There’s something growing in my garden. That’s the good news.

The more perplexing news is that in this particular case I’m not sure of what exactly it is.

You see, a terra cotta pot from last season that sat on the balcony through the winter sprouted and filled up with so many lovely, dainty leaves that I decided to just let it be and see what developed.

It’s developed into what you see here: a profusion of lacy edged leaves with some taller spikes boasting thinner leaves protruding at intervals. And now it looks as though those spiky protrusions are on the verge of flowering. (Click on the second image for a closer look.)

As I’ve mentioned before, I usually stick with annuals for my container garden. Many perennials don’t flower the first year, and the chances of something making it to a second year after sitting exposed (without the protection afforded by being underground) are pretty low in zone 5.

Yet, this is what I have, and there’s way too much of it to believe that it was a random gift left by one of our feathered friends. So, I’ve been racking my brain trying to come up with what was in that pot. Likely something stunning, which in full, glorious bloom I was unable to resist.

I thought delphinium was a likely candidate, since I’d had a pot of it in that location before. But as I recall, the leaves looked completely different, more like palm fronds… And of course, I may have mixed two varieties in the container (although two of the seldom-selected perennials winding up in the same pot seems pretty unlikely).

So, I’d really appreciate a little help from all my plant-loving friends out there. Go ahead, name that plant — and don’t let it be a weed (smile).