Okay, my chocolate joe pye weed is beginning to bloom and in a few weeks I should have tons of seeds. I should also have plenty of catalpa seed pods very soon. Looking for peony poppy seeds for next year. I'll take pretty much any cultivar, so just tell me which ones you have. If interested, send me an e-mail at someguy00273952@yahoo.com

Looks like knotweed, but it somehow sprung up from poppy seeds sown not only on the ground cleared for a bed, but also in a germinating tray. The same thing came up from poppy seeds taken from a dried poppy pod! I'm utterly mystified how this has happened. I'm including another picture if this forum gives me the option. Looks like the forum doesn't. I haven't been on Gardenweb in quite a while . . . I don't like the changes I see. It seems a lot more awkward to use and more difficult to find things. I guess I have to make a new post to leave another picture.

It sounds like you have Oxalis pes-capri as the "clover" in your yard. This is a pretty large growing vigorous bulb, that will keep resprouting from the roots, and generally will outcompete California poppy if you try these from seed this time of year. The life cycle of the Oxalis usually starts with the fall rains, and starts dying back to the ground in late spring/early summer. If the Oxalis is in dense stands, it will smother out almost any other plant from seed that is also winter growing. I'd suggest you start the poppies from seed in areas that are clear of this weed. You'll find that the Oxalis is rather difficult to eliminate completely, unless you plant densely growing plants that are taller than it, and are perennial so that they can get large enough to outcompete the Oxalis when it starts growing again in late October/November.

I think you're on to something with the Verbena idea. Another thought-have you ever grown any Bidens? I'm talking the horticultural varieties, not the numerous native Bidens. These self-seed readily and look at least something like that. +oM