On my blog I've posted some May-blooming beauties from my garden, including this Spiderwort that apparently isn't universally admired. Happy Gardenblogger Bloom Day to everyone but especially to Carol – because May IS officially her month.
Commented on Death Valley Days and the Discovery of Two New Plant Species { Might a mere mortal, though a bit taxonomically challenged, still sufficiently long in the tooth and every bit as appreciative of good (or cheap) beer,... } – Apr 24, 1:59 AM
Commented on The L word { We seem to be the only folks in the neighborhood that don't have a commercial lawn spraying fertilizer and weed killing service. I still can't... } – Apr 23, 3:06 PM
Commented on The L word { I nearly jumped up and down with GLEE when I read your 'ins and outs'! I have ranted on about Adirondack chairs and unsustainable lawn... } – Apr 23, 2:55 PM
Commented on The L word { I love, love, love that checkerboard "lawn." Thanks for promoting no-pesticides on the radio - such sad ignorance to start spraying again - after raising... } – Apr 23, 9:23 AM
Commented on The L word { My lawn has dandelions, chickweed, hawkweed, escaped violets and a bit of actual grass. I couldn't care less. We mow it all impartially. And, at... } – Apr 23, 8:22 AM
Commented on Death Valley Days and the Discovery of Two New Plant Species { Love this@! Thanks, Allen. } – Apr 23, 7:26 AMWe are:
perfect
magazine
gardens.
Gardening
our
asses
off.
Having a
hell of a lot
of fun.
I love spiderworts! I have loads of shade and they provide a different texture to a garden with many big leaves like hostas and heucheras and many frilly leaves like columbine and geranium.
Oh, it’s pretty. But it seeds itself everywhere in my yard. The root mass does not yank easily out of the ground, and if you just pull off the stems, they grow back and back and back.
That’s my definition of a problem plant–one that requires a shovel to be rid of it.
For over 10 years spiderwort was not a problem. Then it started self seeding like a maniac. It comes up in the cracks of the sidewalk. One mutated into a lovely pale blue. It is only the dark purple that spreads. Isn’t this a native plant?
I love spiderworts too. The gardener who passed some on to me said when they start to look icky you can just mow them down with a lawnmower. They give you hope for spring when they come up before the irises.