Happy Fourth of July! Here is a picture of spent Texas Star flowers after their glorious colored blooms. These natural and native flashy displays won’t set your county on fire or flip out your dog. And the empty casings are biodegradable. You’re welcome.

I thought the balls developing at the end of the stems of the Texas Star plant were seeds. I was leaving it be to do what it will do since it was a volunteer in the first place. If the conditions were favorable for this plant, I hope the seeds will also find it a good place to thrive.

Then I saw one ball was missing and another was cracked, so in the name of science I examined the cracked ball, broke it open and hundreds of tiny flecks poured out into the palm of my hand. An avalanche of what I hope are minuscule seeds came from what I now assume is the flower’s fruit. I thought thyme seeds were tiny, but these are at least a quarter that size. It was like opening up a new firework tube. I spread the flecks along the area I hope they will grow. The plan now is to wait until the fruit cracks, and spread the pin prick seeds along the flower bed.

Now I see how the first seed could have arrived in my flower bed. I wouldn’t take much for these microscopic vessels to hitch a ride on the leg or feather of a bird. Hm. I hope they don’t have to pass through a digestive tract to germinate. And I hope it doesn’t depend on the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow.