doodle by andre: oh yeah, sure; the weeds are sorry
DO YOU THINK I BELIEVE THIS FOR ONE SECOND? After nearly 30 years of fighting (losing?) the good fight, I know the one thing we can count on is that garlic mustard will outlive us. Thanks to Andre for another great doodle. If you need more than a laugh to cope with your weeds, try these stories:
margaret’s weed 101
MAKE A PASS through each garden bed each week, since weeds are not just unsightly but steal moisture, nutrients and light from your desired plants. Top up mulch where needed (or maybe you need a layer of cardboard or newsprint first?). First: Learn to identify your opponents, and the tactics and timing for best control.
These links help in that valiant effort (or you can just hope Andre was right, and the weeds won’t do it again–your choice):
- How to ID your weeds—links to online guides
- A 101 approach to weed control
- Smothering weeds with cardboard and newspaper
- Piling on the mulch for weed suppression and control
- Poison ivy 101
- Clearweed, or Pilea pumila
- Hedge bindweed and spotted spurge
- Garlic mustard, Alliaria petiolata
- Galinsoga and Commelina
- A weed I accidentally planted, Houttuynia or chameleon plant
- All my weed stories
If only weeds had feelings!
With the rain and cooler temps my Canada thistle and garlic mustard have sprung to life. The Canada thistle is doing especially well. Oh, and the pasture grasses I’ve tried to kill for three years are green and clumpy, getting bigger every day … my own vegetable version of Night of the Living Dead.
Enjoyed your visit on Ken Druse’s Real Dirt.
They might me sorry, but they will do it again. Seems that you can always count on them trying for some space in our gardens. Thank you Andre.
Welcome, James. ‘Night of the Living Dead,’ love it. I am reading Ken’s new book now for an upcoming review–it’s as beautiful as all of his works. Hope we see you again (unless the thistles get you).
Hmmm. If weeds had feelings, I’d have to believe that bindweed is one angry, spiteful pain in the you-know-what. I sincerely believe it enjoys toying with me, having me believe I’ve finally gotten rid of it, and then springing anew throughout my garden simply to crush those hopes.
No, bindweed would never be sorry. The dandelions, maybe (they look so darn cheerful!) but never the bindweed…
Hi, Colleen…did you use the B word? Uh-oh, hope it’s not listening or it will get even angrier…
I think this is my favorite doodle, yet. One only a gardener can truly appreciate.
I quite like weeds. Though clearly not the evil weed beginning with B.
In England, our future King (oh god may Elizabeth never die) Prince Charles talks to his plants (and possibly his weeds). Apparently they can hear him. And it makes them feel happy. And they grow better. Perhaps people should also talk to their weeds?
This is definitely my favorite doodle to date. But it will add to my garden worries…I don’t want to start feeling sorry for the weeds.
Liar, liar, pants on fire!!
I have been away today giving a garden lecture (NOT about weeds), leaving Andre in charge, and I come back to see Andre’s comment about Prince-who-will-be-King Charles. Almost threw up from laughing. Thank you all for the feedback (and Andre, will you pls warn me if you are going to tell Prince Charles jokes in the future? We could do a whole series on Camill(i)a).
No. Talking to weeds is out of the question. They take enough of a gardener’s energy as it is. Speak softly, carry big clawed stick.
Who needs to talk to the weeds? Not the guy I saw pulling and eating wild onions with his lunch!!! No kidding –he was eating them.
If I’d had enough nerve to approach him, I would have invited him to graze in my flower beds.
Doodle that!!
Awww, I love it! What an awesome drawing.
Welcome, Genevieve. Nice of you to say hello. Hope that we see you again soon.
That’s the funniest thing I’ve seen in a long time. Don’t believe their sweet faces. They will be in the proverbial cookies jar again as soon as your back is turned. I can hear mine growing right now.~~Dee
Oh, that’s the story of my garden in one punchline.
*crosses arms and glares at the horseherb and bindweed*
Andre: thank you and thank you and thank you.
One picture is worth. . . . . a million weed seeds
If weeds could talk, what would kudzu say?
OMG, shades of Stephen King
meanwhile I just started a major assault on porcelainberry vines
going up a tree
HA!
Never in my long life, in the burbs, did I know of garlic mustard until I started volunteering at our Botanical Garden and learned what a massive threat it was to the entire outdoor space. Volunteers were recruited yearly to hand-pull it and that was hardly the end of it.
Now I have seen it rapidly take over the woods that I call home. It’s a matter of “wild space” where none of the homeowners saw this coming and homeowners who don’t give a damn now that it is very visible and doing real damage to a lovely area.
I am defending my small area, but it does appear to be a losing battle when the majority aren’t rowing the boat.
A full turn out was present when you came and spoke in Morristown, NJ at The Frelinghuysen Arboretum. Armed with wonderful slides for a very interesting presentation, the large room was silent as not to miss a word. At that time I was the Horticulture Volunteer Coordinator with our wonderful crew of volunteers enjoying your lecture , taking the handouts, making notes thoroughly focused.
Thank you so much & A New Year 2019 filled with sweet surprises.
Best regards, Kate Gutierrez, The Morris County Park Commission, Retired
Thanks, Kate, for the kind words! Happy new year to you, too.