Two days ago I spotted something new sprouting in an unused bed. Kind of yellow and a bit succulent looking. A strange purslane or purslane not feeling well? And there's a volunteer sweet potato at the bottom edge of the pic!


I got to thinking about it and remembered that I had flowers on the end of that bed early summer. So I looked at the spring/summer garden map. Nope, not there. What about spring/summer '23? Yep! There were Jewels of Opar there, something I hadn't grown before. I think the seeds were maybe in the swap that year? And yes, a description I found on the internet said they are a purslane relative.

Here's a July '23 pic of all the tiny pink flowers and beady seeds they make on wire-thin scapes. I guess those are supposed to be the "jewels". The plants themselves are hiding below the bottom edge of the photo. So it took a little over a year for the dropped seeds to start growing. I need to get them out of there.

Those seeds are survivors! I had Jewels of Opar come back at the edge of my éléphant garlic bed.
I also planted some seeds in a 2-inch pot a couple years ago, and those plants have survived a couple years!!! They go dormant in the winter and reemerge in the spring.

I hope Miss S sees this I think I received this in an even earlier swap on another forum, possibly from her. It might have been my "donation" (or curse) to the MMMM 2023 swap. I have an eternal seed supply, and so will you. It was described as popping up in every pot the original flower was grown near.

I take my potted Chicago Hardy Fig indoors every year, and it grows up thru the branches. I have hundreds of seeds to clean up all over the garage and inside on the carpet when it blooms and drops seed. And it keeps on blooming and setting seed forever. Inside on the carpet, outside in the garden. The chartreuse leaf color really stands out.

My garden club did a backyard tour and everyone just stared and talked around that one plant pot, and left for the next stop. Nobody was interested in my colorful tomatoes. They used a photo of this plant for the cover page of their address book.

- Lisa

@greenthumbomaha I did have this growing throughout the gardens and pots at my old house. For the most part, I really enjoyed it. I had forgotten all about this one because I didn't move any soil with me so the plants stayed behind.

It brings a smile to my face to hear that your garden club enjoyed it.

I will probably let a few plants stay unless they interfere with whatever gets planted there this spring. Sure is a prolific little sucker!

@greenthumbomaha I looked. I did send some seeds in to the MMMM of the annual pink baby's breath, Gypsophila elegans. It's a lovely little plant. I have been thinking of this one today and I am missing it. I think that I'm going to order some seeds.