How many treasures disappear over winter & re-appear in spring?

It’s magic.

How many are then weeded out by mistake?

Tragic!!

Some treasures, like crocus, send out blooms straight away, so they’re safe.

Others, like cyclamen,  have really distinctive leaves, so they’re safe too.

But there are so many others…

The wee Blue Eyed Iris is one treasure I’ve weeded out.  (I mistook it for grass…. turns out its also called Blue Eyed GRASS!  Go figure. )

Shooting Star is another victim.  (I mistake the young leaves for dandelion.)

From these tragedies, I’ve become a little more cautious.

The other day I was crawling around on our mountain (rocky outcropping), looking closely at plants growing in the moss.

So what is this – – Treasure ?  Weed??

My twitchy fingers  pluck out those blades of grass, but cautiously hold off on the other little plants.

Today I rejoice! They’ve proven themselves  to be the native annual: Sea Blush.  (I can recognize the flower.)

Yippee!
Caution pays off.

Thank goodness they’ve thrown a couple early blooms.  I don’t know how long I’d have held off from weeding them.  Now I’ll carefully tidy any competition around these gems & look forward to the moss blushing a lovely pink this April.

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