Tidy Tips for Days

Last spring we removed what was left of the lawn, brought in new dirt, and scattered a few California native wildflower seeds. Well, maybe a bit more than a few. Because we wanted to be absolutely certain-sure that we got flowers, we upended a ¼-lb bag of Tidy Tips onto the area. A light rain or two came along, and we waited.

First the area became covered with a hazy cloud of green, as the little babies sprouted. A few days later, they took hold and began to grow. Hurray! We were going to get some flowers! We could hear the little seedlings chattering excitedly as they grew up, and hoped they would dig in their roots and decide to stay. 

Boy, did they ever decide to stay.

We would have been happy with just a few of ‘em, but the little seedlings were having such a good time together that they elbowed and pushed and jockeyed for position until there was room – somehow – for them all. They ALL grew up, and instead of the tasteful scattering of well-behaved little darlings, we had wall-to-wall wild flowers, a full-on crowd at a raucous party. The sound of their happy singing voices filled the garden, and we marveled at them, their faces lifted toward the sun, their arms flung out in joy.

Fantastic!

The season ended, and with one thing and another, we didn’t have time to tend to the area in an orderly manner. One by one, the flowers went to seed. In the fall, we started to clear, intending to just put everything in the compost bin. As I grabbed the first bunch and pulled, compost bin at my side, I heard a small voice, a little echo of the summer. ‘I’m still here.’ I stopped and listened more closely. ‘Me, too,’ whispered another little voice.  ‘I’m here, I’m here, I’m here.’ Little voices rustled all around me, and I realized that I was standing in a sea, a cloud, a fluffy bouquet…of seeds. 

How could I turn my back? 3 days and 3 pounds later, the little seeds were safe. I heard them murmur sleepily in the bag as I put it away. They are calm and quiet now, taking a rest, the promise of next-year’s happy voices.

I’ll make packets and send them out with the Christmas cards. Do you have a little sunny patch in your yard somewhere? Is there a bare spot on the side of the road that you pass during your morning walk? Would you try some in a container? Once they get going, don’t water them. They are our hardy Californians, and thrive on only winter rains.

Give them a try. They are the hope for their race, and there aren’t enough happy singing voices in the world. 

There just aren’t enough Tidy Tips.