flowers. Then the fun part starts. The touch me nots bloom until the first frost and as the flowers go by, they turn in to seedpods. The seedpods explode when ripe with the slightest touch-hence-touch me not or you get a surprise!
You all have a great weekend.
in the garden....
the touch me nots sound like very interesting plants, I am not sure if I've ever seen them before, can you get some pictures of them when they are blooming? I'd love to see them.
ReplyDeleteThese are so coll! I'll have to check and see if they grow up here.
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice little flower. I had never heard of it before. Had to look at your link, then Google. We must have it around here, I will have to ask around. Thanks for an interesting post.
ReplyDeleteGood morning all! Some friends are taking me nursery shopping at the nursery capital of Tennessee today so I'll be out of the net. Look for a post later. Anyone know the nursery capitol of Tennnessee? Folks in the area will say it is the nursery capitol of the US.
ReplyDeleteVicki, Check out my link in the post to last summer's post. I show some pictures of the flower and pod. These grow in your area as they are everywhere in the woods. Usually along the edges.
Dawn, They surely grow up there! I remember them as a kid and mom has some near her house in the woods. You have them too. Look around for sure.
Janet, These are so fun! I believe only hummingbirds pollinate them and in a unique way as to the way the stamen and pistil are set up. They are surely near you with all that water. They grow near poison ivy and are also near water as they are moisture lovers.
You all have a great day!
That sounds so fun--I need to look for some seeds. (Do they live in Texas heat I wonder?) I am always looking for something to put in that shade area!
ReplyDeleteHave a good weekend Tina. It's going to get cold here--close to freezing! Brrrr!
Tina .. what perfect little plants with that very round shape .. if you have a picture of the flower that would be great to see ! .. and I'm curious to know what zone they are in .. I'm nosy ? LOL
ReplyDeleteWe don't get these--it is too dry here--but I've always wanted to see them just for their old-fashioned sounding name!
ReplyDeleteExploding seeds sound fun! Garden fireworks! Except without the fire and the work.
ReplyDeleteI do know that a whole lot of plants sold in my area come from Tennessee but I don't know the town. Have fun and take pictures;)
ReplyDeleteMarnie
Explosive seed dispersal is fun! Witch hazel seed pods do this too. Happy Friday!
ReplyDeleteYippee!! I planted some this spring for the first time and they are up....the packet shows blue in color?
ReplyDeleteTina, I don't think I've seen these growing wild in our area, but then maybe I haven't looked closely enough. What fun for the grands to be able to set off the seed 'explosion'!
ReplyDeleteThese are the neatest little things to have pop in your hands! Tina got the Saint and I both with the little firecracker pods. lol
ReplyDeleteHave fun plant hunting....
Good to know. I always thought they hurt you! Like a stinging nettle or something. Now i know. thanks!
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of them. I looked at your link and the flowers are very pretty. If they attract hummingbirds even better. I'm going to look them up to see if they grow here. Thanks for teaching me something new!
ReplyDeleteHave a great day plant hunting. Just don't buy it unless you have a spot for it. Had to say that after our phone conversation yesterday. LOL
ReplyDeleteWhat a cute name too! I bet they are really pretty when they are blooming. I planted wild flower seed and nothing came up! )-: I don't know what happened. I think all that is growing is violets. Everywhere I look I see them! LOL Oh well. Maybe they are just not ready to pop up yet or maybe the see was no good. I will try next year again!
ReplyDeleteI'm looking for some ideas for fun flowers to plant in our school garden - these would be great! Also a terrific way to teach kids about how plants re-seed themselves. I will keep a lookout.
ReplyDeleteLooks like rain drops. Of course rain is on my mind. And falling and falling...
ReplyDeleteBrenda
Okay, so I'm not really with it right now, I planted Forget Me Nots.
ReplyDeleteI'm not familiar with this wildflower, but it sounds interesting. Look forward to seeing their blooms later on.
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard of them either Tina so I clicked your link back also. Very pretty. I can see why the Hummingbirds would love those trumpet shaped flowers. All the better they self sow! Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteWe have touch-me-nots growing wild on our farm. I always like to see them in late summer. The leaves of young plants look just like those of cultivated bedding-type Impatiens.
ReplyDeleteI clicked on the link...lovely colours too! An interesting plant to have in a garden.
ReplyDeleteWhat little jewels they are! I've never seen them around here, or if I have I didn't know what they were. Do you have to wear protective glasses?
ReplyDeleteHi Tina,
ReplyDeleteLate today as was in the garden working on my Flag Pole Garden. Still not done but each time I get out there it's a little farther along. Then it started to rain.
I've seen this lovely little flower. I love the way it pops.
I just got some freebie seeds & one is the Forget-me-nots. I also got some Tigradia,{bulbs} Mexican Shell Flower. Do you have any of those? They look pretty.
Hope you had a great "nursery" day.
I love these wildflowers but some summers it's too dry here for them to be happy. Don't forget to put the Wildflower Fair at Cheekwood on your schedule! gail
ReplyDeleteI was trying to remember where I've heard of these plants before, and then I realized you posted about them last summer or fall when the seedpods formed, didn't you? I've never actually seen them growing anywhere, though; what fun plants!
ReplyDeleteThose are so pretty! We have something similar here in Fl. that the islanders call "Jump up and kiss me." I started a few this year, they sort of remind me of impatients in the way they go to seed. Mine are pink, fuschia and white, I'd love to have orange ones.
ReplyDeleteHi all, back from my busy day of shopping in McMinnville with my friends. Mom, only bought one thing I have no idea where it should go:( Everyone who asked if the touch me nots will grow in your zone-YES! All thru Canada and then some. Not in Alaska, Hawaii and a few other southwestern states but mostly everywhere. They are impatiens-a wild kind of course. You all have a great night!
ReplyDeleteWe always called them jewelweeds and they grew all over in the swampy part down by the lake where I grew up in the country. They probably don't do as well in dry shade.
ReplyDeleteseems like a remember a post from last year about these very cool flowers bursting forth with there seeds. very fun.
ReplyDeleteThey sound fun plants. The orange one seems to have naturalised over here - unfortunately the humming birds haven't (lol)
ReplyDeleteI'm not familiar with touch me nots, but they sound like fun. I had something similiar years ago, but I can't remember what plant they were. I had them drying in the kitchen, and the next thing I know they were flying across the room! Maybe it was thunbergia? Nasturiums? I can't recall!
ReplyDeleteThis is a wonderful photo of the pot and seedlings. I always learn so much when I stop by this blog.
ReplyDeleteHappy Spring - can't wait to stop back to your garden thoughts soon!
I remember this plant from my school days. It was fun to see its leaves closing. How great to have a garden full of fluffy flowers! Good luck transplanting them all.
ReplyDeleteAnother cool plant is the TickleMe Plant it is not explosive like the touch me not but you can tickle its leaveas and watch the leaves close and the branches droop over and over again...My students and family love them
ReplyDeleteCheck out the video at http://www.ticklemeplant.com