Entry tags:
Gardens
The great advantage of the dandelion, as far as its removal from a garden is concerned, is its habit of marking its location with a large orange flower, whereupon you have a week to remove it before it seeds.
I'm not sure how borage spreads, but the leaves are unmistakable and the flowers of a blue as garish as the orange of the dandelion; on the other hand, there's less urgency in the removal, and more disincentive since it's covered with stinging hairs.
Bindweed, however, seems to be a weed for which the term 'extirpate' is perfect; I imagine Victorian household manuals telling of the danger in being too parsimonious with the arsenic, or in allowing the mercury with which you cauterise the roots to drop below a red heat.
On a more cheerful and less destructive note, the vigorous strimming of the garden by the landlord's workmen has not destroyed the bluebells, which are starting to rear up again.
I'm not sure how borage spreads, but the leaves are unmistakable and the flowers of a blue as garish as the orange of the dandelion; on the other hand, there's less urgency in the removal, and more disincentive since it's covered with stinging hairs.
Bindweed, however, seems to be a weed for which the term 'extirpate' is perfect; I imagine Victorian household manuals telling of the danger in being too parsimonious with the arsenic, or in allowing the mercury with which you cauterise the roots to drop below a red heat.
On a more cheerful and less destructive note, the vigorous strimming of the garden by the landlord's workmen has not destroyed the bluebells, which are starting to rear up again.