To true plant lovers, all plants are special, in their own way. Even when we're trying to eradicate a stubborn weed, our better side convinces us to admire the weed's tenacity. I must admit, though, that I'm hard-pressed to find anything admirable about Japanese knotweed, regardless of its tenacity. Fortunately, we don't need to be "convinced" to admire some plants: their charm simply delights us, and we're won over immediately. One such plant is bleeding heart.
I'm not alone in feeling that there's a magic to bleeding heart. Reader, fiestyflowergal recently sent me an email in response to my Landscaping newsletter, relating the powerful impact bleeding heart had on her at an early age:
Hello David, thank you for your info on flowering shrubs, and of course all the other very valuable articles. I had to comment re: bleeding heart. I'm sure this was the very plant that launched my unquenchable love for life in the garden. As a toddler I discovered it between my house and the next in the darkest, most sunless place. And yet -- there were the little hearts! I couldn't take my eyes off them -- crouched down and just looked and looked!! I waited for it to come back each Spring. What a Joy!!
I love stories, like this one, about impressions that plants made on us in childhood. If you'd like to share your own, please do so in the Comments section below.
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Comments
I also grew up around gardens and all sorts of plant life, to me plant life is an important part of our lives. When I bought my home the backyard was baron, no life at all, and it made me feel baron, so I did what any plant lover would do, I planted every type of plant that would survive, you should see it now!
Hi i have the most beautiful bleeding heart the foliage is very green and and the flower is the most perfect thing l have ever seen, l bought the plant at a nursery when my son was 4yrs old and now he is turning 21 tomorrow, so my plant is 17yrs old, l have tryed to grow the seed pods that it leaves every year but no go, so l gave some to my neighboure and she is the green finger, she has got 4 of them up and l so happy that my mother plant has children now.
Regards Sandra
I have a Bleeding heart for the first time this year in my front yard. It started as a tiny little bush and with the increased amount of rain we received is more than 4 feet wide and around 3 feet tall. It is magnificently gorgeous as well as just mesmerizing. I am planning to divide it this year but am terrified it will die.