Impatien Volunteer Prowess

 Impatiens are a very popular flower for landscapers and gardeners in many places in the United States.  They grow wild in Central America where they are considered a weed.  Perspective is everything.

Being a tropical plant, they are classified as annuals in the mid-Atlantic region; however, they do seed.  For nearly a decade now, I have been delighted by a host of volunteer Impatiens that sprout from seeds deposited the prior summer and that manage to survive the bouts of sub-zero temperatures that characterize the region's climate.

This one popped up in a planter and like a dog sticking its head out of a car window to catch the breeze, has grown off the edge and flourished.  Such amazing skills are a hallmark of any decent weed.