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An Annual Surprise

By Phran Novelli

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Where did that come from? I thought it was supposed to be an annual, how come it came back? Ever see the same petunia you had growing in a pot last summer suddenly spring up through a crack in the side walk nearby?

The other day I was watering a friend's garden and found impatiens peeking out prettily between her patio stones - except she didn't plant any impatiens this year, they came from last year's seeds.

Many annual plants that aren't hardy enough to survive our winters themselves can reseed in the right conditions. Even when it's cold and snowy around here, areas along a wall, driveway or between patio stones soak up the sun and create a sort of microclimate keeping the soil warmer and protecting seeds that drop there. It's a lot more like Florida than Philadelphia in those cracks between stones and sidewalk, and that's how 'annual' flower seeds - as well as unwelcome weeds - survive the snow by wintering over where it's warmer - only to surprise you when they sprout and flower in the middle of the summer.

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