Re-emergence

[Diane Whitehead]

A month ago I had a backhoe in to dig out a bamboo grove. To give the
machine access, I dug out plants that were in the way, an easy job as I
had redone that bed last year, and put them in pots. Now a few plants that
were run over by the huge tracks have put up leaves, including an
arisaema.  This surprised me because I hadn't planted any arisaemas there.
I've been puzzling over this as the leaves get bigger day by day, and I've
pulled out my book of garden maps.Aha! That answered the question.  In
1986 I planted Arisaema jacquemontii, from seed I bought from one of Chris
Chadwell's collecting trips.  The plant grew for a few years and flowered
at least once, but I hadn't seen it in many years. I don't know whether it
was desperation at being run over, or the open sky above now that
overlying vegetation has been removed that has caused the re-emergence.

Diane Whitehead  Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
maritime zone 8
cool mediterranean climate (dry summer, rainy winter - 68 cm annually)
sandy soil