YIPES! THERE'S A COONTIE IN THE COMPOST! :-)

Have you ever found a plant growing in your compost pile after you have thrown it away? I find elephant ears and gingers that seem to thrive there. But this was different.

I totally freaked when I saw this! It had been since March when I tossed the DEAD coonties into the compost.

I even could see that the surface bulbs were mushy. I was really sad since I had just bought them in November and they were growing so well.

But apparently one little coontie wasn't about to give up.

Zamia pumila ~ a native of Florida

                                                  Its new home next to another cycad. Does anyone else grow coonties?
                                           I'm thinking I love these little guys. They look so fragile, but apparently they're one tough cookie. I'm getting some more if I can find them. They're good even in zone 8. Anyone in Austin growing them? Thanks for any comments or feedback.

UPDATE (9/21): It was a year ago that I bought these and now they again on sale at Houston Home & Garden Centers for $6.00 (Katy, Texas). This only happens late in the season and it must have just happened this week, since they were very expensive last time I checked.  Trust me, that's a very good price. Happy hunting.