Touch Me Nots in the Morning In Tiger Gardens

From In the Garden

Touch me nots are a most favored plant of mine in my garden. It is one plant I will not garden without and that is probably pretty funny because many gardeners might say it is a plant they would never grow in their garden. Touch me nots also happen to be a native wildflower so I am knocking out two birds with one stone this Wednesday-highlighting a favorite wildflower and sharing in Wildflower Wednesday, a creation of Gail at Clay and Limestone.

I have been growing touch me nots (Impatiens capensis) in my garden since 2003. Some years are much better than others but still the touch me nots grow and come back each year. They require only a semi shady moist spot in my garden-and room to spread. You see, the reason for the common name of Touch me not is because when you touch a seedpod it explodes-quite unexpectedly too. Those exploding seed capsules can spread seed far and wide and the location can increase exponentially in good years. This year has been a so so year. Not only have we had a drought but I have a very feisty dog who trampled most of my stand of the plants. A few plants that survived the trampling are growing through a four foot tall chain link fence and are doing well. They and their seeds will ensure I have some plants for next year.

Touch me nots are hummingbird magnets and make a bright and cheery show that dazzles in the morning light. I did not even notice the dew drops on these touch me nots when I snapped the photo....

in the garden....

Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team,

In the Garden

A Sea of Touch Me Nots

It might not be a villa on the French Riviera, but by golly, this villa has a sea surrounding it. A sea of green touch me nots.
Set against a backdrop of more green.

It is a haven for birds of all types. Once the touch me nots begin blooming, the hummingbirds will be so thick you cannot imagine the sight.

The touch me nots create a micro-climate where no weed dare tread. It is cool and moist and cozy in this thicket, yet no burrs, no ticks, and no pesky weeds. A gardener's haven for sure.

The Rose of Sharons will begin blooming about the same time as the touch me nots. There are also crepe myrtles mixed in the bunch, all backed by a hedge of 8 feet tall arborvitae. On the other side of arborvitae are red barberries and the chain link fence. This garden is my 'Picket Garden' and one of my most unique. I've never seen another garden with touch me nots and I am not sure why. Even though they are prolific seeders, they are easy to pull-but why would you? Plant them in a boggy area or rain garden and they will filter all run off while providing an excellent bird habitat and will also keep the weeds down.

in the garden....a sea of green touch me nots.

Touch Me Not Seedlings

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....

Touch Me Not!

What is the funnest plant in your garden??? What is the one plant that makes everyone laugh and happy? Well in my garden it is the Touch me nots. Sure I have pineapple sage (smells like pineapples), lemon verbena (strong lemon smell), agastache (licorice smell), lambs ears (soft fuzzy touch) and a few other plants I consider fun for children and adults like, but none can compare to the touch me nots.

Touch me nots are also known as Jewelweed. Their botanical name is Impatiens capensis. They grow to about 3-4 feet tall in my garden and are well branched. There is a new variety out as published in a spring issue of Fine Gardening. I ordered these blue touch me nots from Cistus Nursery in Portland Oregon. The plants weren't too awful expensive but the shipping was more than the cost of two plants I purchased! It was well worth it because just look at that blue. These have been blooming since June. The orange touch me nots since August. So what makes these plants fun? Just ask my friend Judie, or Mike, or Aleesa and Vonna, or my neighbor's children as they all found out in person what is fun about these plants. The seedpods are little bombs just ready to explode with the slightest touch. I always like to surprise people and say here, look get yourself some seeds. Of course the seedpod explodes and they jump and are shocked thinking they did something wrong. They broke it! Such a fun plant for me and them! Of course the mini explosion feels a bit funny to the unfamiliar. These plants are lots of fun. As a kid in Maine we kids would find touch me nots in the woods and endeavor to pop all the seedpods we could find.
I have quite a stand of touch me nots. The gardening year of 2007 did set them way back, but they are still here. If I walk through my stand of these lovely wildflowers the seedpods pop like crazy and I can hear the seeds falling and exploding all around me. Quite a neat thing. The seedpod is pictured above with ripe seeds below. The last picture is even better at showing just how the seedpod breaks apart. It is literally spring loaded and those seeds can fly a good 5 feet I am guessing. The seedpod automatically drops from the plant once it is exploded.

I have heard that only hummingbirds can pollinate these wildflowers due to the set up of the pistil and stamen in the cone shaped flower. I can't find research on this, but take my word for it when I say the hummingbirds are thick and heavy in this garden. The sap of the jewelweed can also be used as an antidote to poison ivy. Good thing since both of these plants grow in the same area. A lifesaver for kayakers and rock climbers like my two daughters. You need only break the stems and rub the sap on the affected area of skin by the urushiol oil from the poison ivy.

These plants are normally woodland plants. As such they need part shade and moist, organic soil. I have mine situated in a low area amongst a hedge of arborvitae. One year you could just see the tips of the arborvitae and NO weeds grew in the garden due to the micro-climate the jewelweed produces when it grows happily. They return from seeds every year in the same spot-though spreading a bit they are easily contained.

So, now that you know the funnest, neatest plant in my garden (at least for now)-a spring loaded touch me not, what is your funnest plant? The one plant your visitors most enjoy having fun with?

in the garden....