On Wednesday’s I run into work, and I take the bus home.. It’s 5.5 miles. Which is less than a 10k, but for some reason people think what I’m doing is weird. When I’m running I think a lot about what separates my craziness – like excessive gardening and running – from other people’s craziness.
On the way today, right in front of the Metropolis apartments I spied one of my favorite flowers growing wild – Catclaw sensitive briar. It was blooming just fine after being freshly mowed which makes me think it would be a great addition to a patchy bermuda lawn.
I love this plant, but I think it hasn’t caught on for the same reason I haven’t planted it EVERYWHERE – it’s hard to find. I picked mine up at a Wildflower Center plant sale and have been scouring the lists for it again ever since.
After a few years it has begun mounding in my front yard like an Asiatic Jasmine. It also seems to be one of the few things that has stopped nut sedge from spreading. It hasn’t killed it. But it’s not spreading in the areas the briar is thriving. It has those fluffy little blooms, and the leaves curl up when you pet them.
The downside is it’s not evergreen. But you can’t have everything. Anyway, if you find it somewhere please send me a line.
