Stumped by Spring

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

Now or later, enjoy the glory

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 A: At home in the woods

Tell me what plant A is!

Plant B: Unforgettable

Tell me what plant B is!

Plant C: Bully-on in a shade garden

Tell me what plant C 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 F: Rarely just one

Tell me what plant F is!

Plant G: More universal than that prickly weed you're thinking of.

Tell me what plant G 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 J: Named for the human organ it supposedly resembles.

Tell me what plant J is!

Plant K: Poses as a more desirable relative

Tell me what plant K 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 N: Clue's on the two dollar bill.

Tell me what plant N is!

Plant O: Eye it closely... it still doesn't look hairy.

Tell me what plant O 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 R: Important on the wise king's desk.

Tell me what plant R is!

Plant S

Tell me what plant S is!

Plant T: Pee-yoo of the wet woods

Tell me what plant T is!

Plant U: Named for the wolf.

Tell me what Plant U is!

Plant V: Sounds like it belongs on the spice rack.

Tell me what plant V is!

Plant W: Folded umbrella

Tell me what plant W is!

Plant X: A not true, not sour pennant

Tell me what plant X is!

Plant Y:

Tell me what plant Y is!

Plant Z: If they'd bloom for more than a day we'd love 'em.

Tell me what plant Z is!

Plant AA: Say the color, not to worry

Tell me what plant AA is!

Plant BB: ...Annie, gator's got your granny.

Tell me what plant BB 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)
          Zap back up to guess the next one.

 

Y: Bronze fennel (Foeniculum ).
          Zap back up to guess the next one.

 

X: False sweet flag (Pseudacorus calamus)
          Zap back up to guess the next one.

 

W: Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum). Also called mandrake.
          Zap back up to guess the next one.

 

V: Garlic mustard (Alliaria peltata).
           Zap back up to guess the next one.

 

U: Lupine (Lupinus polyphyllus)
          Zap back up to guess the next one.

 

T: Skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus).
          Zap back up to guess the next one.

 

S: Tulip.
          Zap back up to guess the next one.

 

R: Sweet Solomon's seal (Polygonatum odoratum variegatum).
          Zap back up to guess the next one.

 

Q: Lenten rose, hellebore ( Helleborus x orientalis).
          Zap back up to guess the next one.

 

P: Large-flowered trillium (Trillium grandiflorum).
          Zap back up to guess the next one.

 

O: Bearded iris (Iris germanica).
          Zap back up to guess the next one.

 

N: Twinleaf (Jeffersonia diphylla).
          Zap back up to guess the next one.

 

M: Scotch thistle (Onopordum acanthium).
          Zap back up to guess the next one.

 

L: Perennial salvia, meadow sage (Salvia nemerosa).
          Zap back up to guess the next one.

 

K: Dead nettle, purple dead nettle (Lamium purpureum).
          Zap back up to guess the next one.

 

J: Pulmonaria, lungwort, Bethlehem sage (Pulmonaria saccharata).
          Zap back up to guess the next one.

 

I: Catmint ( Nepeta mussinii).
          Zap back up to guess the next one.

 

H: Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica).
           Zap back up to guess the next one.

 

G: Globe thistle (Echinops exaltatus).
          Zap back up to guess the next one.

 

 F: Daylily (Hemerocallis hybrid).
          Zap back up to guess the next one.

 

E: Dandelion  Taraxacum officinale)
         Zap back up to guess the next one.

 

D: Sea kale (Crambe maritima).
         Zap back up to guess the next one.

 

C: Golden bleeding heart (Corydalis lutea).
        Zap back up to guess the next one.

 

B: Big leaf forget-me-not (Brunnera macrophylla).
         Zap back up to guess the next one.

 

A: Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis).
         Zap back up to guess the next one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Smile! It's spring!

Ajuga 'Burgundy Glow' lives up to its name in spring.