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We have a large maple tree in the front and back yard, and our neighbor to the left of us has one in his front yard, too. That means there's a lot of helicopter seeds flying through the air in the late spring. After they land the 'wings' quickly disintegrate, leaving no evidence of where they landed. Until a tree sprouts up. See the four arrows and circles in the photo? Those are wannabe trees that weren't there yesterday. They're all gone now, pulled up and tossed in the compost pile.
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| It's time to get some mulch on this bed! |
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Years ago I bought a six pack of white alyssum at the garden center. They grew well in the west-facing bed by the front door, getting three inches tall and spreading out to almost a foot in diameter. Since that time they've self-seeded and come back prolifically each year. If I didn't cull some of the sprouts the bed would be completely covered with the tiny white flowers. For example, you would think this is one cute little plant, right? It's actually three individual ones. Two of them got pulled up, leaving just one to spread out.
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I don't remember planting purslane in this flower pot, but the surface of the soil is covered in hundreds of its tiny shoots. They're actually doing better than the impatiens and the coleus I put in there this year, so in this instance I may just let the seedlings take over.
Five years ago today: Computer Assistant
It's amazing how the maple tree seeds land with their own arrows and circles so you can find where they are. How did you manage that?
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
I'm amazing :-)
DeleteI know what you mean, I am out there every day.
ReplyDeleteJust googled that purslane is an edible weed
DeleteIt's hard to keep on top of the yard issues at this time of year. Yes, purslane is edible, although I'm not the biggest fan of it.
DeleteI both love and hate this time of year, everything is so green and blooming and colorful. And my allergies are absolutely curbing my enjoyment of all of it.
ReplyDeleteI've never really had an allergy issue until this year. Don't know if my body is changing or there's more allergens floating through the air.
DeleteHow well I remember the tree "sets". The ubiquitous maple and even more oaks, thanks to squirrels and chipmunks, and the acorns I swear were self burrowing.
ReplyDeleteThe subdivision to the east of us is older and has a lot of oak trees. Ours, not so much. Fewer oak trees, of course, lead to fewer acorns and fewer oak tree sprouts. However, they're much harder to remove.
DeleteBeautiful.
ReplyDeleteI've decided this year I'm OVER gardening for myself. Lovely to look at on blogs, but a pain in my rear personally. I can't wait to plant desert-appropriate arid plants. And enjoy the two potted plumeria I have allowed myself. LOL
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine trying to garden in the desert.
DeleteIt's good that you make sure that the vegetation is growing only where it belongs...I should be so productive myself. Your photos are beautiful. Way-to-Go, Kathy!
ReplyDeleteThanks. I've been able to keep up on the weeding because the weather is nice. Once it gets hot and humid I will NOT be out in the yard!
DeleteThe house my daughter-in-law lives in (she's my oldest son's widow) is the house I grew up in. (I had my dad leave the house to my boys because I didn't want it). Back in one of the original gardens is purslane (funny tha we call it portulaca here in Kansas) that I had in hanging baskets – pieces would break off and drop, then take off growing year after year. I've taken pieces of that purslane to nearly every place we've lived. // We really have had a big mess in gardens around here from those helicopter seeds... ugh, always pulling those sprouts. But I showed the grandkids what those seeds do and they love playing with them! // I love the blue and purple alyssum in our gardens (our kids' gardens, that is). Hard to find those colors sometimes. // Blessings to you Kathy! ♥
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a kid, my parents had concrete urns filled with portulaca. It came back every year for decades!
DeleteWow! You must have very fertile soil. I tend to kill plants, alas. I do remember when we lived in Illinois how we'd have chestnut seedlings growing everywhere because the squirrels would hide them everywhere.
ReplyDeleteThe soil in the front of the house IS good. When we moved into the house, for several years each spring I would dig in compost and other soil amendments.
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