COLD MAY TAKE DOWN MANY GARDEN PLANTS the next days and weeks, but don’t be fooled by weeds that pretend to close up shop. Master doodler Andre Jordan isn’t, and neither am I. They may play dead at some point, but most are stealthily making more runners and seed and such, leaving behind representatives that will ensure your spring is full of the same unwanted faces. Their advance land-grab tactics are disgraceful–but oh, so effective. Do you know your weeds?
THE LECTURE that he’s been giving for a number of years is not-so-subtly called “Kill Your Lawn.” Ecological horticulturist Dan Jaffe Wilder knows that starting over and creating an entire native habitat instead of a lawn isn’t for everyone. But Dan just wants to grab our attention and get us to start to make some changes at least in the way we care for the turfgrass we do want in our landscapes. And maybe give up a little square footage of it to some other kind of more diverse planting, too, like the wild strawberries (Fragaria virginiana, inset). Alternative, more eco-focused styles of lawn care, along with some lawn alternatives is what he and I talked about on the podcast. Dan is Director of Applied Ecology at Norcross Wildlife Foundation in Wales, Massachusetts, and its 8,000-acre sanctuary. He’s also co-author with Mark Richardson of the book “Native Plants for New England Gardens.”
(Stream it below, read the illustrated transcript or subscribe free.)
So true. I even think they grow under the snow.
Since my maiden name is Weed and I am very much alive, I’d love to know of I could get some prints of andre’s cartoons.
@Janet: Well, you are a Weed and I am a Roach. What a pair! :) I will forward your query to Andre. We are about to launch a small line of Andre postcards that will include at least one weed image. (That was a secret until I just typed that this minute.)
Did you have to remind me? I was just celebrating the year-end appearance of my success over the weeds. I know I was wrong, but I wanted to enjoy the bliss in a weed-free seeming garden. Sigh.
I’m sure my weeds are having this same conversation. Especially since it’s been raining the last couple of days.
I agree with Yvonne. They must grow under the snow. And what is with the August weeds that grow along the curb, growing at the rate of 6″ per day, JUST as you are leaving for vacation. This is one of my favorite Andre’s. Can you make prints we can frame for presents?