The Garlic Mustard is Coming!

[netmouse]

Did some gardening yesterday. A neighbor came over and pointed out some of the weeds and the main plants in my garden, which is badly overrun. "Good luck with the war!" she said as she walked away.

Among other things, I pulled some Garlic Mustard, which is just starting to bud down here in Dayton. I encourage people to look into volunteering to pull it up in your local parks and, indeed, to pull it wherever you see it, in the next couple of weeks as the little white flowers on it are opening and before it seeds. Then -- important! -- do not put it in compost piles. It will finish going to seed. Put it in plastic bags and throw it away.

The native plants of north America will be thanking you.

Comments

[akicif.livejournal.com]

Ah. If I hadn't already had an inkling, that would have provided the perfect exemplar for why the Nice USDA chaps and their wee dog decided I wasn't going to get to bring in the packets of Scottish wild flowers last year....

That said, when I first saw mention of garlic mustard as something you can grow (as opposed to buy in a deli), I thought "Wow! I wonder where I can get seeds?"

(And looking at Google Streetmap of Ann Arbor a little while ago, which looks to have been recorded at the same time of year, I was reminded of what a pleasant time I had while I was over - thanks again for your kindness!)

[netmouse.livejournal.com]

Yes, that probably explains it.

It was a delight to have you here. I hope our paths cross again soon. :)

[maiac.livejournal.com]

I'll be on the lookout for Garlic Mustard.

The weed I hate most is burdock. I don't think it's invasive in the sense of not being native to Michigan. But it's damned invasive in my garden, and it's ugly, and the burs are an irritating nuisance, and its root breaks off when I try to pull up the plant, and it's nearly impossible to get rid of. HATE.

[saraikennedy.livejournal.com]

Actually, you don't have to throw all of it out. The leaves are edible, assuming they haven't been sprayed with chemicals. There are lots of recipes available online. But yes, throw the rest out bagged in plastic.