I may not be a natives purist, but this time I confess I def went too far.

That Ruellia simplex (Mexican petunia) is actually illegal or restricted in many states for being extremely invasive, although the newer sterile cultivars are safer.  They had to outlaw it in Florida! It likes it hot, wet, and humid.  I had never seen or heard of it before, and it wasn’t labeled, but I can see how it might have become popular here!  The only solution is to pot it and add it to my tropical houseplant collection, before it does any damage to the environment!

This is what I get for experimenting outside of beneficial natives and harmless annuals.  The nativars or native cultivars was already a step farther than I wanted to go, but they’re close enough to not disrupt anything, while my own natives are being !@#$%^& slackers!  Also the perennials (and everything else) were on sale half-price!   I mean, c’mon, Joe Pye and Liatris!  Other aggressive natives have taken over like weeds, but if I can outlast them until next year, I’ll try again.

There’s a political metaphor in here somewhere, but I leave that to your imagination.  Just be warned!

In other (non-hort) news, yesterday evening while A&A went out, I took Y to his high-end (to me) hair salon appointment for the first time.  I don’t know why the whole experience made me very nervous, though everything went smoothly and we survived.  I guess it was the combination of a new-to-me place, with Y (condescending as usual), and the sticker shock, even though I wasn’t paying for it myself.  (Probably the road block detour and fire truck sirens didn’t help.)  The place made me feel very out of my element or league.  I just wanted it to be over!  One more challenge under my belt.