Puff balls and the virtue of laziness
January 23, 2015
I love seasonal changes, don’t you? Even winter has its own beauty, if you look closely. These tawny puffballs are the seedheads of silver ironweed (Vernonia lindheimeri var. leucophylla)…
…which in summer looks like this.
I think it may be more eye-catching at this time of year, when colors are more subdued and the light is low enough to get caught in the fuzzy coronas.
It’s just one more reason not to be too quick with the pruners after a killing freeze. This is one time when laziness aligns perfectly with what’s best for the garden.
All material © 2006-2015 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
Definitely, it pays to to be too tidy. Protects plants and promotes winter interest.
Not to be, I assume you meant? Yes to both reasons, plus letting dead plants stand for a few months gives wildlife places to hide and food to eat. —Pam
And don’t forget the seeds feed birds. Just tell everyone, you are NOT lazy, you are providing lunch.
Yes indeed about the birds. But as you know in laid-back Austin we often make a virtue of laziness and see no need to apologize for it. 😉 —Pam
Some seedheads are as adorable as the bloom. I love clematis that have those fuzzy seed heads. I always want to touch them.
I love those swirly clematis seedheads too, Lisa. —Pam
Seed heads will bring us next years flowers. Love those iron weed puff balls.
Good point, Jenny. Without seeds you don’t get seedlings. Although you know how I feel about most seedlings. 😉 —Pam
Oh, those are so cute and textural! I’ll bet a field of them would look so pretty. And I’m sure the birds love them!
I’m just glad the deer don’t love this plant, Indie. When I first planted it, the deer chomped regularly until I put a metal screen over it. But I guess it got less tasty as it aged, and now they leave it alone. —Pam
I try to have the same attitude about winter, but at some point I just want to get outside and accomplish something. When this happens, nothing is off-limits to my Felcos.
Haha, I get that feeling too, Les. Around Valentine’s Day I unleash it. Since you’re in the Deep South too, I’m sure you get an early spring, making February a good time to cut things back, yes? —Pam
I don’t think it’s laziness as much as just appreciating another perspective of our gardens as opposed to manically tidying the garden under the philosophy that if it isn’t green and growing, it’s not valuable.
I agree with you, Casa, although I admit I kind of luxuriate in the idea of being lazy. 😉 I know my slowness to cut back tests the patience of my neighbor, a lovely woman who is absolutely bothered by dead stems once a freeze browns the lantanas and salvias. I wish she could see the beauty of the winter garden that isn’t cut to the ground. —Pam
I don’t know why, I guess my grandmother just instilled in me to wait until Valentines to cut back -that was always our “thing” together to get out there and prune. For the Crepe Myrtles as well- anything smaller than a pencil. Love the photos- very pretty- you captured them perfectly.
What a nice ritual to have with your grandmother. And she taught you well. —Pam
I couldn’t agree with you more, Pam. And since I frequently see the birds eating the seeds on the dormant plants, I don’t want to take away their feast. 😉 Beautiful images.
Thanks, Beth! —Pam
Hey Pam – very nice pic and agree – saving some of your pruning pays off!
It’s nice to have a good reason to put something off, isn’t it? —Pam
I never clear away the old growth until about February. If you have plants that are marginal in your zone, the old top growth will provide a little bit of protection in case of a harsh winter. Most of my yard is correct for the zone I am in, but I don’t want a freak cold burst to kill anything.