The Plastochron Index

Garlic Mustard Card?

Next we'll be sending Kudzu Christmas Cards!

Mile-A-Minute Weed

Found in my garden today.

This is a nasty invasive weed which only arrived on Long Island 9 years ago and is now found in at least 20 sites. In Maryland woodlands, it looks like this. Read a New York Times article here. (Membership required.)

Weed of the Week-Purple Deadnettle

For the last 3 weeks, Purple Deadnettle (Lamium purpureum) has been blooming in my lawn and garden.

This lovely little plant is a member of the mint family and is native to Europe. Here it's a nuisance in every state.

I read that this was a good bee plant, providing lots of nectar. So I had a little nibble of a flower or two. Sweet and delicious!!

According to Linnaeus, purple deadnettle was boiled and eaten as a potherb in Sweden. It was also used as an herbal remedy to induce sweating and stop bleeding. Some herb companies  will sell you a packet of seeds to plant, calling it "Purple Archangel." Shouldn't this be illegal?

Weed of the Week

Creeping Veronica! (Veronica filiformis Sm.)

Creeping all through my lawn, little pale blue flowers, this slender, trailing perennial is also known as "Speedwell."

Note: this image was made on my scanner and is pictured here about life size.

CLICK on the photo to see some amazingly magnified hairy detail!

For some terrific photos and weed identification keys, see MSU Turfweeds.net