Claytonia virginica? But if it's a wild plant please don't dig it up.

This post was edited by floral_uk on Sun, Apr 6, 14 at 16:00

that sure looks like it. but why not?

Because it may be growing on private property, in which case it is theft unless you have permission. And if growing on public lands, many plants are endangered or threatened or vulnerable outside of their natural environment. And some just resist harvesting or transplanting easily.

Regardless, you still need permission to collect plants from native habitats.

Here is a link that might be useful: the ethics of wild plant collecting

it is growing on our property ... :) just in the middle of a field.. our property is 10 acres of woodland and field

OK, I see. So you do 'own' it but that means you are also responsible for it on behalf of humanity. You are entitled to dig it up but if it is the only specimen there and transplanting doesn't work you will have lost it for ever. How about going for the challenge of gathering some seed and trying to positively increase its numbers rather than just moving it?

Coming from a small country where we have lost a huge proportion of our wild plants, even ones which used to be widespread and common, I am afraid I am hypersensitive to issues of plant disturbance in the wild. I get more upset about plant extinction than giant pandas ;-) Getting off my soap box now.

soapbox for sure.. but do your research ...

first... its not easy to move a plant in flower ...

second.. find out if its rare.. etc ... if not.. move it..

but do it at the right time ...

if its an annual.. its not worth the effort.. gather the seeds ...

if perennial ... in dormancy would be best.. in fall. the trick is marking it.. AND REMEMBERING ... thats the key ... lol.. i have a few butterfly weeds out in the pasture.. that i have been meaning to move for 14 years now... lol ...

its sometimes very hard to dig out a plant in meadow grass.. because of the grasses itself ... failed miserably many times .. sharpen your shovel with a file or a grinder ...

do your research ... then succeed ..

ken

I have hundreds of these in my flowerbeds and my lawn too. I don't know if they are ephemerals but I never notice them unless they are blooming. Since they bloom when my garden is just coming alive, their delicate beauty is a welcome sight. They return every spring even in the lawn where they are mowed.