Last fall I scattered seed for Standing Cypress (Ipomopsis rubra) in a back area of the garden. This is a biennial plant with generally a short ferny rosette in the first year and a tall flower spike the second year.
All I was expecting in this first year were the short rosettes, and I had already bought more seed to put down this year so that I could have a population of these plants flowering every year from this point on.
Nature, as often happens, had her own plans. Largely hidden underneath the taller sunflowers in that area, at least 10 percent of the first year plants decided to bloom this year. I was aware that a few of the Standing Cypress were flowering, but I didn’t realize the extent until I recently cleared away the sunflowers. Hummingbirds have been enjoying the flowers that I could not see!
By the looks of it, this year’s Standing Cypress will produce a significant number of flower spikes next year, AND dozens of bonus seeds from the ones that bloomed this year. I will also add more seed, not because they’re necessary at this point, but I had already purchased them!
Rewilding My Lot 
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