Plant A + R
Whyizzit that no matter how many years we garden, we still walk around in spring asking emerging plants, "And who are you? Are you something we planted?
Unfortunately, the plants do not reply. We're left grasping at clues like these:
1) When there are three of the same thing in a neat triangular grouping, chances are good we put them there.
2) When we see potting soil on the roots as we pull it as a weed, it was probably purposely planted.
Not funny, is it? Too real!
So, we offer the following quiz for those preparing to make their own reacquaintance round
Too busy to look just now? 'Tis the season! You can save this slice of spring's glory for a rainy day. We are each awarded only so many springtimes, so stretch them as far as they'll go.
We've lettered these photos of emerging perennials. How many do you know? Click the "Tell me!" link for the plant names.
Be forewarned: Operating a "Tell me!" link can be like looking in the back of a puzzle book -- you may see the NEXT answer, too.
Plant B: Unforgettable
Tell me what plant B is!
Plant D: Say what you see!
Tell me what plant D is!
Plant E: King of beasts
Tell me what plant E is!
Plant H: Temporarily purple, ephemerally stately.
Tell me what plant H is!
Plant I: Don't know it? Your tabby might.
Tell me what plant I is!
Plant L: Acknowledge wisdom even in saying the name.
Tell me what plant L is!
Plant M: Can't ever be scot free of these prickles.
Tell me what plant M is!
Plant P: Woodland master of three-part harmony.
Tell me what plant P is!
Plant Q: At long fast, Easter!
Tell me what plant Q is!
Plant V: Sounds like it belongs on the spice rack.
Tell me what plant V is!
Plant Y:
Tell me what plant Y is!
Plant AA: Say the color, not to worry
Tell me what plant AA is!
BB: Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana). Boil it, changing the water three times, before you just may be safe eating it as poke salad.
Congratulations, you made it through!
AA: Purple leaf yellow loosestrife (Lysimachia ciliata purpurea).
Zap back up to guess the next one.
Z: Field poppy (Papaver species)
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Y: Bronze fennel (Foeniculum ).
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X: False sweet flag (Pseudacorus calamus)
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W: Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum). Also called mandrake.
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V: Garlic mustard (Alliaria peltata).
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U: Lupine (Lupinus polyphyllus)
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T: Skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus).
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S: Tulip.
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R: Sweet Solomon's seal (Polygonatum odoratum variegatum).
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Q: Lenten rose, hellebore ( Helleborus x orientalis).
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P: Large-flowered trillium (Trillium grandiflorum).
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O: Bearded iris (Iris germanica).
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N: Twinleaf (Jeffersonia diphylla).
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M: Scotch thistle (Onopordum acanthium).
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L: Perennial salvia, meadow sage (Salvia nemerosa).
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K: Dead nettle, purple dead nettle (Lamium purpureum).
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J: Pulmonaria, lungwort, Bethlehem sage (Pulmonaria saccharata).
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I: Catmint ( Nepeta mussinii).
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H: Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica).
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G: Globe thistle (Echinops exaltatus).
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F: Daylily (Hemerocallis hybrid).
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E: Dandelion Taraxacum officinale)
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D: Sea kale (Crambe maritima).
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C: Golden bleeding heart (Corydalis lutea).
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B: Big leaf forget-me-not (Brunnera macrophylla).
Zap back up to guess the next one.
A: Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis).
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Smile! It's spring!
Ajuga 'Burgundy Glow' lives up to its name in spring.