This year, I'm doing what I've loathed in the past...I'm leaving them to grow.
The roadside in front of my house...a sea of flea bane!
Some of my neighbors with lovely manicured landscapes may be cursing me for it,
but I'm enjoying the influx of birds, butterflies, bees and other pollinators
that feed on the nectar, fruit and seeds.
A favorite "weed" is the Blue Eyed Grass, Sisyrinchium atlanticum.
No way I'm mowing this beautiful bloom!
In the past, I've mowed and pulled the Spanish Needle, Bidens alba, with a vengeance.
However, I leave it now not only for the pollinators,
but for my sweet bunnies who provide me with golden "bunny blessings" (fertilizer).
It's one of their favorite foods...and it's FREE!
It's also a Florida native, relative to the aster, and serious butterfly attractor.
This pretty Tickseed, Coreopsis lanceolata, will not be mowed.
I'm happy this grows wild on my property.
The most abundant currently is the common Flea bane, Erigeron annuus.
Contrary to it's name, it does not repel fleas or insects.
I've decided they're nicer to look at than the dry dusty ground underneath,
so they're staying for now.
Tassel Weed is usually the first to go...
although the little tassels are cute little pom pons waving in the breeze.
Fortunately for the Tassel Weed, it's another favorite munchy of my bunnies.
However, once I see the colorful puffs, I pull them for the bunny buffet.
The Mexican Clover, Richardia grandiflora, is mowed
but prolifically bounces back so I have no remorse.
Pretty little pea flowers pop up as ground cover.
I always find it interesting to hear who mows and who doesn't, along with their reasons. I also enjoy hearing who purchases these "weeds" and plants them in their garden beds.
As any gardener knows, a weed is simply an unwanted plant!
9 comments:
Shepherd's needle is great sauteed with eggs. Mmm.
Good for you for leaving the weeds. You're giving your pollinators and ladybugs a nice head start on the year... not to mention the fireflies and other wonderful insects that are soon to come.
Great photos.
i am this way with the rain lilies in my yard! it looks like a meadow after a rain, and i ask hubby not to mow another week or so, just so we can enjoy them!
NO!!!
this is what I try and tell my wife when I don't mow the weeds, "just look at all the pretty flowers". For some reason is doesn't put a smile on her face. Don't know why that is.
Good for you. We ran the mower around a couple of weeks ago, just to even everything up, but we have some of the fleabane and some sort of miniature strawberry typed plant in the side yard, which I'm leaving for the pollinators.
I had to chuckle when I saw your post. I just mowed the front yard this week and mowed right around the cutest little patch of fleabane. Just couldn't bring myself to cut it down. It's just as pretty as any other flower in my garden.
In the backyard I've got my share of every native I think you've shown a pic for, and I enjoy the spring show!
That would be a clever idea. I'm sure it will create a different definition of beauty in gardening.
I have been thinking about the same question. In my front field, I had wildflowers last year and then planted rye grass, this spring there are wildflowers popping up because I haven't mowed. Now I don't want to..makes me want to dig up wildflowers and put them in a defined area and mow the rest.
I like paths mowed through meadows of things like Erigeron and other delights.
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