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Modified 15-May-21
Created 15-May-21
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I recently discovered three exotic plants near the Frog Pond. I pulled (all of?) the French Broom. I wonder, should I also pull the aggressive teasel? I am annoyed by the Cape Marigold, a pretty flower planted next to the bench. People, grow up! Enjoy, and don't try to improve on the natural beauty and ecological integrity of the Frog Pond (such as it is, we are trying to keep it so).
1. French Broom. An aggressive exotic. The Town of Portola Valley encourages us to remove it when we can. This was blooming. I pulled it up by the roots, using a mattock on stubborn roots. I do hope I got all of it; at the least, there are probably some roots and seeds left for next year's attention.
2. Fuller's Teasel. "Teasel is considered an invasive species in the United States. It is known to form a monoculture, capable of crowding out all native plant species, and therefore is discouraged or eliminated within restored open lands and other conservation areas." [Wikipedia] Should I do my best to remove it? OR, should I leave this to the experts?
3. Cape Marigold. A pretty little flower, native to Namibia and western South Africa; AKA "African Daisy". This does NOT belong here! Please, keep your planting instincts to your own garden. (And also, try to assure that any exotics in your garden will not spread. Decades ago, someone thought French Broom looked pretty in the spring. Now it threatens to take over whole swaths of our wild spaces.)