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Monday, August 10, 2009

The War on Weeds

Yesterday and today I launched an assault on the Bamboo Grass, Microstegium vimineum that is taking over the gardens here! Much still yet to be done but it does look like I made progress! The garden was looking pretty bad and we will be getting visitors next Sunday.


Above is one of many wheelbarrows of Bamboo Grass I pulled from the gardens. The fence behind the wheelbarrow had the weeds going over the top of it! This pile is from the bed of flowers that we set up dog protection to, only to get taken over by the Bamboo Grass. On Saturday I was along the Eno River and I used to see lots of Jewelweed down there along the river, now mainly bamboo grass.

This coming Sunday the Durham Butterfly Count is going to take place. I'll be leading a team of butterfliers looking for as many butterflies as we can find. Our team will cover our garden and the neighborhood, we'll also visit several wild places like the Flat River Impoundment. Usually the Durham Count has about 5-6 team leaders and the combined teams gets about 60 or so species of butterflies. If you live anywhere near Durham, NC and would like to join us please let me know before Sunday.

17 comments:

  1. Yes, proclaim war on the weeds. Maybe can recycle the weeds for compost. Btw, who is this cute guy next to the wheels?

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  2. Autumn Belle,

    That is Dot the Wonder Dog, she is 13 years old and a jack Russel Terrier see this posting.
    http://rlephoto.blogspot.com/2009/03/peas-in-snow.html

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  3. I bet even the deer won't eat that stuff! What a horrible pesty plant. I hope you'll have time to take some photos of the butterflies.

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  4. Randy- Good luck with the bamboo grass, it is so easy to get overwhelmed. Looks like major progress was made though and your event should be a success!

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  5. Good luck with the bamboo grass Randy!
    Have a great time on the butterfly search. Drove through Durham this morning. :-)

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  6. What fun to look for butterflies. Good luck on the grass.

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  7. It's really gotten bad here, too! I read that it was accidentally brought into the country when it was used as cushioning on ceramic pots! It was dry! So I keep it away from my compost in case it can grow from any tiny piece that's green. gail

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  8. Michelle,

    Humm,,, Maybe I could take it all out and weave it into a huge deer fence and kill two birds with one stone.

    Heather,
    This stuff would drive you crazy, I'm sure.

    Tina,
    I'm sure that they have butterfly counts where you live look at www.naba.org


    Janet,
    We could have had coffee (iced) or something

    Gail,
    Amazing I had no idea that was how it got here.

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  9. Good job Randy! Your visitors could be lost in that mean grass!

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  10. Oh, I wish I lived a little closer! Have fun, and I hope there'll be photos to follow.

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  11. I hate Stilt Grass. I'm convinced it's evil.

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  12. Poor old dot, having to pull the barrow along! :-)

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  13. Hi Randy, that bamboo grass is just plain scary! But the thought of the butterfly count is the exact opposite. Hope you find lots! :-)
    Frances

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  14. I suggest you take the bamboo grass and build a still, turn it into ethanol, then run your car on it! Of course the old compost bin is easier! Good hunting on the butterfly count!

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  15. I have been doing OK keeping my yard weeded, but keep getting behind at my garden across the street. I'm not sure what all they are, but the stinky sumac would take over if I let it.

    You made a comment about our curbs looking fine. I agree, but they were straight up and down. The corner curb didn't need to come out, because it has a slant. If we would have had a sidewalk, they would have been making it wheelchair accessible. They are also resurfacing our street. My husband keeps seeing other streets that need work more than ours, and wonders how they decide what's getting worked on when.

    Enjoy your butterfly count! I am finally seeing some each day, especially the monarchs.

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  16. That looks like a lot of work! Hope your back isn't aching! I will be coming back to NC in about 5 weeks for another 8 months!

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  17. Bamboo grass? Whatever it is, it doesn't sound nice.

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