I came across these yellow-green rosette-type seedlings while trying to identify weeds yesterday. (I think the big strappy leaves in the foreground are prickly lettuce, nonedible weeds that have taken over our yard this year.)



It took me a while to figure out what the small ones were. Then it hit me—they are lettuce! The edible kind, the kind I planted several times last year in the raised bed in the background. The reason they didn't look at all familiar at first is only four seeds sprouted where I planted them—in good soil and with a drip system. Four! (Yes, I let those plants go to seed.)

Mother Nature scoffs at my efforts. These volunteers grew from seeds that blew there from last year's plants, settled in the salty clay next to the planter, and sprouted there with nothing but rain water. It makes me wonder why I try.