Just a girl with a hammer

Opening your eyes

Written by

Heather

in

I haven’t been gardening that long, so my plant knowledge is limited. But the funniest thing keeps happening: once I finally notice a plant exists, I see it EVERYWHERE. Case in point: I was at my friend Jason’s house, exploring his front garden. He had a giant silver mullein, Verbascum Bombyciferum, doing its freaktastic fuzzy phallic blooming thing.

Image source: Frisco Vista

I went out the next day and bought one at Garden Fever. Mine won’t bloom until next summer but I’m stoked that I have one now. Once I knew it existed Ryan blogged about it, Loree blogged about it, and I see it in gardens around town. How did I not know this plant before?!

I’ve said it before: everything is more magical when you go through life not really paying attention.

Comments

  1. Jason Avatar
    Jason

    Now I want one. They usually have a number of mullein at the Chicago Botanic Garden's English Garden. Supposed to be great for attracting finches.

    Reply
  2. Heather Avatar
    Heather

    They are wonderful to touch, as well. I'd been pondering the use of lamb's ears in the garden, but they are so thuggish. I'm thinking this guy is a better option (assuming it self-seeds next year).

    Reply
  3. Scott Weber Avatar
    Scott Weber

    So funny…I've had the same thing happen…sometimes it's even that I won't like a plant for the longest time…then I see it used well somewhere…and I fall in love with it!

    Reply
  4. ryan.miller Avatar
    ryan.miller

    The same thing happens to me. Some plants I can understand, but this one?! It really sticks out.

    Reply
  5. Bria Phillips Avatar
    Bria Phillips

    Yup, I know that phenomenon too! That's a cutie. I had a cool mullein that I bought from Annies' Annuals a few years back but it has vanished in the plant graveyard that is my north border.

    Reply
  6. Ricki Grady Avatar
    Ricki Grady

    Used to hate it…love it now. Am I really that suggestible?

    Reply
  7. Heather Avatar
    Heather

    It seduced you. It certainly has the look.

    Reply
  8. Heather Avatar
    Heather

    Are all mulleins biennials? I'm hoping that if I buy a second plant next year I could maybe always have one blooming in the years to come.

    Reply
  9. Heather Avatar
    Heather

    Yes! I tend to hate all the plants we had in our yard growing up: calla lillies, callistemon, juniper. But then I see one in Jane's yard or Loree's yard and I fall in love with them.

    Reply
  10. Heather Avatar
    Heather

    I know! How do you miss a plant like that? I have some serious blinders on.

    Reply
  11. Mulchmaid Avatar
    Mulchmaid

    Let's hear it for "discovering" new plants. That soft gray mullein foliage is the best! I also like Stachys byzantina and Salvia argentea for that gray fuzzy look, though you have to stay on top of the lambs ears…

    Reply
  12. Heather Avatar
    Heather

    I love love love lambs ears! They are kind of weedy in one part of my yard but I don't really care. I'm bummed, I accidentally killed the pot of Helen Von Stein Stachys that I got at the plant sale.

    Reply
  13. HammeringOurWayHome Avatar
    HammeringOurWayHome

    THIS "everything is more magical when you go through life not really paying attention" is purrrfect ! I'm always sort of being poked at for never having a clue (like when Drew planted TWO gardens in our mud filled yards, I walked right by BOTH, d'oh). I also relaughed at the garden tool on roof. Apparently our stucco guy just found a bunch of tools on our roof– I had no part in it though, happily (for once). And that mullein, it looks so funky! What a fun plant.

    Reply
  14. Heather Avatar
    Heather

    It is shockingly easy to leave things on the roof. It's so weird.

    Reply

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