Sometimes answers come to you out of the blue.  Today was one of those times for me.

I have some empty space under a maple tree in the strip between the sidewalk and the street.  Hostas will work well there, but I wanted some spring color as well.  While I was on my knees weeding behind a large yew shrub I found the answer--columbine.

My columbines, like everyone else's, are rampant self-seeders.  Large numbers of those seeds apparently found their way to the quiet place behind the yew and went about the business or reproducing.  Now all I have to do is transplant them and my problem will be solved--quickly, elegantly and cheaply.

So, the next time you have space to fill, look around for self-sown annuals or overgrown perennials and transplant or divide them.  Think of it as recycling.