Late Risers

Liatris takes its time waking from winter dormancy.

Nancy, the chief cook and bottle washer of The Vagary explains that liatris and some other prairie perennials have adapted to emerge after the risk of spring wildfires has passed.

Many perennial grasses fall into this category, too. I had been worried about the little bluestem I got from a neighbor late last fall, but it is finally showing signs of new growth.

I'm glad I didn't rip out the grasses, thinking that they had died. There's a reason to hold off working in the dirt until the second week of May.