Rewilding My Lot

In a ideal world I would always plant things where they are supposed to be and never regret those decisions. However, occasionally I get it wrong!

Last fall I planted a Skeleton-Leaf Goldeneye (Viguiera stenoloba) in the front pollinator garden. This is a plant that likes full sun and I soon realized that it was significantly shaded by the vigorously growing Gregg’s Mistflower (Conoclinium greggii) in front of it, in addition to the house behind it. There was a better location, just a few feet away.

I decided to wait a few more weeks until winter-time to move the Skeleton-Leaf Goldeneye, in the hopes that the root mass would still be somewhat compact from being so recently planted, and that moving it during its dormant season would be the least stressful time.

The transplant did indeed go pretty smoothly with the entire root mass coming up in one shovel load (see first photo). Once in its new location, it got mycorrhizae for root stimulation and plenty of water. I also trimmed some of its branches so that the plant has less to maintain above ground while it’s growing stronger underground.