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Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

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Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

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Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
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Monday - December 24, 2007

From: Frisco, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: Plant identification
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

I have a question about a plant that looks like a fern that has small red looking flowers and has thorns. Also it is very small (probably 2-3 inches tall). I'm just wondering what it is cause it grows on my lawn every summer and just looks out of place. Can't find anything on the net either.

ANSWER:

Mr. Smarty Plants loves to identify plants, but it is very difficult to do from just a description alone.  I realize that you said that it grows in the summertime, but if you have a photo you could send us now we would have a much better chance of identifying it.  For instructions on submitting a photograph for identification, please see the Ask Mr. Smarty Plants page under "Plant Identification".
 

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