Hairy Allium

Here's a flower so ugly it's cute.  The Hairy Allium is a mutation of the more dignified looking Drumstick Allium.  The funny thing is I don't remember planting a single one of these, and now they've spread everywhere in the lily bed-- the story of my life.

A few years ago I cut the seed heads off some pretty Drumstick Alliums and sprinkled them around in the hope they would multiply.  Not only did they multiply, they must have mutated!  Anyway, perfect for our "please touch" kid's garden. They look like something out of a Dr. Seuss book.

Alliums (part of the onion family) are tough and drought-resistant. There are over 700 different types and fall garden catalogs are the best place to find the crazier varieties.  Alliums will bloom for years in the same sunny spot, and many of them (obviously) multiply.