Tuesday, April 28, 2015

A Violet Hillside

From a near distance, I was planting trees and shrubberies at the house next door, I saw a regularly mowed hillside liberally sprinkled in purple. Had someone's creeping phlox escaped?





















The small individual clumps of color didn't seem right for phlox. It blooms in thick sheets. I crept closer to see what it was. That's not phlox.





















Holy Crap! This hillside is covered with hundreds of blooming Bird's Foot Violet, Viola pedata. I have one. It is blooming very well and looking good. This hillside is covered with hundreds and it caught my eye from a near distance away. I have one.

Obviously it has the ability to spread and become more than one. I need to have a little talk with my Bird's Foot Violet.





















I saw something else interesting while I was inspecting the violet hillside and I have no idea what it is. It has tall flower stalks, but nothing was open yet.



























It was the foliage that was most interesting. Quite bold. I wonder what it is?





















Would you believe that I saw a hillside covered with hundreds of wonderful wild flowers and other interesting plants and not a one of them followed me home? Hard to believe, I know.

My plant lust had already been satiated earlier in the day. I bought three Picea pungens 'Globosa' for the winter under garden made of a low mounding tapestry of evergreen texture and color on the slope below the cozy cabin. I already had something to plant when I got home.

But I know where there is a hillside covered with Bird's Foot Violets and another interesting plant. Things could change the next time I'm next door.


9 comments:

Dianne said...

I have one birds foot violet and I think we discussed it last year. I am afraid to transplant it. It is in a dangerous location, but I am so worried about moving it.

Christopher C. NC said...

Dianne I moved mine from where it was first planted in the shade when I read they like sun and dry soils. It did fine. Wait until its finished blooming and take a much bigger clump of soil than the size of the tiny root system. It should do fine.

Jean Campbell said...

The coloring and growth habit look right for Lyreleaf sage but the leaf isn't lyre shaped -- perhaps you can pursue the Salvia family?

Sallysmom said...

Jean might be on to something.

Christopher C. NC said...

Jean the leaves were indeed reminiscent of sage and the hillside had plenty of it. I think about bringing some of that home too. The flower stalks were not sage like at all. They looked more like they would be in the composite family. If it doesn't get whacked before I go back, I hope it will be in bloom.

Sallysmom I first thought sage too, but the flower stalks are not right for that.

If you right click on the picture and open it in a new window or tab you can expand the picture for a much better look.

Lola said...

That looks a lot like what I have growing wild & has a lavender bloom.

Christopher C. NC said...

Lola the leaf is very distinctly lobed which gives it the Bird's foot name. You should be able to tell if that is what you have. It does like sandy soils and you got that no doubt.

beverly said...

Chris your mystery plant resembles bloody dock, a variant of a weed which seems to be in vogue now. I have never seen the flowers though.l See if you think it's this:
http://www.finegardening.com/bloody-dock-rumex-sanguineus

Christopher C. NC said...

It does look a bit like the Bloody Dock Bev. I have that in a few gardens and am familiar with it. This mystery pant is different. The leaves feel like felt. The dock has an amaranth looking bloom stalk. The mystery plant is more composite family looking so far.