365Caws is now in its 14th year of publication, and was originally intended to end after 365 days. It has sometimes been difficult for me to find new material, particularly during the winter months, but now as I enter my own twilight years, I cannot guarantee that I will be able to provide daily posts. It is my hope that along the way I may have inspired someone to a greater curiosity about the natural world. If so, I can rest, content in the knowledge that my work here has been done.
Tuesday, August 22, 2017
My Favourite Invasive
Day 313: Cichorium intybus (common Chicory, also known as Blue Sailors) is considered an invasive weed in Washington, and yes, it will take over vacant lots and other waste areas once it gets a toehold, but its flowers are such a bright and cheerful blue that I just can't help liking it. Of course, many non-native plants got started when they migrated from someone's garden into the natural environment, and then some, without the controls of weeding or predation on them, proliferated to excess and wound up on the "hit list" of invasives. Not all non-natives become invasive, and others do so in varying degrees. We pigeonhole the worst of them into three classes: Class A for for those of especial concern due to their ability to succeed but are not commonly found, Class B for those which are abundant in some areas of the state but absent in others, Class C for those which are widespread. Others are categorized as "regional" or "nuisance" and do not require any measure of control. Cichorium falls into the latter category presently, so at least for now I can enjoy it without guilt.
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