Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Mountaintop Weeds

It is possible there was a method to the madness. Because it simply would not be possible to weed a garden of this nature, you might as well have pretty weeds. The pretty weeds can compete for space with the boring weeds. They can even mask their presence.

Why not have columbine seed itself wherever it wants? Why not assist the columbine to spread all over.



The annual Phacelia purshii no longer needs any assistance. It has spread over half of the ridge top garden and beyond.



The biennial Phacelia bipinnatifida is just getting a foothold. I have been eyeing a spot along the road to gather seed for a little assistance. Three Phacelia species are now weeds here.



A barbwire iris gets a jump on the ox-eye daisy at its feet. Ox-Eye daisy is a major weed here. It gets yanked and tossed without a second thought.



The Hyacinthoides hispanica has achieved weed status. I think Bulbarella can stop gathering the seed now.



Blue wood aster and white snakeroot get yanked left and right. Not because they are not enjoyed in their season, but to give the cultivated a little elbow room. When the weeds are pretty it doesn't matter if you miss a few ... or most.



The forest is closing in. Soon it's weeds will change character.



Maybe I will find the time to wander deeper in this weekend.

10 comments:

Kitty said...

I told my neighbor, who believes in Lawn, that a weed is something that grows where you don't want it.

I think my yard makes him a little nuts.

Susan in the Pink Hat said...

If I lived in the mountains, I don't think I would need to garden at all.

Kitty said...

LOL! Susan, I get that. But I just like putting things in the ground and seeing what happens.

Lola said...

It just keeps getting better & better Christopher. I agree do make a little more room for the cultivated ones.
The beauty of the mtns cannot be matched, in my humble opinion.

Anonymous said...

Kitty, I love making my neighbors nuts. They DO love my daffodils in the spring, though.

bev

Christopher C. NC said...

Kitty I think our yard makes the nearest neighbor a little nuts too. There is next to no grass at all. What is a cow supposed to do when it goes for a walk on the other side of the fence?

Susan even in the mountains a little enhancement can't hurt. A path here. Some tidying there. Oh this flower would make a nice addition.

Lola we certainly have good bone structure to begin with.

Bev the regulars who commute by must think we are nuts, but many come to a complete stop and others ask for seeds.

Siria said...

I remember coming to Outside Clyde for a garden tour last year and when you come around the bend on the scenic byway, you are hit with a burst of color from all the rhodies in bloom. If I were a stranger just driving by, I would come to a complete stop too and wonder what was back in there! Christopher, you and your parents have not done just a little enhancement on your mountain top; it is truly amazing! I have been there twice now at different times of the year and each time it was like a different garden tour with different plants being showcased. If I was a wandering cow, I would be drawn to your place too. :)

Amber Pixie Shehan said...

Why yank the daisies? I find them pretty, and bees like them...just curious as to why they aren't loved. :)

sweetbay said...

I have a big garden too and have to take that attitude about weeds. Recently DH left a clump of grass that was flowering in the vegetable garden, thinking perhaps it was an ornamental grass. When he pointed it out I said Nope, that's not an ornamental grass. lol It looked pretty good even so.

Christopher C. NC said...

Not to worry Amber. We love the Ox-Eye Daisies too. We have plenty. That's why when they crowd something else we like, the daisy is sacrificed without any guilt. They are not the least shy about seeding themselves.

Sweetbay let me just say until I know what it is, I might not pull it. There are more really nice sedges up here than grasses. Though it is hard to tell them apart.