A pretty picture of a wildflower that has popped up on my property and on the edges of the big garden bed. As I researched it this morning so I could give it a name, I discovered that it’s a version of Knapweed, which is invasive and can keep other plants from growing.
Uh oh. I guess I know what I’m doing today.
But, it’s lovely, isn’t it? Why do lovely wildflowers have to be invasive?
Sigh.
It’s Labor Day and a strong cold front came through yesterday, which means we woke up to cooler temperatures. Finally! I did some mowing yesterday but it was very humid, so I ended up only mowing a third of the front lawn. More mowing today. And I guess I’ll be yanking this weed, as well.
By the way, I had a nice chat with our neighbor yesterday, catching up on all the news. I had been pulling yet another invasive plant that was vining itself around my bridal veil spirea. In the course of this chat I discovered that their lawnmower isn’t broken. (I didn’t bring it up.) No, she’s just been “too busy” to mow, even though they have a rider mower. I’m talking grass that is more than a foot high. Interesting…
As to Labor Day: My dad and brother were members of unions. My husband is a member of three unions. (I wish there was a union for what I do, but there isn’t.) We support all laborers and honor them on this day.
Stay safe.
Happy Monday.
I love knapweed and wish I had it at home. We see it here on the beach and in the woods. It’s so pretty. Here in northern Michigan we MIGHT now be above 49 (it was that about 10 minutes ago), so maybe we’re in the 50s. Of course, tomorrow when we leave it’s supposed to get warmer. Still, the heron is walking the beach, the sun is out, no complaints. Don’t labor TOO hard today!
I like it, too, but not right beside my garden bed. That’s where I’m pulling it out. There’s plenty down by the edge of our property that borders the street. In fact, that’s where a lot of our wildflowers grow.
Stay safe, Jeanie.
dear Claudia/Don — yeah for us — got some rain this wkend — today (9/2) is cooler w/wind so most precip will evaporate/dry out quickly — we have many trees dropping leaves — things look so tired or is that just me ??? haha !! hope you all stay safe, healthy
Some of our trees are dropping leaves, as well!
Stay safe, Linda.
good luck pulling out the pretty-but-invasive plants (looks sturdy)!
used to have a co-worker whose job was in a type of maintenance; he was to fix most everything that broke (naturally or by misuse or that maybe the other person could fix themself, like changing a lightbulb in a lamp). don’t think he liked his job as in frustration this guy often said “use your tools!” (sounded to me like another way of saying “do it yourself”). all that to say, it would be nice if, for your sake and hers, your neighbor used a tool known as the lawnmower. argh.
i am surprised that there’s no union for your line of work. there was a brief period when i’d hear only on the state (not national) level talk of social workers going to unionize. didn’t happen in my forty years as a social worker in a variety of settings (nursing homes, a hospital, outpatient mental health, in-home, etc). wonder if it ever will?
happy labor day. stay safe and take it easy. and yes, thankful for those working today, for those who fought/fight for safe working conditions, reasonable and fair pay …
kathy
The problem is that they live on a hill – higher than our property – and the house is set back. So she doesn’t really have to look at it. But we do.
Stay safe, Kathy.
that’s too bad. sorry, claudia.
xo
That flower is pretty….yes, too bad it will have to be pulled. I always wondered why one couldn’t grow an invasive flower in a pot. Wouldn’t that work as long as it stayed in the pot?
Both my husband and I were union members as well. I thought unions were great…because in 1979 I was paid the exact same wage, and received the exact same benefits as any of the men were. Seniority was how one progressed in the company. Fair to all!
Glad to hear you finally have some nice weather…enjoy! ;)
You can. A lot of people grow mint that way. But this is a wildflower, not something I’ve grown. It just appeared, like so many do in our neck of the woods.
Yay for unions, Donnamae!
Stay safe.
Oh, dear. We have knapweed too and didn’t know it was invasive. Just pretty. Same with Queen Anne’s Lace. I love it but know it can take over if you leave it be. Decidedly cooler here too. We’ve had a fire in the firepit two nights in a row and last night when it hit 59, I had to go in. Just wish it was too cold for the mosquitos.
Three unions!? Well, I hope Don had a good Labor Day weekend. (You too, of course)
Take care,
Kay
I don’t mind it on the edges of the property at all – just not next to my big garden bed. That’s the section I pulled out.
Screen Actors Guild
AFTRA
Actors Equity.
Stay safe, Kay.
I love wildflowers and even the ‘weeds’ but yes invasive plants are not great. The weather has changed and I feel the promise of Fall in the air.
I do, too. And the light is changing…
Stay safe, Linda.