Invasive Pests

Rumor has it that at one time in the somewhat distant past, the NYS DEC recommended that Multiflora roses be planted to control erosion.  Unfortunately these plants turned out to be wildly invasive.  They certainly fill a waste space creating an impenetrable barrier.  Their huge numbers point to the fact that they are now here to stay.

 

Focusing on the flowers, we captured at least two bees.  The upper one has such a generous pollen load that she cannot assume a stinging position.  Several of the flowers have been stripped of pollen revealing black ripening seeds.  As we walked up the driveway, the sweet sweet scent of these roses hit us while we were still some distance from this plant.  These plants are hardy, beautiful and smell great.  It is easy to see why early European settlers carried this seed with them.

What remains of our young Jack-in-pulpits fills the left edge of the photo.  Several bare stems mark the former location of several plants.  Last year our resident deer did not hit here until much later in the summer.  We were unsure if any of the plants would return.  This area would be difficult to cage so no protection was provided.  In the past I have collected urine to use as a deer repellant.  Somehow carrying a sprinkler can down to the road enabling me to spread what is renewable protection seemed in contradiction since the area is filled with a sizeable rock and many other plants.  So our deer made his way between other wire cages and nipped off both leaves and flowers.

This young buck is stabbing the ground clearly stating his ownership of this turf.  We raise our objections to his presence with loud firm teacher control talk or sounds similar to the bark of a big dog.  For the most part he remains unimpressed eventually moving into the cover of the nearby wooded slope.

Two invaders can be seen in this picture.  The two plants growing in cracks in the stones defining the path are sunflowers.  Needless to say we did not plant them.  Some bird did that and these will likely need to be soon moved into more sunlight if they are to grow tall and flower.  Back in the planting bed is a now rather rare ragweed plant.  Becky has been unrelenting in her intense efforts to remove them from our land.  This lacy leafed nasty will very soon disappear.

 

This is another European immigrant.  It is easy to understand why daisy seeds were intentionally brought from their European homeland to bring a touch of home to this new land.  We have tried, mostly unsuccessfully, to grow large swaths of commercially offered larger plants.  This cluster was pulled from the level ground at the base of our gravel bank to see how it liked the open area near our woodland garden just last year.  It seems to have settled in.  We know that this plant will take and hold considerable ground so we intend to move it nearer to the south edge of this area when a now wild area is cleared.

Becky knows full well the origin of this Wild geranium.  Our first plant came as an uninvited guest hiding under the leaves of a plant purchased at Catskill Native Nursery.  It appeared to be a small attractive plant that could cover the bare ground between our desirable woodland plants.  These tiny flowers have tiny fecund seeds that carpet the area.  Besides that, over time  the original plant revealed its monstrously large root mass and its need to take and hold all of the ground near it.  We weeded out buckets of these plants earlier this year.  Somehow this one still grows here and the flowers will soon be seeding another generation of these attractive but invasive plants.

Simply Beautiful

Pinxter is a native plant that captured our interest many years ago.  It has been in our garden for more than one quarter of a century since it became ours while I was still teaching.  Pat and I worked together and she knew of a location where I could snatch this plant.  Initially it was placed in the woods but that location was dry.  The plant did not die but it did not grow either.  Moved inside of the stone wall, it found the moisture released nightly by wall stones following hot summer days adequate and has increased in size.  Wire cages fill this area each winter to prevent deer from eating the fall formed flower buds.  The scent released by these flowers is sweet beyond description and always calms my mood.  This plant is without question a treasure and we always remember Pat for sending this plant our way.

This old fashioned Iris also has a personal connection to us.  Becky's maternal Grandmother grew this plant in her garden located in Gatchellville, Pa.  Whenever her family moved, Becky's Mother took some of this plant with them.  Now it is with us.  This plant has a number of positive characteristics that set it apart from more modern plants.  It is hardy and not troubled by disease like more modern varieties are.  It is sweetly scented and extremely hardy.  One of our older clumps is in desperate need of division.  Then there is the thin white line that edges each petal.  This is without question an attractive flower.

As with many of our plants, there is a personal connection that brought it into our gardens.  This Rugosa rose was a gift from Elle   Early on she helped us in so many ways.  That history dictated that her rose be placed prominently directly in front of our home.  She also gave us a red rose that we have since lost.  One of the planting beds that has been taken over by tenacious weeds still sends two single rose stems toward the stone path.  Perhaps this will be their year of their rescue and one of them might have red flowers after the plant is given adequate care.

This section of NYS route 8 passes next to the retaining wall for a bridge abutment where the NYO&W Railway crossed over the highway.  It can be seen on the left edge of the road in the distance.  This occurrence of the non-native Dame's Rocket is extensive.  Much hated by natural plant purists because of its vigor, we remain drawn to it by both its beauty and tenacity.  Its evening scent is also a huge point in its favor.  As a result, we intentionally introduced this plant into our gardens.  Why then did I go roadside to get decent pictures?

 This plant is a true biennial.  Its first year of growth consists of a low rosette of leaves supported by a deep taproot.  These young plants fill both our planting beds and the stone paths between them.  We will have a generous display of mostly purple colored flowers next year but this year is nearly empty.  To break the cycle of flowers every other year, plants would have needed to be brought in for two consecutive years.  I simply did not take the time to guarantee great displays every year.  We do have a few plants in flower this year so eventually the problem will self correct.