Consolida cross-fertilization

After a week away, the garden calls out for weeding, watering, and deadheading. Annual larkspur (Consolida ambigua) are in full flower everywhere. They have even found a home--albeit it cramped, arid and, due to the adjacent dryer vent, blastingly hot--in a window well.



Usually, these self-sown plants bloom either the palest pink or a jolting electric blue.





This year some crazy crosses have sprung up. Here, white and purple blotched blossoms are bundled into a tight pompom. Where did that single solid purple blossom spring from?



Another plant has retained the familiar open, loosely held habit but boasts lilac and purple speckled flowers.



From wherce comes this range of shapes and colors? Too many to be a mutation, so perhaps the result of cross pollination? I am not so skilled as to collect and separate seeds by flower color. These crosses are a happy surprise!