Hey everyone, I have great news! Remember the mystery flora from a few blogs back, the one that I thought might be a Shasta daisy, or possibly a carnivorous mobile plant as featured in the 1951 John Wyndham novel The Day of the Triffids?
Sadly, yes, I do remember your wild speculations.
Say what you will, Lily, I’m here to announce that the thing actually bloomed this week! Not only that, one of the plant savvy replies to my flora ID query got it 100% right. Hats off to a very wise woman named Sarah for her correct identification: Bachelor Buttons!
Mystery solved: Bachelor buttons!
Imagine my relief. Also, it makes perfect sense as I did plant bachelor buttons on that spot last year- -although I did pull the plants so they must have done some reseeding before then?
So why didn’t you know what it was right away?
In a nutshell, 9, size and density. These plants are HUGE whereas the ones that came up last year were cute but spindly. I guess Walla Walla’s mild winter agreed with them? They’re really bushy, maybe a bit ferocious for a floral arrangement.
Mystery solved: This year’s bachelor buttons are definitely not spindly!
On the positive side, I love the color of the blooms, and they will certainly attract pollinators for the beans and squash that will soon be planted in this bed. Plus, they are perennials (advisable to divide them every 2-3 years) that bloom again if cut back.
So that’s one mystery solved. We also have an unsolved mystery this week.
Do tell.
It’s a fauna problem. Someone has been gnawing the bottom of our backyard gate! I’d noticed it a few days ago but it didn’t stick in my mind until 3:15 A Wednesday, when I was awakened by the sound of sharp, busy teeth.
What was it?
I don’t know at this point. I gave a couple of raps on the bedroom window, stepped out on the deck and said Shoo! So it shooed. Whoever it was must really like the taste of cedar.
Mystery Unsolved: Who is nibbling at the gate?
Squirrels, which we have here in abundance, are fond of cedar, especially young squirrels that may crave minerals. Porcupines sometimes chew cedar bark, but squirrels are more inclined to fencing and cedar patio furniture.
Strange. What are you going to do?
If it’s a long-term issue (which I dearly hope it is not) I’m not sure. But inspiration came to me yesterday evening regarding the short term:
Mystery unsolved, but currently being addressed through this secret weapon. . .
Whoever it is will burn their little mouth!
I could be mean and say they’d deserve it, 9, but my real hope is that the smell of cayenne pepper will deter their munching, and possibly encourage them to relocate entirely.
Because life in the Pacific Northwest can be wild, people! So before you mess with me, think twice.
And don’t make me get out the cayenne pepper.
