My Favorite Garden Volunteers

Alanna Kathol
Aug 24, 2024
3 min read

Gardens, ‘the first year they sleep, the second year they creep, and the third year they leap’. I am enjoying this proverbial third year. By adding the following self-seeding plants to my repertoire in my first two years, I have gained many garden freebies in this ‘leap’ year.

Cosmos. I added a few of these by seed in my first year and each fall I reseeded bare patches from the flowers that I dead-headed. Collecting seeds from cosmos is so simple that my young niece does it, making this a fun and educational activity for children. Any extra seeds you harvest make lovely gifts or can be shared with your local seed library. Had I not intentionally spread these free seeds each fall I am confident I would still have volunteer cosmos popping up.

Dead-heading - removing the spent flowers from a plant to encourage more flowers to bloom.

Johnny Jump Ups. Such a dainty yet hardy creature with a bright smiling face. I transplanted some of these from my mom’s garden and they did the rest. They sometimes even peak up in the grass and gravel but they are so delightful that you don’t mind finding them in odd places, in fact, that’s half the fun. These entertaining blooms are also edible - a great garnish for salads, cakes and ice cream. And they press well making them perfect for crafting.

Sunflowers. An iconic garden staple. Sunflowers not only come in dwarf sizes but can also grow to extreme heights. The sunflower's dazzling face maintains its interest deep into the winter for curious critters and humans alike. Like all good volunteer plants, you may need to thin them out if they grow especially dense or in spaces you don't want but if you pull them when they are still in their cotyledon stage you’ve just picked yourself some microgreens! Enjoy this early garden snack.

Calendula. A useful and vibrant addition to any garden, calendula is one of my favourites The flowers have skin-healing properties and when infused in oil or tallow, make a soothing balm. The seed heads are easy to spot and harvest but if you harvest the flowers before they go to seed the plant will continue to bloom. My calendula patch has filled out this year and as long as I allow some of the flowers to go to seed - it’s nearly impossible not to - I will not have to plant it again. And just like with Jonny Jump Ups and Cosmos, Calendula seeds and extra plants make great gifts.

Borage. Another herbal beauty. This bright blue star flower is a fresh and darling addition to summer drinks, imparting a cooling cucumber-like flavour. At my community garden plot last summer I grew an abundance of borage. This year plots were rearranged and the soil tilled. I am in a new spot but I have seen borage pop up in a couple of the other plots, to the great pleasure of the other gardeners.