Cait's Garden

It happens at least once a year. Usually early in the season. I am at the garden center for my first big perennial shop and there it is, that flower I have never seen, never heard of before. All I have to go by is its tag and the promise of what is to come. Should I take the chance? Is it a good risk? If it’s under 10 bucks and in my zone or lower, I will usually take that risk. I’d say I’m running at least 75% favorably when it comes to these risks being good ones.

This past week’s risk is Echium amoenum ‘Red Feathers’ or Bugloss. The tag says it ‘forms very low-growing mounds of narrow dark green leathery foliage, with feathery flowering spikes in spring with a multitude of russet-red florets. ‘Red Feathers’ boasts an exceptional long bloom time and plants will rebloom in summer and fall if properly deadheaded. Thrives on neglect!’ Add on to that hardiness down to Zone 3 and this may be a dream plant indeed.

So I bought it. Because even though it currently looks like this:

It is supposed to look like this:

That’s part of the thrill of the hunt. And of gardening in general. Who would think that pathetic little spidery piece of greenery would ever turn into something amazing? But more often than not, it really does. Magic.

The next step of the process of taking in a new plant friend is doing more research online about its history. Mr. Red Feathers here has come quite a long way. This plant is native to northern Iran and the Caucasus Mountains, where it has historically been used for medicinal purposes. The flowers get made into a tea that is supposed to treat anxiety. So if you have some anxious bees in your yard, send them to me.

I am a little amazed to have this plant in my yard with such exotic origins. Will it do well this year? We shall see (and we shall post photos here). The bigger question is will it come back NEXT year? And will I be happy I bought it? At only $6.99, I have to say there are worse risks to take. What can I say. I am an adventurer at heart. A very thrifty adventurer.