Flowers protecting each other, Campanulas revisited

Discussion in 'Flower Gardening' started by Jerry Sullivan, Jun 12, 2018.

  1. Jerry Sullivan

    Jerry Sullivan Garden Experimenter Plants Contributor

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    Several years ago I mentioned that a local rabbit had located and eaten all the flowering Campanula leaving a stunted stalk as a reminder of its fondness for the bell shaped flower.

    The succeeding years have had mixed results as perhaps the rabbit searches for more variety in its lunch menu.

    At first I thought nothing of the lone campanula in the flower bed mixed in with an adjoining daylily. Not far away a severed stalk was a reminder of a cleaned lunch plate. The next year there was another daylily with a different Campanula. A trend? Still….it could be a coincidence. But now??….Now I’m not so sure. Have a seat and read…

    The setting sun released the shadows of night. Slowly they crept across the lawn, engulfing the flower beds one by one in a shroud of black. In that blackness two shadows moved….first one, then another. They seemed to tilt toward each other. Their size and shape said they were very different. They touched…no sound was made. At least none human ears could detect….but perhaps if we moved closer and listened, we might hear some soft noises……”It’s coming, I know we’re not safe” The flower’s plea for help did not go without a response. The larger plant leaned closer. ‘I can help….drop your seeds here’ The larger daylily leaned back waiting for a reply. ‘I can do that!’ the smaller Campanula said. And so began the agreed upon companionship of the two flowers. The word spread to other Campanula, their seeds were to go in the direction of the daylilies. If the flowers managed to bloom and go to seed their offspring had a chance to survive under the protection of the large spreading Hemerocallis. One by one the larger flowers have taken volunteers under their ‘wing’, assuring safety and prosperity away from the hungry Oryctolagus cuniculus


    To date the count is 7. All volunteers. They are companions for life.

    What happens without protection
    IMG_6887.JPG


    Campanula with protection
    IMG_0697.jpg

    For the most part we grow plants by themselves, using one to protect the other from a predator I would imagine is uncommon. Anybody else?


    Jerry
     
    Last edited: Jun 12, 2018
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  3. Petronius

    Petronius Young Pine

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    I have planted an orange coneflower near Black eyed Susans. The Susans protected the coneflower.
     
  4. Cayuga Morning

    Cayuga Morning Strong Ash Plants Contributor

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    Jerry, I wonder if the rabbits can't easily get in there with the daylily foliage everywhere.

    Want to hear something weird? I have had the same problem growing campanula: maybe 5 yesrs ago, rabbits "discovered" the campanula & began munching every single stalk. Prior to that 1st year, I had grown campanula successfully. Now this year, they are leaving the campanula alone! It is the columbine they are munching, and in the same way: a tall leafless stalk is left.

    I recently read that rabbits don't like talcum powder. Wish I had seen that article earlier. I'll try that on the remaining columbines, see if it deters them.
     
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  5. Jerry Sullivan

    Jerry Sullivan Garden Experimenter Plants Contributor

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    Columbine!! Ouch! My columbine all grow in one area and the rabbit has never touched them. I hope the rabbit is satisfied with just the weeds. So far I have not lost any Campanula to the rabbit. Different rabbit? Different taste?

    Pesky little wabbit as Mr Fudd would say.

    Jerry
     
    Last edited: Jun 13, 2018



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  6. Cayuga Morning

    Cayuga Morning Strong Ash Plants Contributor

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    Ouch is right! I had perfected a bed of purple columbine & purple iris, blooming at the same time. Pretty cool.Sigh. I have hopes for next year. Maybe wily coyote will make an appearance.
     
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  7. Cayuga Morning

    Cayuga Morning Strong Ash Plants Contributor

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    Photos of campanula, blooming for the first time in ?? 5 years?? IMG_20180613_172751.jpg IMG_20180613_172741.jpg IMG_20180613_172611.jpg

    And a lovely foxglove....I couldn't resist including.

    IMG_20180613_172835.jpg
     
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  8. Petronius

    Petronius Young Pine

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    Your foxglove is beautiful!. The color is similar to a foxglove I planted last year for a customer.
     
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  9. Cayuga Morning

    Cayuga Morning Strong Ash Plants Contributor

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    Thanks Petronius. Guess what seeds i'll be collecting in a month or two?
     
  10. Petronius

    Petronius Young Pine

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    @Cayuga Morning, I need not guess. They will be foxglove seeds. I did not know that foxgloves grow from seed.
     
  11. Cayuga Morning

    Cayuga Morning Strong Ash Plants Contributor

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    P...do you want some?
     
  12. Petronius

    Petronius Young Pine

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  13. Cayuga Morning

    Cayuga Morning Strong Ash Plants Contributor

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    More campanula photos. This is of a white. Can you tell I am thrilled to have campanula back in the garden? IMG_20180616_193641.jpg
    IMG_20180616_193414.jpg
     
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  14. Petronius

    Petronius Young Pine

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    Do Campanulas flower only once in the growing season?
     
  15. Cayuga Morning

    Cayuga Morning Strong Ash Plants Contributor

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    @Petronius : yes. But the blooms do last a while.
     
  16. Petronius

    Petronius Young Pine

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    Exactly when do Campanulas flower?
     

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