We often hear that the best things in life are free and the arrival of May flowers certainly confirms that.  A wonderful, "mystery" plant has appeared in the garden.  Certainly related to hollyhocks, the three foot high bushy plant with a multitude of pure white flowers popped up in the midst of the dying bluebonnet plants.  Perhaps birds were the gardeners, but Ann Marie has never seen a plant like this during her many treks about the neighborhood.  Also appearing "on its own" was a beautiful Texas dandelion whose bright yellow blooms brightened many mornings before the appearance of seed heads required that it be sent to the compost pile.

Other garden "freebies" are the plants that friends have passed along.  The most striking of these right now is the elephant garlic given to Ann Marie many years ago by one of Austin's master gardeners.  What a beautiful treasure, and it has begun popping up in various parts of the yard as the bulblets in the flower head become scattered, or perhaps squirrels are doing some unauthorized planting.

Of course, there are unwanted plants that sprout throughout Horsetail Haven.  The cedar waxwings and robins that so delighted us in late winter spread Ligustrum and Soap Berry seeds throughout the yard.  Pulling the young seedlings is the price we pay for enjoying the birds.  We also laugh at the antics of the squirrels as they leap through the trees, and then walk around with pruning shears attempting to cut or pull the young pecan trees that pop up through out the yard.  First the pesky critters dig up the fall pansies as they bury their winter store of food, then they can't even have the courtesy to remember where they put them!

USE YOUR HERBS
A recent lesson in flower arranging at Festival Institute was a reminder of how useful herbs are in fresh flower arrangements.  Many of the green herbs will make a nice base.  Try putting scented geranium, fennel, basil or large leaf mints in a vase, then meander through the garden to find vertical accents and spots of color.  Rosemary is just as useful in bouquets as it is in cooking.  Look for sage or basil blossoms, poppy seed pods, and nasturtium blooms.  A few large comfrey leaves or some grey artemesia could add interest in a large bouquet while a dainty arrangement might be built around sweet violets.   With fresh herbal bouquets you really can't go wrong, but a couple of plants to avoid are epazote and rue.  The kerosene odor of epazote could make your house a less than pleasant place to be and some people may develop a poison ivy type rash upon contact with rue.  Although this reaction normally only occurs when they touch rue in bright sunlight, why run the risk.