June 6, 2018. A landscape chore neglected several years taught me a few things. Our suburban backyard is “yard” surrounded by a U-shaped “dog run”. Chain link fencing (once part of a cat fence-in of “yard”) proves an inviting trellis. Over the years we’ve planted deliberately while battling such as wild grape, cat brier, and a good many unknowns. Uncensored, Moonseed vine and Virginia creeper took over the section of chain link beside the back porch. Beyond, in what’s now the Labrador’s run between chain-link and wooden privacy fences, Mexican petunia (Ruellia) flourishes. I love those blooms – enough to tackle downing a mass of vines.
But I was in for a rude awakening: I was ripping down beauty in its own right, albeit not showy like Ruellia.
Motivating! 🙂 I need to get to our riverbank and pull weeds around our Stella Lilies!
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Thanks for your blog posts, Jazz. They are wonderful. Keep ’em comin’!!!! 😊
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Thank you, Lisa!
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We had some crazy vines with purple flowers that started out innocent-seeming enough, but when we neglected them for about two years, they actually wormed their way under the siding of our house, which we discovered when they started sending shoots through the window and into the family room.
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Oh my! Now, THAT is invasive!
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What a chore… but it looks very nice now!
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Thank you!
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I envy your knowledge of gardening. Love this description of the the labour and then discovery. Hope you are well on the road and into new discoveries.
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VJ, thank you – I find plant formation absolutely fascinating. Those aerial roots especially amazing.
Yes, we are officially traveling: in Arkansas now, with trailer issues to figure out (always something!) but excited about the next 2 months rolling.
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Yes, always something. Arkansas was lovely. Enjoy, and keep us posted.
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I know what you mean, Jazz. We have a spiritual dilemma over pulling up (or mowing down) all the little maple trees that sprout in our yard. I love maple trees but we have dozens and dozens that sprout each week. I do hate the violence of pulling them up. I always leave the Queen Anne’s lace – I know it’s considered a weed but it is lovely. And I have kept the columbine, too, although it did not do too well this year.
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Oh maple trees! Yes, a space can only accommodate so many of any given plant … I have no qualms pulling little elms! But maples? That would be hard.
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