Xam says...

What a discovery Xam!  That’s a young Horse Chestnut tree sapling.  It’s a conker tree! One shiny conker has been put there, perhaps this time last year in the autumn, probably by a squirrel.  Or maybe a big bird like a crow may have dropped it by mistake?  So, Xam, like your young holly tree, see what happens?  But I must add that conker trees can become very, very big in only a few years so I would advise you to keep it pot-bound to watch what it does or to give it to someone who has a very large space to fill, probably in or near a field!!  You may have to wait few years for the conkers though!

Field Maple

So, Xam, you are absolutely right by being surprised because that is exactly what nature always does - surprise us.  This surprise is something you’ve missed because look closely, you have a young holly tree in your pot.  Perhaps planted by a bird having eaten a nearby red berry from a holly tree. Because you have let the pot do its own thing and not disturbed it the holly has taken advantage of that small bit of space and germinated.  Incredible.  Good for you. This is a living time-demonstration of how nature works. It is called ‘succession’ and usually a bigger, perhaps stronger plant will take over the advantage of a small piece of space and then as it grows, it will take over everything else, in your pot.  You can leave it there to see how that works?

Field Maple

They are Willowherb Xam, they will find homes elsewhere so watch out because they may not be welcome.  I happen to love Willowherb; it grows in places usually left untouched by us.  It is also a very important nectar plant for insects.  Just as endearing will be to find foxgloves growing next year because your pot foxgloves are now seeding themselves in corners you may not expect!

Field Maple

Xam, they are very interesting because plants seem to ‘pop up’ without any warning at all.  The tall yellow plants look very interesting, we must investigate! But you know what?  It looks like there is a small Conker Tree sapling in the middle of it all?

Field Maple

Xam, you see, how it was worth just waiting to observe what will happen in your pot.  The foxgloves are gorgeous and they will self-seed if you leave them alone. But be sure to tell your Mum because she needs to know they’ll do that.  What is super also is that you have some sweet speedwell, with the small blue flowers, growing quite luxuriously to replace the forget-me-nots now having finished their small blue flowering.  The forget-me-nots are likely to self-seed as well, so watch out for that.  They are very sweet and I’d say quite inoffensive.  Wonderful!

Field Maple

Xam, your pots are looking absolutely marvellous.  You wanted ‘wild flowers’ and there they all are.  Wildflower ‘meadows’ are really only a concoction of plants that want to live on the field that a farmer is likely to use for livestock to graze upon.  For farmers who use their fields for crops wild ‘flowers’ are seen as ‘weeds’ and may reduce the production of their fields.  Organic farmers work with nature to keep the balance between the two and we all benefit from their endeavours. So, you keep watching and observing your pots and you take out what you don’t want and leave in what you do!  See what happens!

Field Maple

Good for Mum Xam! They are wall flowers and they like the shelter of the wall.  They often grow actually in the brickwork of very old buildings and they like to wave and dance about in the Easter winds we can get. Are yours dancing? We seem to be getting a lot of gales this April. Ask Mum to leave them to seed and you may get the next generation coming up for next year?  Wall flowers can be annual (only lives for a year) biennial (lives for two years) or perennial (everlasting).  This will be great for you to observe as the years go by Xam?

Field Maple

Xam, you’ve got a proper bunch of wild flowers there, even in November, whether from your packet of seeds or just self-seeded.  Who could know?  Whatever, they all seem happy and healthy.  There are foxgloves, evening primrose and I think an ordinary primrose too and a bellflower.  Looks like some speedwell is using the space but be careful because it can be invasive, we will have to wait to see how it looks when it flowers? You’re really doing a grand job to just let this pot grow, especially since it all looks pretty healthy, Xam! PS Where is the pot located, I mean is it in the shade or a sunny spot?

Field Maple

Wow, what a show Xam, yes these are Corn Marigolds and you did have some flowering in the pot last year.  Do you remember I commented that some of the wild flowers might be invasive?  Well, these certainly were the most unwanted wild flowers of all corn crop farmers.  They just seed, get in and on with it.  So, watch carefully and see what happens.  There are some already seeding at the bottom.  Meanwhile, enjoy your wonderful spread of glorious summer sunshine in your corner!  Clever old you!

Field Maple

Yes, Xam, you have a whole load of wild plants and all a product of the pack of wild seeds you planted in the pots last year.  I can see the forget-me-nots which are now seeding. There is a purple Bellflower, a lovely dandelion and a little Pignut – look closely and you’ll see it.  The one at the back with the small white flowers.  They were called Pignuts because pigs used to love to eat their roots!  There’s willowherb, clover, a couple of foxgloves nestling in there, an evening primrose and some wild clary which has some sweet purple flowers. So, I would say Xam, good for you to keep going with your ‘wild pots’ because they are definitely harbouring some proper wild flowers in there!

Field Maple

Xam, please tell your Mum that you have willowherb growing in there which bees love and also the tall light green plant is a poppy.  There are other plants coming up which you will enjoy later in the summer.  Believe in nature and keep studying it Xam – you’re doing really well.

Field Maple

Not a mess Xam – a dandelion! And it all looks very pretty!  You’ve got a nice little poppy wanting to grow there too, so let it all do its own thing – and study it Xam!

Field Maple

Xam, the little blue flowers are forget-me-nots, they are self-seeding and will return in the spring every year if you let them.  You may find next year they will grow in other parts.  There is also a white flowering Dead Nettle.  It is not a stinging nettle, it just looks like a nettle and will give nectar to any passing bee.  So, well done to leave the pots.

Field Maple

How wonderful to have those seconds of Morning Glory, Xam!  Thank you for letting us put it onto the website. For sure, it is a moment of great sadness since the Queen left us yesterday, but this reminds us of her openness and so often, the ability to surprise us, pleasantly.

Field Maple

Well-spotted Xam – now you have shown the resemblance I have identified the small pink flower as being Willowherb.  If you look at your big pink flowers, they are very similar as you say and the stigma – which is the part of the flower which receives pollen – is outstanding and high.  This is very much a willowherb characteristic.  The leaves are also arranged in the same way up and down that long stem. There are also four petals to your big pink flowers – just like the small willowherb!  So, I think this is Great Willowherb and it is a very showy and pretty flower!

Field Maple

Hello Xam - your Mum was very wise to pot the wild flower seeds in case you, or your neighbours, have invasive seedlings coming up next year!  The tall plants are Yellow Corn Marigolds and farmers hated them before weed killers were used, because they can invade a corn field and stop the wheat from growing! But if you have no farms nearby this is a great flower for bees! I have no idea what the pink flowers are and so be a bit careful with them even though they are very pretty.

Field Maple