These three bleeding hearts help tell the story. They were all planted two springs ago. The larger one came back last year, then was promptly trampled by rabbits and never even bloomed. The other two didn't emerge at all last year. See how much smaller they are than the previously-trampled one? Happily, the roots were still viable, and they'll catch up sooner or later, with the blessings of the fairies.
Old-fashioned bleeding hearts are one of my very favorite flowers.
I planted six liatris kobold which promptly disappeared two years ago. This one came back this spring. I had to move it, since I'd planted something else right next to it last fall. Maybe there's hope for more of them that just haven't emerged from the mulch yet. Or maybe the rest were dug up by the squirrels. Maybe this one was too, and maybe they decided to replant it.
These are the mystery hostas. I have no idea where they came from, except I know I didn't plant them.
I'm curious to see what varieties they are. I'm not even sure I have these in my garden. The second one is the most mysterious, as I'm sure I don't have this variety, which appears to be a lighter green than any other hosta I currently have. I'll leave them where they are for now - don't want to tempt fate. Eventually they'll have to be moved since they're too close together and in an odd spot.
Maybe the evil yard monkeys have learned to replant what they dig up and often carry away. I have a friend who enjoys squirrel stew. I half-jokingly invited him here for some backyard hunting to reduce our squirrel population. (yes, only half-jokingly!) I hope they took the threat seriously and have decided to behave themselves. So far this spring they've only dug up one thing. That's got to be a record low. Of course, there's still plenty of time for more mischief.
I'm grateful for the visits of the garden fairies. Maybe my fortunes in this garden are about to change. I might have to change my glass-half-empty view of this dry shade, maple-root ridden garden that has vexed me from the day I brought the hostas from my beautiful garden from my beautiful Georgian four springs ago. Magic is happening here this spring.
