Wendy’s Wanderings

Surprise!

December 12, 2024

The holidays are a season of surprises—whether it’s beautifully wrapped presents, unexpected packages on the porch, or cherished visits from friends, these delights are especially welcome this time of year. I also enjoy discovering surprises in my garden and landscape.

With cooler temperatures and reduced rainfall, I haven’t been mowing my backyard as often. So, I was surprised to notice short, iris-like foliage peeking through the Zoysiagrass. Upon closer inspection, I recognized it as a little freesia that had wandered out of the landscape bed. Known as Freesia laxa, this relative of the South African iris lies dormant through the summer, reemerging in late fall to bloom with clusters of light red-orange flowers. These delicate blossoms, topping out on foliage just 8 inches tall, are a welcome sight in the winter months. Hardy in USDA Zones 7b to 10b, this plant is remarkably drought tolerant, and its wandering nature is being carefully watched by invasive plant scientists.

While working in a native bed in the front yard, I noticed a blue, cone-shaped flower cluster on a plant, about 4 feet tall with nettle-like leaves. It wasn’t a Florida native, and I knew I hadn’t planted it there. That vivid shade of blue could only belong to the blue witch’s hat (Coleus livingstonei), a gift from Marc Frank several years ago. I thought I had lost the plant, but a seedling had unexpectedly popped up about 20 feet away from its original spot! This winter-blooming beauty is in the Lamiaceae (mint) family and thrives in sunny locations in USDA Zones 9 and 10. It is a magnet for bees.

Gardeners who compost are likely familiar with surprises from a cooled-down compost pile. As a county Extension agent, I often had people bring in peculiar squash hybrids for identification. When I’d ask where the odd-looking pumpkin or zucchini came from, they’d confess it had sprouted from their compost pile. Hybrid squashes are genetic blends of their parent plants, often producing curious and unexpected cucurbit creations.

However, my favorite surprise in the landscape this winter has to be my volunteer Ilex cassine, now in full berry. This Florida native tree, also known as dahoon holly, began as a seedling from my neighbor’s yard. For a while, I wasn’t sure if it was a male or female tree, as only the female flowers produce the vibrant red berries. To my delight, it turned out to be female, and the berries have arrived just in time for the holidays. As it matures to its full height of 30 feet, this tree will provide nectar for bees and berries for birds—a true gift for wildlife and a welcome surprise.

I hope your holidays are filled with pleasant surprises, both in and out of the garden.

— Wendy Wilber