Much like the President of the United States; this Bidens is a love it or hate it situation. It’s Bidens alba, a very cute – but very prolific native wildflower. The white daisy in the vase. My husband was in the hospital last week and during the course of his stay we managed to contract Covid. We are both on the mend. The Bidens took advantage and started flowering all over the place. I have been cutting it as birth control. This plant can put out 1200 seeds per plant. It doesn’t take long to have way too much Bidens. It is also called Spanish Needles due to the appearance of the seeds, they stick to everything (especially the dog!) Seeds can be seen in the photo below:
I cut the Bidens regularly and rarely use it in a vase. I have never had this much. I have grown to appreciate the flower by seeing it up close. It is a favorite of pollinators. However, I am happy to have saved myself from having to pull about 4,000 plants!
The rest of the vase:
Brown Eyed Girl Sunflowers smile from the front. I added a few ‘Purple Prince’ Zinnias and Mystic Spires Salvia for color. The vase is from a long ago florist arrangement.
That is all from South Florida . I’ll be relaxing a bit this week. Keeping an eye on the newly named Tropical Storm Idalia. I am a long way from the cone of danger. Wondering who the heck is Idalia?
Thank you to Cathy at http://ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com for hosting. Follow the link for a world tour of vases.
The Shrub Queen 
Bright and beautiful! Love the pop of color contrast of zinnia and sunflower.
Hope you’re both feeling tip-top soon. I doubt the specter of Covid will ever leave us, dammit!
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Thanks, Eliza. We failed to realize there was more here than most of the US.
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Time to bring back the masks, I guess. The health advisors are already saying it makes good sense. We need to follow the Japanese example!
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I guess, though it is a drag..
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I’d rather wear a mask for a half hour than spend weeks (or worse) feeling lousy! 😉
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Yes..we are coming up on a week. My husband said COVID is like smoking meat.. it’s done when it’s done..had to laugh.
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The colour combinations are so fresh and set each off very nicely. Hope you both feel up to the mark soon.
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Thanks, Noelle.
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Lovely vase and very lovely wildflower even though it can be a bit overwhelming. Hope you get well soon….and stay safe. You never know with storms.
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Thanks, the storm looks like it is staying on the other side..
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Hope you and your husband continue to feel better. I’m sorry you had to deal with Covid on top of everything else. Your flowers are cheerful and I hope they keep you smiling as you rest up. Did you plant the bidens or did they invite themselves?
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Thanks, Susie. We are better, covid is a strange thing. The bidens just appear, I think spread by animals most likely.
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Oh, I am so sorry to hear you have both contracted Covid; from my own recent experience I can now vouch for how debilitating it can be 🙄 The upside is that it has saved you having to pull out those 4000 bidens plants!!! 🤣 You have artfully transfomed them into a very cheery vase and it hope it does the trick and helps to keep your spirits up
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Thanks, Cathy – the resting part is wearing us down. I have enjoyed the vase and never had so many Bidens in the house, they are cheerful.
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Ha, yes, resting was the worst part for me too! 😉
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A hospital visit, COVID, and a hurricane – that’s no fun but I’m glad to hear that both you and your husband are doing well and that the hurricane isn’t targeting you. Your floral arrangement is very appealing. I think the Bidens help pull all those colors together. At least theoretically, I’d love to have lots of Bidens alba appear in my garden but I expect it wouldn’t perform the same way without the heavier rainfall you get.
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Thanks, Kris. An annoying situation all around. The Bidens seems very drought tolerant and is one of those things that grows in pavement cracks.
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Who got the job of counting all the seeds in one flower? I also cut seedheads from many flowers that overpopulate. Sorry to hear about your COVID. I can’t believe we will have to deal with it, maybe forever.
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A botanist! Thanks, masking forever is really unappealing..
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I hope that the hurricane stays well clear of you Amelia and that you and your husband are soon on the mend. I had Covid this time last year – not a pleasant experience! I’m glad that you were well enough to get out into the garden and pick some beauties for a vase.
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Thanks, Anna. We are well clear of the storm unless it takes a hard right! I agree about the Covid, not pleasant.
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Goodness, I am just now seeing this at one on Wednesday morning, and just saw Hurricane Idalia in the news! I knew nothing about it. My #4 sister is in Tallahassee, so our Pa is worried.
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Is your sister OK?
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I suspect so, but have not telephoned my Pa yet.
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It looks lovely in a vase Amelia. What a shame it is such a problem in the garden. Hope you are both feeling better now and that the storm passed you by.
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Thanks Cathy.. storm totally missed us and we are almost normal. The Bidens is everywhere.
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