Willing Volunteers

When I wrote Aug. 26 about plants that came back from seed all on their own--what we gardeners call “volunteers”--I asked if there were any I had forgotten and sure enough there were some obvious additions suggested by readers, including:

Violet

Gaura

Borage

Feverfew

Impatiens balfourii

Lamb’s ears

Snow-in-summer

Calla lily

Tulbaghia

Morea

Fennel

Valerian

Achillea filipendulina

Thunbergia gregorii

I have added these to my list of plants that will make a garden practically by themselves, with little help from the gardener.

The above are long-lived plants that come up from seed by themselves, but there are also many annuals that come up each year then shrivel at season’s end. These include nasturtium, calendula, amaranth, forget-me-not, arugula and even several lettuces.