Deptford Pinks

Day 274: Deptford Pinks (Dianthus armeria) get a bad rap. Many sources refer to them as "invasive," although it is certainly not as aggressive as knapweed or butterfly bush or any of a number of others which are capable of establishing monocultures at the expense of native plants. In fact, the Deptford Pinks which came to me in a wildflower mix (yes, really) grow very sparingly in the Barren Wasteland between my house and garage. I probably shouldn't admit to this, but I have tried to encourage them in that space, however, they have not been particularly cooperative, unlike the Rudbeckia which would gleefully take over my entire yard if I didn't keep it under control. That said, this is the problem with many of the region-specific wildflower mixes offered by seed companies: they contain non-native species which may even be on an individual state's invasives list. California Poppies are a case in point. Almost all wildflower mixes tagged "Pacific Northwest" contain California Poppies which are considered invasive in Washington. As for Deptford Pinks, mine came to me in a generic seed packet offered as a bonus for purchasing some other product, and the packet also included California Poppies which I've successfully rooted out. The Pinks? They're behaving themselves, so they can stay.

Knapweed, A Growing Issue

Day 335: Invasives are a growing issue in our area, and even when they are recognized, no one seeems to be doing anything about them. Yes, I'm pointing a finger straight at you, Town of Eatonville. I've reported Knapweed along the Bud Blancher Trail multiple times, and it's spreading. In fact, there's some on the highway verge not far from my house now, and I have to consider the possibility that a seed was carried there on some vehicle's undercarriage or tires, maybe even my own. Knapweed is not the only unwelcome visitor. I've watched Lactuca (Bitter Lettuce) advance uphill from town to here in the space of only a few years. It and the Knapweed are two of the worst, although there are plenty of other weeds (I use the term in its ultimate form to indicate a non-native plant with the potential to set up a monoculture at the expense of natives) which have only recently begun showing up locally. The spread alarms me. It is occurring at a breakneck pace, boosted by negligence and the changing climate.

Invasives On Holiday

Day 60: Ah, yes. Revised somewhat from last year's effort, I give you my new and improved version of this traditional holiday carol:

The holly and the ivy,
Both as invasives cursed!
Of all the shrubbery in our woods,
These two are just the worst.
Oh, the rising of the sap
And spreading of the seeds!
A little dash of 2, 4, 5-T
Is what this problem needs
(Is what this problem needs)!

You may of course substitute "Agent Orange" for "2, 4, 5-T" if you can't get the scansion right. Or use your own choice of herbicide, although it may not be quite as effective in the field or lyrically.

Solanum Rostratum, Buffalobur

Day 315: As I look out my east window, the ground beneath one of the bird feeders is occluded by some tall yellow snapdragons which have bent over under the weight of their blossoms. I had not noticed that they were concealing a threat. Standing there somewhat in the manner of Arthur Dent on the day the Vogon Destructor Fleet arrived, "Yellow," I thought. The word 'yellow' wandered through my mind in search of something to connect with. Fifteen seconds later I was out of the house and lying in front of a big yellow Buffalobur that was advancing up my garden path.

Those of you who are familiar with Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy will no doubt recognize that I purloined the last three sentences of that paragraph from Douglas Adams' writing and adapted them to my own purposes, but they are nonetheless an accurate representation of what occurred. Solanum rostratum (Buffalobur or Horned Buffalobur) is a highly invasive weed which is often spread in contaminated bird seed. It is poisonous to livestock and humans. In areas where it is not controlled adequately, mature plants may turn into "tumbleweeds" to be blown across open fields, spreading their seeds as they roll along. A single plant can produce hundreds of seeds which remain viable for up to ten years. If infestations can be caught early, plants can be dug out and bagged for disposal. In this case, a few minutes after initial observation, the offender was safely tucked away in my plant press, another specimen which will eventually be sent to the Burke Herbarium.

Burdock, Arctium Sp.

Day 189: Two species of Burdock are known to occur in western Washington, Arctium lappa (Greater/Great Burdock) and Arctium minus (Lesser/Common Burdock). Both are introduced species and are considered invasives. As one might expect from the name, Common Burdock is the most frequently seen of the two. Both species have thick, strong taproots which, if you've ever tried to dig one out, you'll have discovered is anchored near its geographically antipodean point. The hooked burrs of this plant were the inspiration for Velcro, and anyone encountering the fresh or dry plant should take pains to "de-seed" themselves before leaving the area. Green burrs may mature off the plant wherever they happen to detach from an unwitting carrier.

While I Was Out...

Day 295: With gas priced at $4.09/gallon, I have to make any trip out count for as much as possible these days. On my way to harvest figs yesterday, I stopped by a city park to do an invasive plant patrol. After recording 21 instances in 40 acres, I still had time left, and filled it by walking an additional mile through a wetland area for a second survey. At the second location, I found Jewelweed (above) well on its way to establishing monocultures covering at least 10,000 square feet. Both sites are administered by city governments which have understandably tight maintenance budgets, but I have to wonder: where are the volunteers who would love to engage in weed-pulling? I work with several other groups with robust volunteer programs, so am baffled by why these city governments can't get teams together. Their laxity in controlling invasive species on their properties is allowing them to spread into the community where they will be much harder to eradicate.