It explodes. Well, its seed pods explode. The truth is, I'm shocked but also a little ticked off. The exploding seed pods scattered seeds everywhere sometime last year, and now I can hardly see my authorized flowers, like these beleaguered tulips blooming in the early spring, because this "shotweed" is sprouting everywhere, seen here in the left half of this photo!
The Backyard Science group regularly publishes The Daily Bucket, which features observations of the world around us. What's in your backyard? Funny insects, unusual birds, pretty flowers, healthy vegetables, or shy snakes?
Any of these and much more are worthy additions to the Bucket and its comments. Please let us know what is going on around you in a comment, and a picture if you will. Include, as close as is comfortable for you, where you are located. Each note is a record that we can refer to as we try to understand the patterns that are unwinding around us.
Keep reading below the arborvitae root ball, and find out how a "garden brag" Bucket turned into a Public Service Announcement about Cardamine oligosperma.
I originally wanted to document/show off my backyard plants' blossoming status as Spring begins, after the warmest February in recent history.
The apple tree survived:
The blueberries and raspberries look vibrant:
The first tulips cheer my heart:
And the newly planted Narcissus in the nascent landscaping of the Frogs' Mitigation Area (FMA) are blooming nicely, entranced by their own reflection.
But in the open spaces of the FMA, this Little Western Bittercress (Family: Brassicaceae (Cruciferae) is everywhere, crowding my tulips and thyme.
Little Bittercress is a fall/winter germinating annual that is native to Europe, according to Washington State University. WSU recommends glyphosate to kill it (cough). I prefer hand-weeding, especially in the FMA. It yields easily to hand weeding.
The US Department of Agriculture classifies it as native to the US, Canada, and Alaska, with its known range in the lower 48 limited to the Western US and New York.
I've read that, like watercress, it is edible as a spicy salad green. I intend to eat some, in an superstitious effort to capture some of its powers for myself. If I could sell it by the ton, I'll be rich!
Now It's Your Turn What's interesting to you? Please post your own observations and your general location in the comments.
Thank you for reading. I'll work this morning so I'll respond to comments around lunchtime.
"Spotlight on Green News & Views" will be posted every Saturday at 1pm and Wednesday at 3:30 pm Pacific Time on the Daily Kos front page. Be sure to recommend and comment in the diary.