Every year different weeds seem to be in fashion in my garden. This year stickywilly is a big hit, having ensconced itself in very numerous locations. It most enjoys sticking itself to you, your clothing, other plants and family pets. In the twenty years I’ve been gardening here I’ve never had this one before. Another favourite is Mare’s Tails. I’m not so taken by surprise with this one as, like middle-age, it’s been constantly creeping up on me for many seasons. It’s an ancient plant with a prehistoric heritage and cunningly camouflaged roots making it nigh impossible to dig out.
They say a weed is just a plant in the wrong place. I would dispute that. A weed is just a plant that believes in eugenics. It thinks that really, your garden would be best simply planted with only itself. A monoculture of stickywilly.
When something first appears in the garden I certainly tend to look upon it as a happy accident of fate. An innocent wildflower that longs for domesticity. I leave it alone. Sometimes even nurture it. Some plants respond with general floriferousness or at least an inkling of decorative foliage. Welsh poppies, hart’s tongue ferns, primroses and sweet rocket have all arrived unbidden but not unwelcomed. Others have started all innocent and cute but soon showed their true colours and general megalomaniac tendencies. Woundwort, Herb Bennett, wild raspberries, ash trees and even what might be considered a lovely addition, wild strawberries, are now all enemies of mine simply because of their selfishness.
They say a weed is just a plant in the wrong place. I would dispute that. A weed is just a plant that believes in eugenics. It thinks that really, your garden would be best simply planted with only itself. A monoculture of stickywilly.
When something first appears in the garden I certainly tend to look upon it as a happy accident of fate. An innocent wildflower that longs for domesticity. I leave it alone. Sometimes even nurture it. Some plants respond with general floriferousness or at least an inkling of decorative foliage. Welsh poppies, hart’s tongue ferns, primroses and sweet rocket have all arrived unbidden but not unwelcomed. Others have started all innocent and cute but soon showed their true colours and general megalomaniac tendencies. Woundwort, Herb Bennett, wild raspberries, ash trees and even what might be considered a lovely addition, wild strawberries, are now all enemies of mine simply because of their selfishness.
Other plants arrive from the garden centre, or a plant sale, cunningly disguised as prime garden specimens only to reveal themselves as weeds that you’ve paid good money for. This year I am fighting what appears to be a losing battle against bamboo. It’s hard to understand why pandas are an endangered species since bamboo (their basic foodstuff) is so very virulent, strong and can push up through tarmac, paving and any weed-suppressing membrane invented by man or woman.
And sometimes the battle is just too much. What used to be a weed gets re-categorised as jolly garden plant. This year I’m embracing dandelions.
And sometimes the battle is just too much. What used to be a weed gets re-categorised as jolly garden plant. This year I’m embracing dandelions.
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