Yesterday was a beautiful spring day- whenever it is not a rainy day, I get right out to the garden, in NW Oregon you never know when the rain will be back. Our new puppy Zoey had been at work in some of the garden beds, and we needed to get them cleaned up, I also wanted to get a few more things planted, and make progress on some weeding.
Because we have a lot of rain here, mixed with some rather warm days, weeds can turn into jungles in under a week. I am always amazed at how they grow- I like to leave a few dandelions- especially now that I know my goldfinch eat them- and sometimes there are pretty pink flowers that pop up- I enjoy some of the "weeds" in the garden, they can be pretty sometimes. If there is a plant I am unsure of, I often let it grow a bit so I can see what it turns in to. I mainly focus on removing poison weeds, and the real aggressive weeds that will choke out my flowers and ground covers. I even read an article recently about making sure to leave some weeds near the veggie garden so pests will eat the weeds instead of the veggies, I am going to try this out a bit this year.
Anyway, I was out surveying the garden, deciding what needed to be done, when I came accross a huge weed. I am pretty sure it is in the thistle family. Such a huge weed for a tiny garden. I used to get these out in my large pasture, and every year I used to let one grow. I decided that I would leave this giant and watch it grow as well- I am hoping it is a pretty pink thistle- I will post it's progress in my garden updates.
Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them. ~ A. A. Milne
What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
I've been following that advice about leaving some weeds by the vegetables for the pests without realizing it!:) I think your weed is pretty.
ReplyDeleteYour thistle weed IS Pretty! But I would cut off the flower head as soon as it's done flowering, or you will have babies everywhere next year :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comments- yeah, you do have to get the flower off before it turns into a big ball of seed parachutes. :)
ReplyDeleteWow! That is one big plant for a week's growth! I enjoy leaving the flowering "weeds" also. My girls love picking flowers for family members, so they are heartbroken if Daddy tries to get rid of all of the dandelions!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment Amanda- my children used to enjoy picking dandelion bouquets also. I have a feeling this weed hid out a bit longer than a week- it is amazing how they go from being a tiny weed to one this huge. :)
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