While many of us look to put together highly planned gardens with everything in just the right spot, sometimes random plantings can be the most rewarding particularly when they find themselves in inhospitable places. I was biking the other morning and was nearing a new Publix that is going up in Islamorada. There used to be a bowling alley in its place that had many attempts at profitability before it had been purchased and torn down.
Now a large multilevel concrete building is in its place and a parking lot has been prepared for paving. But the corner of the lot is surprisingly vacant. Its rubble strewn ground is sectioned off from the main structure with little signs of life or development.
But looking closely there appears to be nearly a dozen sunflowers that are growing randomly over the crushed coral and limestone ground. Stopping, I notice the the flowers are miniatures poking their heads up only a few feet before they have started to bud and flower. It’s hard to figure out how the seeds got there and how they have survived and grown.
Stratching the hardened surface, it is difficult to see how a seed could have germinated and taken hold. Perhaps a few seeds blown off a feeder after Irma? Bird droppings? Who knows?
However, if these flowers are given the opportunity to be pollinated and go to seed I hope I can get a few samples as they will be a very hearty breed.
