How did it get there?

Discussion in 'Identification Area' started by Trunky, May 10, 2011.

  1. Trunky

    Trunky ...who nose about gardening

    Joined:
    Apr 23, 2011
    Messages:
    2,926
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Professional Gardener (retired)
    Location:
    East Suffolk
    Ratings:
    +10,741
    Now here's a bit of a mystery.
    A couple of days ago while admiring my herbaceous border, I was stopped in my tracks by a bright yellow flower which I'd never seen before.
    After some investigation, I've identified it as Iris xiphium 'Lusitanica', one of the bulb Irises. Very pretty it is too and apparently well suited to the conditions (dry, sandy, sunny).
    Thing is, how on earth did it get there?
    I certainly didn't plant it, I would have noticed it had it been there in previous years (which it wasn't), so where did it come from?
    A couple of possible explanations; Squirrels frequently dig holes and bury things in my garden during Autumn and Winter, (springtime usually brings a good crop of Hazel and Walnut seedlings brought in from neighbours' gardens), so could it have been dug up and replanted in my garden by a Squirrel?
    Or could it have grown from seed? Do bulb Irises even produce seeds?
    Must admit I'm baffled by this one. :scratch:
    Anyone out there have any other ideas?
    Also, I'd quite like to keep it going and have a few more, so what's the best way to propagate some more and increase my stock?
     
  2. JWK

    JWK Gardener Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jun 3, 2008
    Messages:
    34,100
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Surrey
    Ratings:
    +54,190
    Likely suspects in no particular order:
    Guerilla gardeners
    Aliens
    African swallows working in pairs
    You (and you forgot)
    Your OH (and they didn't tell you or forgot)
    Your gardener (if you are posh)
    Someone playing a late April fools joke on you
    :heehee:
     
  3. clueless1

    clueless1 member... yep, that's what I am:)

    Joined:
    Jan 8, 2008
    Messages:
    17,778
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Here
    Ratings:
    +19,601
    How strange. My mate has been doing his garden lately, after taking an interest for the first time ever. A few days ago he was whinging about his lack of plants. Then the next door I called round and spotted a lovely flowering plant, it looked quite mature. I asked where he'd got it from because I know for a fact it wasn't there a couple of days beforehand. He looked and was shocked. He hadn't put it there, and there's no way it had had time to grow from seed to 2 ft tall with flowers in a couple of days.
     
  4. Sheal

    Sheal Total Gardener

    Joined:
    Feb 2, 2011
    Messages:
    37,177
    Gender:
    Female
    Location:
    Dingwall, Ross-shire
    Ratings:
    +58,362
    It's Mr. Nobody interfering again! :heehee:
     
  5. ARMANDII

    ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jan 12, 2019
    Messages:
    48,096
    Gender:
    Male
    Ratings:
    +100,851
    I'll vote for the aliens planting it, John.:heehee:
     
  6. Trunky

    Trunky ...who nose about gardening

    Joined:
    Apr 23, 2011
    Messages:
    2,926
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Professional Gardener (retired)
    Location:
    East Suffolk
    Ratings:
    +10,741
    :) Nice One JWK.
    Ah, well whatever the explanation, it's one of the joys of gardening isn't it, when nature throws in these little surprises every now and then.
     
    • Like Like x 1
    Loading...

    Share This Page

    1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
      By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
      Dismiss Notice